If you've ever seen someone washing the windows of a skyscraper or inspecting a bridge, you’ve witnessed an example of rope access work. The ANSI/ASSP Z459.1 standard, the first of its kind, establishes safety requirements for rope access systems. We spoke with Loui McCurley, chair of the ANSI/ASSP Z459.1 subcommittee, about rope access work, the Z459.1 standard and how it can help keep workers in these environments safe.
ASSP: Let’s start with the basics. What is rope access?