Geotechnical Rope Access: Stabilising Cliffs & Slopes in the Australian Landscape

If you are trained in rope access, you may undertake landscape management tasks. This specialised service is known as geotechnical rope access.

In this blog, we will cover what geographical rope access involves and how it can help manage Australia’s unique landscape.

Defining Geotechnical Rope Work and Its Unique Hazards

Combining industrial rope access and geotechnical engineering, geotechnical rope access is often used to reach hard-to-reach areas.

Geotechnical rope work has a number of benefits over scaffolding. Firstly, technicians have specialist IRATA (Industrial Rope Access Trade Association) training. This means they use redundant rope systems and strict protocols, which makes rope access very safe. There is also less set-up time and cost, ideal for confined or remote areas. The technique is often used on quarries, offshore structures, railways and roads.

However, geotechnical rope access is not without its hazards. Working at great heights raises the stakes. Technicians need to be mindful of poor weather conditions, unstable ground, equipment failure and dropped tools or debris. Human errors due to fatigue or improper training present additional risks.

This is why geotechnical rope access technicians require specialist training and equipment. They must also undertake rigorous risk assessment and planning before every project.

Common Tasks: Netting, Rock Bolting, and De-Vegetation Work

Geotechnical rope access can be used in many environments, removing the need for scaffolding. Technicians will use climbing gear to safely rappel down cliffs, embankments, and unstable slopes. This allows them to assess rockfall risk, vegetation issues and slope stability.

Geotechnical rope access enables the following activities:

• Installing Soil Nailing: This technique reinforces soil to stabilise slopes, excavations, and retaining walls.
• Installing Rock Bolts: These are used for stabilising rock excavations, which may be used in tunnels or rock cuts.
• Implementing Rockfall Netting/Catch Fences: This is used in slope stabilisation systems to intercept and contain falling rocks.
• Removing disruptive plants from slopes and structures.
• Installing sensors and equipment to track ground movement.

Integrating Rope Access With Drilling and Blasting Operations

If you are looking for a safe, cost-effective and efficient alternative method for drilling and blasting, rope access provides a safe, cost-effective option. It allows technicians to go into hard-to-reach places where scaffolding and crane-suspended platforms cannot operate.

Geotechnical rope access is especially helpful in mines and industrial areas. This method will allow you to drill holes for anchors and perform controlled blasting on steep surfaces.

To ensure technician safety, practitioners use rope protectors to prevent any damage from falling debris and abrasive material. Additionally, independent suspension systems are used for heavy equipment used for drilling, air hoses or blasting.

Major Projects and Environmental Considerations in Australia

Geotechnical rope access serves infrastructure and mining projects by providing low-impact options for slope stability, remediation in sensitive areas and inspections. This minimises the disruption caused by heavy machinery.

Geotechnical rope access has been implemented successfully in projects in:

• Infrastructure: These include bridges, dams, ports, rail, road, foundations, steep embankments and tunnels.
• Renewable Energy: This technique has helped support the maintenance of projects such as the Australian Renewable Energy Hub (AREH) and Australia-Asia Power Link (AAPowerLink).
• Mining: Rope access helps with geotechnical risks at open pits, manages rockfall mitigation and slope assessment.
• Coastal Facilities: Geotechnical rope access helps support export facilities like Abbot Point by applying specialist coatings.

Essential Additional Training for Geotechnical Techs

If you want to undertake geotechnical rope access, you will need specialist training. At a base level, you will need IRATA (Industrial Rope Access Trade Association) or SPRAT (Society of Professional Rope Access Technicians) training.

Other supplementary training includes:

• The National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET): Focuses on materials such as asphalt, soils and concrete.
• Safe Working on Geotechnical Sites: Training that includes risk assessment, CDM regulations and hazard identification.
• In Situ Testing: Training on techniques such as Cone Penetration Testing (CPT), pressure meter tests and vane shear tests.
• Geotechnical Laboratory Testing: Training on soil classification, earthworks testing and strength testing.
• Instrumentation and Monitoring: Training on data acquisition for geotechnical sensors.

Need IRATA Rope Access Training?

Atlas Access Training is Australia’s trusted partner in rope-access education. Our custom-built facility allows technicians to learn how to handle rope access safely and effectively.

If you would like to find out if our training is right for you, contact us at training@atlasaccess.com.au or fill in the form on our Contact Us page.