Cost
Traditionally when obtaining a quote for works to a structure over two storeys, a large part of the cost is access, whether that be scaffolding, portable towers or cradle systems.
Both of these methods will include costs for set up and removal and will involve high labour costs.
When a rope access company provides a quotation, there are no additional expenses to consider other than labour and materials for carrying out the works. As a result the costs are considerably lower.
Time
Generally the longer a job takes the more money it costs. Conventional methods of access take time to set up and when in place cause inconvenience to both building users and members of the public.
With rope access, operatives can be at the workface ready to start within twenty minutes of reaching site and rather than working from the ground up, rope access operative’s work from top to bottom. This means there is minimal disruption for those at ground level therefore allowing the building to be used as normal.
Safety
IRATA statistics state that rope access is one of the safest types of access available, showing that in 2016 there was only one fatality in nearly 18 million working hours – well below other service industry figures.
It is difficult to directly compare the accident rates of rope access operatives with scaffolding operatives. Scaffolding statistics only account for installation of the access whereas IRATA statistics account for access and works being carried out.
With scaffolding not only is the operative constructing or working on the scaffold at risk of injury but also anybody trespassing on the scaffolding is at higher risk of injury. This is not possible with rope access as all equipment is removed from site at the end of each day.