Inspecting Suspension Scaffold Wire Ropes
Ensure swaged attachments or spliced eyes on wire suspension ropes are not used unless they are made by the manufacturer or a qualified person. When wire rope clips are used on suspension scaffolds, ensure:
- A minimum of 3 clips are installed, with the clips a minimum of 6 rope diameters apart. (e.g. 1/2" cable x 6 = 3" spacing between clips)
- Clips are installed according to the manufacturer's recommendations.
- Clips are retightened to the manufacturer's recommendations after the initial loading.
- Clips are being inspected and retightened to the manufacturer's recommendations at the start of each subsequent work shift.
- U-bolt clips are not being used at the point of suspension for any scaffold hoist.
- When U-bolt clips are used, each U-bolt is placed over the dead end of the rope, and the saddle is placed over the live end of the rope.
- Make sure suspension ropes are being shielded from heat-producing processes.
- When acids or other corrosive substances are used on a scaffold, ensure the ropes are:
- shielded
- treated to protect against the corrosive substances
- are of a material that will not be damaged by the substances
SPRAT Rope Access Equipment Inspection Practices
The Society of Professional Rope Access Technicians (SPRAT) establishes safe practices for inspecting, maintaining, and managing rope access equipment. Inspections help ensure that ropes, harnesses, connectors, anchorage devices, and mechanical equipment remain safe for use. See a summary of SPRAT rope access equipment inspection practices below.
- Pre-Use Inspections: Technicians inspect equipment before each use to identify wear, damage, deterioration, or malfunction.
- Periodic Detailed Inspections: Equipment receives documented inspections by a competent person at intervals established by SPRAT practices, manufacturer instructions, and the employer's rope access program.
- Ropes and Webbing: Inspect for cuts, abrasion, damaged fibers, chemical exposure, heat damage, and deterioration.
- Harnesses and Connectors: Check stitching, buckles, attachment points, carabiner gates, and locking mechanisms for damage or improper operation.
- Mechanical Devices: Inspect descenders, ascenders, and backup devices for wear, deformation, corrosion, and proper operation.
- Anchorage Equipment: Examine anchor connectors, slings, and rigging components for damage, deterioration, and secure installation.
- Equipment Records: Maintain equipment identification, inspection history, maintenance information, and retirement records.
- Defective Equipment: Immediately remove equipment from service when defects are found or its safety cannot be verified.
SPRAT's Safe Practices for Rope Access Work, Version 25A (January 2025), Section 13.3, specifies pre-use inspection, annual minimum inspection documentation, and removal of equipment that fails inspection. It does not establish a universal six-month inspection interval.
Key Point: SPRAT emphasizes inspecting equipment before use, documenting inspections at least annually, following manufacturer instructions, and immediately removing unsafe equipment from service.
Broken Suspension Ropes Result in Worker Death
Two victims and a co-worker were painting the side of a building in San Francisco. They were on a two-point suspension scaffold that did not have guardrails; the ropes suspending the scaffold were old and had not been inspected; and the employees were not wearing safety belts. When the left scaffold rope broke and the scaffold collapsed, one employee was killed and another fell to a nearby roof and broke both arms. The co-worker was left hanging on to the remaining scaffold rope.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
5-11. When inspecting wire rope clips on suspension scaffolds, ensure _____.
You forgot to answer the question!