Mikael Blixt on rope work and tips for those working at height
Mikael Blixt, business developer in Rope Access and Services at C2, is a real all-rounder and has worked both as a firefighter, climbing instructor and KAM before starting his first position at C2. Here Mikael talks about rope access as a working method, what challenges he encounters, and what tips he gives you who work at high altitude.
It was in the late 90's that Mikael became interested in sport climbing and today - with rope work as one of his areas of expertise - he makes good use of his knowledge and experience from sport climbing.
A flexible, safe and cost-effective method
Mikael says that in cases where rope is a suitable method, it is flexible, safer, more environmentally friendly and more cost-effective. For example, if you use ropes, you don't have to wait for scaffolding to be ready before you can start working. The job is therefore done faster and it is also much safer. There are few reported accidents in rope access and almost no reported fatalities. The statistics speak for themselves when compared to traditional methods such as scaffolding, mobile working platforms, lifts and cranes. It is the safest method when the work itself recognises rope access as a method!
- The construction industry is dominated by scaffolding, mobile working platforms and lifts. But some projects cannot be realised with scaffolding. One example is when Tele2 Arena was to have its roof beams painted for fire protection; if scaffolding had been used, the entire operation would have had to be shut down during the time and it would have been almost impossible to carry out in practice," says Mikael.
Challenges of rope grazing
One of the reasons why rope grazing is not widely used today is often due to tradition and uncertainty, says Mikael.
- We are behind both the EU and the rest of the world in recognising the potential of the method. The biggest challenge is that clients are unaware that the method is available. They also often have difficulty understanding the technology of how steps can be performed with ropes. They can't visualise it, so you have to present it in a good way.
However, Mikael can see that the trend is reversing and that people today have a better understanding of rope grazing when it comes to new buildings, where they often ask themselves whether they should use traditional methods such as lifts etc. or rope grazing for different parts of the project.
In maintenance work of various kinds, rope grazing is today used as an established and prioritised method, for example in the wind power industry, the electrical industry, bridge inspections and repairs, chimneys, tunnels, oil rigs, facade renovation and repair, etc.
Michael's 4 tips for working at height
1. prepare yourself well
Make sure that all the paperwork is in order before the job starts; if this is done correctly from the start, it will be cheaper (no penalty fees) and better for all parties. After all, there is a practical reason for writing work environment plans, rescue plans, risk analyses, method descriptions, etc. that may be easy to forget.
2. Look at the big picture
Make sure that everything is complete; that training, methods, inspections, etc. are comprehensive and harmonised. Ensure that the method chosen for the work is well thought out. Choose the right equipment and method. Save time and get a good end result.
- Good communication
Good communication between all parties, from the client to the project manager to the workers, is essential for a successful project. It's better to ask one question too many than too few before implementing something. - Don't be afraid of a do-over
Don't be afraid, if things don't turn out the way you planned, stop everything, take a deep breath or two, rethink, perform in a new way. The main thing is that the work is carried out safely, efficiently and leads to a good end result.
Want to get in touch with Mikael? You can reach him on 018-56 69 92 or by email. here.