The February & August classes are Monday – Friday. The April & June classes are Tuesday – Saturday. Students are encouraged to bring their own PPE, if not Med-Tex will provide all the necessary PPE and Equipment needed for the class. This program includes four days of instructional techniques, materials, SPRAT fees and lunch (except certification day).
Physical Guidelines
Participants should expect to perform strenuous activity. You will be suspended for prolonged periods of time over the course of five days. We recommended that students self-evaluate for the following attributes:
- Good strength-to-weight ratio -Arm and core strength will be needed.
- Average to good cardio fitness level – 20 sit-ups or 20 stairs within a few minutes.
- Full function of extremities.
- Free from injuries or chronic conditions that impair digital dexterity.
- Each participant must assume all responsibility for monitoring their own physical limitations.
- If there are any doubts as to your physical abilities or limitations, we recommend you see your physician for a full physical before taking this course.
SPRAT Level I – Rope Access Worker
The SPRAT I certification level assumes no prior rope experience and instructs a candidate on all the basic skills required to work safely on a two-rope system. Curriculum has been developed to help prepare candidates for the written portion of the SPRAT Evaluation.
This course covers the following topics and skills:
- Equipment use and inspection.
- Job Safety Analysis awareness
- Level 1 Knots
- Back-up device use and handling
- Use of ascending system for ascent and short descents
- Use of a descender for descent and short ascents
- Passing Knots in ascent and descent
- Rope-to-rope transfers
- Negotiating a rope deviation (redirect)
- Short rebelay
- Negotiate an edge
- Installing and Passing Rope Protection
- Configurations and Strengths of Simple Structural Anchors
- Raising and Lowering a load with a two rope system
- Pick-off rescue with victim in descent
- Horizontal Aid climb
- Theoretical rope concepts such as fall factors, safety factors, min. breaking strengths, and safe working loads
SPRAT Level II – Rope Access Lead Technician
The SPRAT II certification level is open to SPRAT Level I certified technicians who have 500 documented hours of rope access work and have been a level I technician for at least six months. Several significant new skills are introduced and the proficiency of all level I skills are verified with an increased emphasis on efficiency.
The SPRAT level II rope access course reviews all level I skills and introduces the following new skills and topics.
- Management and communication awareness
- Job Safety Analysis proficiency
- Principles of mechanical advantage systems
- Load sharing anchor mastery
- Pull-through anchors
- Rope systems analysis
- Cross hauling – (platform and pitch head)
- Rescue hauling – (platform and pitch head)
- Vertical Aid climbing
- Rescue in Horizontal Aid climb
- Pick-off rescue with victim in ascent
- Rescue through knots