AxcessRescue’s hands-on training teaches the skills you need to keep safe at height
“You don’t get a textbook,” says Glenn Speight, founder and owner of AxcessRescue. “You aren’t sitting in a classroom all day. You’re learning in our purpose-built training facility. Our hands-on training gives you a realistic tower-climbing and fall-protection experience in a controlled environment.”
A 25-year veteran of at-height and technical rescue training, Speight takes climber safety training very seriously. He is a Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Certified Environmental Safety and Health Trainer (CET), and he holds a bachelor’s degree in Occupational Safety and Health. Speight is also a SPRAT Evaluator, SPRAT Level 3 Rope Access Technician, Firefighter, Technical Rescuer, and Certified Rigger.
Purpose-Built Facility. Results-Driven Classes.
AxcessRescue recently moved to a new, 3,000 square foot space. “We’ve always had a purpose-built training facility,” says Speight. “Now we have the largest and best equipped tower and rope access training facility in the U.S.” The new space has over 4,000 feet of rope in service and a 30 foot high clearance. An extra-large, 16 foot high roof simulation platform offers an excellent rooftop rigging and access experience.
“We don’t sell products or give instructor certifications,” Speight says. “Training is all we do. When we’re not training, we’re keeping up on new training skills and techniques.”
The importance of that last point is easy to miss. AxcessRescue instructors aren’t just experts in climbing safety, they’re trained how to teach. And the training was designed by specialists in adult education.
“We want our students to really understand the training, so we made sure it was designed for adults,” Speight explains. “And we offer courses in Spanish.”
If you fall, how far do you want to fall?
Speight says there are three fundamental concepts to understand:
- What is free fall? The distance you fall before your fall arrest system slows you down.
- How do you minimize free fall? By understanding and properly using suitable fall protection when at height.
- When do I need suitable fall protection? If you are working at height, ALWAYS. Especially when transitioning from one system to another.
At AxcessRescue, you’ll learn the core concepts of fall protection. “We don’t use fear-factor training. We use clear, simple direction. We teach that modern fall-arrest systems provide you with the ability to go home safely after each work shift.”
Y-Style harnesses, newly designed positioning systems, and energy-absorbing, twin-leg fall arrest lanyards increase the tower workers ability to function more efficiently with a higher level of safety. “We’re one of the few training organizations that knows and provides this type of training,” Speight says.
Rope Access: The safest way to climb
Rope access techniques give workers a continuous fall arrest system plus a lower risk of free fall, all in one package. Combined with suitable anchorages, you can safely position yourself wherever you need to be. It represents the future of telecommunication tower access.
AxcessRescue was the first training company to develop rope access courses specifically for tower workers. The adoption of rope access techniques and certification has been increasing in recent years.
For Speight, this is a welcome shift for the industry. “The success of rope access training, certification, and evaluation programs greatly enhance a company’s and climber’s abilities to perform work at a higher level of safety.”
A joint effort for safety
Tower climbing can be extremely safe. But it takes employer support and climber knowledge to make it so. Employers can help by supporting the training of climbers by professional trainers. And by providing the new advanced equipment for their employees to get their work done safely.
Climbers must understand—and use—suitable fall protection methods at all times. Especially when they are transitioning from one system to another.
AxcessRescue’s mission is to help employers and climbers create the safest climbing environment possible. Their training meets ANSI/ASSP Z490.1-2016 Criteria for Accepted Practices in Safety, Health and Environmental Training and ANSI/ASSP Z359.2-2017 Minimum Requirements for a Comprehensive Managed Fall Protection Program.
These two standards combine to define the basic level of training presentation and climber workplace quality that trainers and training organizations should be capable of providing to at-height workers.
To find out how the dedicated team at AxcessRescue can help you or your employees stay safe while working at height, or to sign up for a course, please visit AxcessRescue today.
Published September 26, 2019
Reader Interactions