Location: Elland Road Stadium, Leeds, West Yorkshire
Industry Sector: Sports & Leisure / Construction
Scope of Work: Supply, installation, inspection and removal of man-safe safety netting.
Team Deployment: IRATA-qualified rope access technicians.
Access Method: IRATA rope access throughout, with all movement at height conducted on a controlled twin-rope system. No MEWP operations were required for this scope.

Overview:

Think Access were engaged by a principal contractor to supply, install, inspect and subsequently remove safety netting to the underside of the West Stand roof structure at a major football stadium in Leeds. The works were required to provide collective fall protection. Thus, the safety netting allowed the safe removal of three roof panels as part of a wider lighting upgrade programme.

All works were carried out by a three-person IRATA-qualified rope access team. The team worked throughout in accordance with FASET guidance, the IRATA ICOP and the Work at Height Regulations 2005.

The Challenge:

• Working to the underside of the roof required operatives to be on rope access systems throughout. Stadium seating was directly below and there was no suitable hard standing beneath the work area.
• The exclusion zone beneath the workface had to be maintained at all times, with barriers, signage and a banksman controlling entry where required. In addition, works were coordinated outside public access periods throughout.
• Net bundles had to be lifted to the work level using a controlled haul line. Moreover, no free-hand lifting was permitted over edges at any point.
• The installation covered multiple bays across the stand; each net had to be fixed and tensioned to the correct overlap. Each net was also photographically logged and subject to daily visual checks.
• Every shift began with a full RAMS and rescue plan briefing, pre-start task sheets, equipment inspections and permit sign-off before rigging commenced.
• The Level 3 supervisor was responsible for approving all anchor points, rigging setups and rescue plans. Each setup was reassessed as the task progressed.

The Solution:

Think Access deployed a team of IRATA-qualified rope access technicians, to carry out the full netting programme across the West Stand. The team arrived on site, discussed scope with the client representative, received site induction and took out the required permits. Task sheets were completed before setting up the exclusion zone and beginning work.

Each bay was worked in sequence. Net bundles were lifted to the underside steelwork via a controlled haul system, then fixed and tensioned using approved ties and fixings by the same rope access technicians who rigged the system. The correct overlap and continuous coverage were maintained throughout. The Level 3 carried out a final check of all fixings, overlaps, sag and tension in each bay before it was released. Nothing was signed off until it met the required standard.

All installation details were logged digitally through the GetKonnected platform as works progressed. The client representative signed off each working day on completion. The Think Access manager verified and closed each visit shortly after. Notably, across multiple site visits and different crew compositions, the same process was followed consistently each time.

On completion, the exclusion zone was re-established. Nets were disconnected in a controlled sequence and lowered via haul line. The work area was cleared and the handover package was prepared, including photographic evidence across the full installation.

Results:

Think Access delivered a complete safety netting programme across the West Stand roof structure. This provided the collective fall protection needed to allow the safe removal of three roof panels as part of the lighting upgrade works. All nets were installed in accordance with FASET guidance and manufacturer instructions. The correct overlap was maintained throughout and full photographic records were provided to the client on completion.

The project was managed via the GetKonnected digital platform and signed off by the site representative on each visit. This gave the principal contractor a full and auditable record of all netting activity carried out.

Safety Netting by IRATA Rope Access

If you need safety netting installed, inspected and managed in hard-to-reach or operationally complex environments, Think Access provides IRATA-qualified rope access teams working to FASET guidelines, ready to deliver safely and to a fully documented, permit-controlled standard.