This Job Pays Nearly $100k To Climb Up Bridges & Clear Snow | Jaw-dropping Snow Safety Job While Reaching Scary Heights!
Imagine a job where not even the sky is the limit. For Rope Access Technicians (RATs), scaling towering bridges to remove snow blankets is an everyday reality. Their brave work ensures the safety of thousands. With nearly an annual salary of $100k, these skilled individuals balance the dizzying heights against safety protocols.
During the winter, these professionals perform a pivotal function in safeguarding the bridge’s infrastructure. They clear the cables of snow and ice also to avoid the dangerous threat of ice bombs. A single misstep could be disastrous. They work under extreme snowstorms and bustling traffic below. With each collar released, they help keep both the bridge cables and the vehicles underneath safe. Let’s learn more about how the job looks from the very top of the bridge and what it takes to take do such an adventurous job.
What It Takes to Clear Snow from Bridge Cables
To understand the gravity of this profession, one must dive into the complex demands of the job. Rope access technicians, or RATs brave tough conditions to reach the height of bridge cables. They have an array of gear designed for maximum efficiency and safety.
This wasn’t always the case, however. The profession of clearing snow to prevent ice bombs came forth as a response to incidents like the 2012 ice bomb fiasco. This incident saw around 350 vehicles damaged on the Port Mann bridge. Since then, the installation of cable collars has revolutionized the way snow and ice are managed on bridges. In bridges like Alex Fraser and Port Mann, teams operate manually to keep the cables clear.
Tom, a former RAT, recounts the journey up the bridge as a difficult but fascinating one. According to Tom, it takes roughly 15 to 20 minutes to climb up the main tower of the bridge. The job often requires long-hour shifts that can go as long as 12 hours. They carry up food, tools, warm clothing, and even a hammock to rest. The safety stakes are high with an average wind speed of 40mph.
“You always want to go slower because you’re carrying a bag with some food, because, obviously, you’re on the bridge for 12 hours, so you’ve got warm clothing, a hammock so you can sit down if you need to and relax for a bit, because it’s not go, go, all the time.”
Tom, a former RAT (Vancouver city news)
The Job of A Rope Access Technician
The Rope Access Technician not only engages in repair work but also bears the responsibility for clearing bridge cables. This is a task that comes with its own set of unique challenges and rewards. Performing on ropes, these technicians scale the heights while delivering maintenance with precision. The entry-level salary of this job stands at around $53,000 and with years of experience, they can earn up to $100,000 a year.
A career as a Rope Access Technician isn’t for the faint-hearted. It calls for thorough training and certification. Aspiring technicians must tackle courses and assessments to earn their stripes in the eyes of the Industrial Rope Access Trade Association (IRATA). With each level ascended, their skill set broadens, as does their familiarity with the clouds.
Conclusion
A Rope Access Technician’s role is far more than a mere occupation; it is a demonstration of the intersection between audacity and expertise. As these technicians traverse the cloud-kissing heights of our urban landscapes, their unique job carries a certain poetry—a dance with danger that keeps the mundane world spinning safely below. So, the next time you drive over a snow-draped bridge, remember the silent guardian swinging from the cables above, ensuring your uneventful passage.
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