Sports Financial Services has seen an increasing number of enquiries from rope access technicians and industrial rope access contractors who are looking for rope access life insurance, health insurance and income protection cover. These enquiries often arise because of our heritage of providing cover for hazardous pursuits and extreme outdoor sports.
Sports Financial Services was originally founded as Summit Financial Services. We still operate this popular service that specifically provides cover for climbers, hill walkers and mountaineers. This heritage means that we have a close empathy and association with climbers and mountaineers who sometimes take their recreational sporting activities into their hazardous occupations.
Cover for rope access and working at heights
Wherever your work takes you, from city sky scrapers to the challenges of the offshore oil and gas industry, Sports Financial Services will be happy to hear from you to discuss your needs.
There are a range of insurance options available for those looking to provide for a family, pay off a mortgage or provide income protection should an accident (or worse) happen whilst working at heights.
If you work in rope access and are looking for a lump sum to be paid following an accident or natural death then you may want to consider life insurance. Alternatively, an accident or fall whilst working a height may leave you unable to work for a while and an income protection policy may be another choice for you.
Rope access working risks
There are many risks associated with working at height and this can result in rope access work being rated as a hazardous occupation. This has traditionally meant that rope access workers have had to pay more for their life insurance and receive restrictions or loadings for illness cover.
Working at height environment
There are a broad range of hazardous environments, from the local town hall to international industrial chemical plants, in which rope access workers operate.
The work of rope access technicians can include cleaning, repairing, inspecting, maintaining or accessing difficult or confined locations. Rope access workers may find themselves undertaking work in the following types of industries:
- Power, chemical and petrochemical
- Shipping and harbours
- Offshore oil and gas industry
- Natural environment
- Built environment
- Renewable energy
Alternatively, rope access technicians and IRATA workers may find themselves in iconic built environments such as tourist attractions, stadiums, airports, bridges, hotels, dams, churches and cathedrals.
Specialist rope access protection equipment
Those who work at height may seek to limit the risk of injury through the use of specialist access equipment and personal protective equipment, such as:
- Ropes
- Rope protectors
- Slings
- Backup devices
- Hand ascenders
- Descenders
- Karabiners
- Harness
- Helmet
- Boots
- Gloves
- Goggles
Rope bags, kit bags and tool bags are often used to protect and secure safety equipment during and between rope access jobs.
Life insurance, health insurance and income protection cover for rope access technicians and IRATA workers
Sports Financial Services work hard to ensure that rope access technicians, and those working at height, can access life and health cover that has previously been subject to restrictions or exclusions because of the hazardous nature of the activity.
If a person uses ropes and associated equipment to gain access or work at height they can contact Sports Financial Services today to speak about their needs in relation to:
- Life insurance
- Mortgage protection
- Critical & serious illness cover
- Mortgage protection
- Income protection
Sports Financial Services are also happy to speak to those in related types of occupation such as ariel erectors, crane operators, engineers working at height, glass/window fitters, sign fitters, scaffolders, stone masons, steel erectors, steeplejacks, tree surgeons, commercial window cleaners and roofers.
How to enquire about financial protection if you are a rope access technician
When applying for rope access technician life insurance cover Sports Financial Services will take into consideration a number of factors that will determine the final premium paid.
A mix of typical life and lifestyle questions that may be asked, include:
- Your personal lifestyle (smoking, drinking and regular exercise)
- Your height
- Your weight
- Your age
- Your medical history
Typical occupational questions relating to rope access technicians could include:
- Membership of professional bodies (e.g. IRATA)
- Professional training and qualifications
- IRATA level 1,2,3
- Frequency of work
- Type of work and industry
- Average working height
- Maximum working height
- Percentage of manual and office-based work
- National or international geographical locations of work
If combining work at height with the additional hazard of working offshore then additional questions could include:
- Transport methods to offshore locations
- Location of work (e.g. Gulf / North Sea)
- Percentage of time offshore / onshore
- Work combined with other technical activities (e.g. diving)
- Working with dangerous machinery
Finally, questions relating to the amount and duration of cover will be sought, such as:
- Amount of cover required (£)
- The term of the policy (years)
- The type of policy required and any mix of additional cover options
Information such as this will help determine the level of risk involved and the ultimately the premium paid for a policy.
The team at Sports Financial Services have many years of experience dealing with hazardous sports and occupations. A personal adviser is allocated to each enquiry and will talk you through the specific questions that relate to you and your cover.
Business protection for hazardous occupations
For those who pursue dangerous occupations and operate a Limited Company or operate at Director level then you may want to speak to Sports Financial Services about options for life, health and business protection cover, including:
- Key Person insurance
- Relevant Life insurance
- Shareholder Protection
- Income Protection
- Individual and company Private Medical Insurance
Financial protection for those who work at height
Even if a rope access technician has an existing policy in place elsewhere, Sports Financial Services will be happy to hear from them, even if only to provide them with peace of mind that their cover and premiums are comparable with current market products.
If you would like to find out more about the whole range of life insurance, health insurance and income protection cover available for rope access technicians, or those who work at height, please contact Sports Financial Services today on 0345 565 0935 or visit www.sports-fs.co.uk.