On the ropes: civil engineers get closer to rail bridges

Bridges and viaducts are an essential part of transport infrastructure, particularly on railway networks where the variety of structural type, size and age usually exceeds that of the highway network. Inspection and examination form a large part of the management of these structures, which are often high and in remote locations. This paper details how rope-access techniques are being increasingly used for the inspection of such structures in the UK and argues the benefits for more civil engineers to be trained in rope-access work.