About Safe Lifting & Rope Access Specialists
S.L.R.A.S deliver contract lifting, IRATA rope access and independent safety consultancy across renewable energy, oil and gas, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, mining, construction and marine sectors — onshore, offshore and across the UK from our North East base.
Our Story
Built by technicians. Trusted by industry.
Safe Lifting Rope Access Specialists Ltd brings lifting operations, industrial rope access and safety consultancy together under one accountable team. Built on more than 20 years of hands-on industry experience, we support planned projects, complex operations and time-critical requirements across onshore and offshore environments throughout the UK.
We’re based in the North East of England and work regularly across Teesside, Tyneside, Wearside, County Durham, Northumberland and North Yorkshire, with teams mobilising nationally and offshore at short notice.
Our approach is practical and safety-led. Every lifting scope is planned by a qualified Appointed Person in accordance with LOLER and BS 7121; every rope access scope is supervised by an IRATA Level 3 technician working to the IRATA International Code of Practice. From initial planning and assurance through to onsite execution, one team owns the scope.
Most lifting and access scopes require coordinating several contractors – a crane company, an access provider, a safety consultant. Our integrated approach removes that. Lifting and rope access technical authorities work alongside our health and safety specialists, so every project is planned once, resourced correctly and delivered to the relevant regulatory standard.
For unplanned events, our quick-reaction team mobilises at short notice for recovery, made-safe works and emergency access – minimising downtime when operations can’t wait.
Safety First
A zero-harm approach embedded in every lift plan, rescue plan and method statement - not an afterthought at induction.
Accredited & Certified
CHAS Standard accredited and SSIP approved under CDM. Constructionline Gold verified. Personnel qualified through IRATA, ECITB, CPCS, OPITO, NEBOSH and GWO.
People Led
Small, experienced crews led by technical authorities who plan and supervise the work themselves - you deal with the people doing the job, not a call centre.
Compliance Led
Every scope delivered in accordance with LOLER 1998, BS 7121, the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and the IRATA ICOP.
Leading From The Front
James Spanswick - Managing Director
James Spanswick brings more than 20 years of lifting experience across the renewable energy, oil and gas, petrochemical, mining, construction and pharmaceutical sectors. His career has taken him throughout the UK, Europe, Africa and Iraq, delivering complex lifting operations in some of the industry’s most demanding environments.
Before founding S.L.R.A.S, James served as lifting subject-matter expert on a major heavy-lift decommissioning jack-up campaign, and previously as Senior HSE Adviser to one of the largest oil and gas producers in the North Sea, implementing and managing health and safety management systems during major COMOPS campaigns.
Recognising the growing demand for safe and efficient working-at-height solutions, James qualified as an IRATA Level 3 Rope Access Supervisor and has since accumulated nine years of supervisory experience leading multidisciplinary rope access teams across construction, decommissioning and fabric-maintenance projects.
He is also a qualified health and safety practitioner, holding a Level 6 Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety, NEBOSH certificates in Process Safety Management, Environmental Management and Fire Safety Management, and CQI/IRCA ISO 9001:2015 Internal Auditor certification.
- Lifting Expert
- Rope Access Supervisor
- Senior HSE Adviser
Lifting Operations & Rigging
CPCS Level 5 Diploma in Controlling and Planning Lifting Operations · CPCS A61 Appointed Person · CPCS A62 Crane Supervisor · CPCS A40 Slinger/Signaller · ECITB Appointed Person (Moving Loads) · ECITB NVQ Level 3 Rigging and Lifting · ECITB TAP01 Planning a Rigging Operation · OPITO Lifting Competent Person · OPITO Approved Rigger · OPITO Approved Banksman · LOLER Planning and Risk Assessment · Rigging Loft Management · Rigging Equipment Inspection
Rope Access & Working at Height
IRATA Level 3 Rope Access Supervisor · Working at Height — Modules 2 & 4 · Rope Access Rescue Planning · IRATA International Code of Practice (ICOP) · Work at Height Regulations 2005 · First Aid at Work
Health, Safety, Quality & Assurance
Level 6 Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety · NEBOSH National General Certificate · NEBOSH Process Safety Management · NEBOSH Environmental Management · NEBOSH Fire Safety Management · CQI and IRCA ISO 9001:2015 Internal Auditor · APRS Radiation Protection Supervisor