CATS CATS - Certified Arborist Tree Service of Albuquerque Tree Climbing and Aerial Rescue Questions and Answers 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the ANSI Z133 minimum approach distance non-qualified arborists must maintain from energized power lines up to 50 kV?
- Ten feet minimum approach distance (Correct answer)
- Two feet minimum clearance
- No special clearance is required
- Contact the utility only for lines over 100 kV
Correct answer: Ten feet minimum approach distance
Only qualified line-clearance arborists trained by utilities may work inside the ten-foot boundary; all others must stay outside it.
Question 2: What does 'work positioning' mean in aerial tree work?
- Using the climbing system to support body weight so both hands are free for tools (Correct answer)
- Selecting the best ground-level viewing position before climbing
- Deciding which branch to stand on during the climb
- Positioning ground crew for optimal debris catching
Correct answer: Using the climbing system to support body weight so both hands are free for tools
Work positioning allows the arborist to use both hands for a chainsaw or handsaw while the saddle and rope bear body weight.
Question 3: Why should an arborist never position themselves directly beneath a heavy limb being removed?
- The limb can fall unpredictably and cause a fatal struck-by injury (Correct answer)
- It blocks sunlight needed to see the cut clearly
- It is considered disrespectful to the tree
- It violates local Albuquerque union work rules
Correct answer: The limb can fall unpredictably and cause a fatal struck-by injury
Even rigged limbs can swing, bounce, or shift during the cut, creating a deadly strike zone directly below the cut point.
Question 4: What is the purpose of establishing a 'work zone' during aerial tree operations?
- To create a clear exclusion area below the climber protecting ground crew and bystanders (Correct answer)
- To define the climber's permitted range of movement in the canopy
- To mark underground utilities before the crew begins work
- To designate a parking area for company vehicles
Correct answer: To create a clear exclusion area below the climber protecting ground crew and bystanders
Debris, cut wood, and equipment can fall unexpectedly, making a clear drop zone essential to prevent ground-level injuries.
Question 5: What does ANSI Z133 require regarding a chainsaw when it is not in active use aloft?
- The saw must be secured by a separate tether or lanyard (Correct answer)
- The saw can be set on a stable branch temporarily
- The saw must be shut off completely after each individual cut
- Hand saws must replace chainsaws above 20 feet
Correct answer: The saw must be secured by a separate tether or lanyard
A tethered saw prevents a dropped chainsaw from becoming a fatal projectile for ground personnel.
Question 6: What is a 'redirect' in tree climbing?
- A secondary rope attachment that changes the rope's direction to improve the climber's positioning (Correct answer)
- A type of rescue knot used in emergencies
- A ground-level anchor point for the main climbing line
- A hand signal used to communicate with ground crew
Correct answer: A secondary rope attachment that changes the rope's direction to improve the climber's positioning
Redirects let the climber move to specific positions in the canopy by altering the rope's angle of pull without re-tying the TIP.
CATS CATS - Certified Arborist Tree Service of Albuquerque Tree Climbing and Aerial Rescue Questions and Answers 2
What is the ANSI Z133 minimum approach distance non-qualified arborists must maintain from energized power lines up to 50 kV?