CTSP Tree Climbing and Rigging Safety Flashcards
7 cards from real CTSP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 CTSP Tree Climbing and Rigging Safety flashcards as text
When using a friction hitch to ascend a rope, which condition most significantly reduces its holding ability?
Answer: Wet or icy rope surface
Wet or icy rope surfaces reduce friction dramatically, causing friction hitches to slip and fail under load.
A climber needs to redirect a rigging line through a natural crotch. What is the primary concern with this technique compared to using a block?
Answer: Natural crotches cannot support dynamic loads as predictably as a rated block
Natural crotches are unrated and may fail unexpectedly under dynamic loading, unlike certified rigging blocks with known working load limits.
What does the term 'running bowline' refer to in arborist rigging?
Answer: A bowline tied around the standing part of the rope to form a sliding loop
A running bowline forms a noose-like loop that tightens under load, commonly used to capture brush or limbs during rigging.
During a descent on a single rope, a climber notices the rope beginning to spin. The BEST immediate action is to:
Answer: Stop descent, allow the rope to detwist, then continue slowly
Stopping and allowing the rope to detwist prevents kinking and potential hitch failure; rushing or releasing the device creates additional hazard.
Which factor is MOST important when selecting the size of a rigging ring (port-a-wrap ring or friction device ring)?
Answer: The ring's working load limit must exceed the expected load from the piece being lowered
The rigging ring's working load limit must be rated to handle the maximum expected load to prevent catastrophic failure during lowering operations.
A 'dead crotch' or dead branch attachment point is identified in the tree a climber intends to use for an anchor. The correct response is to:
Answer: Select a live, structurally sound anchor point elsewhere in the tree
Dead wood is structurally unreliable and can fail without warning; climbers must always select live, sound wood for climbing anchor points.
When two climbers are working in the same tree simultaneously, the essential coordination requirement is:
Answer: Continuous verbal communication so neither climber is below the other's work zone
Continuous communication prevents one climber from working above the other, which creates a struck-by hazard from falling tools, limbs, or equipment.