Mistakes to Avoid when Climbing with Spikes

Climbing spikes are an essential tool for any professional lineman. Durable, sturdy, and dependable, these tools allow climbers to root themselves into wooden electrical poles and ascend them in the safest and most comfortable manner. But no matter how experienced a lineman might be at getting to their designated job site, they can still make potentially life-threatening errors. These are a few key mistakes to avoid when climbing with spikes to put you in the safest possible position on the pole.

Using Older, Possibly Damaged Gear

Though we all have that piece of gear that’s been with us since the beginning, there always comes a time when we need to retire it. This even includes durable metal equipment like your regulation climbing spikes. After several years of cutting into the rough, abrasive wood of electrical poles, these components can become dull, broken, and, ultimately, ineffective. Because of this, it’s in your best interest to switch them out for newer models every few years.

Putting Your Spikes on Improperly

It’s also important that you’re careful about putting your climbing spike pads on properly. Since they’re designed to keep your feet secure, leaving the straps too loose could cause instability while climbing or even lead you to slide out of the bracket. Additionally, making them too tight could also be dangerous, as the larger leg strap could cut into your leg and weaken your blood circulation. As such, before you start your job duties, make sure you check and double-check the security and comfort of your spikes.

Wearing Your Spikes on the Ground

Another mistake to avoid when climbing with spikes is wearing them while walking along the ground. The metal gaff, or the spike that’s driven into the pole, is likely to stick out when a person’s boot sits flush with the ground. This puts it at risk of sliding across the terrain and either causing damage to the sidewalk or to the gaff itself. While the plastic gaff guard that comes with this gear will offer some protection, it’s typically a better practice to keep your spikes off until just before you start climbing.

Not Locking Your Legs Toward the Pole

Make sure you’re locking your legs as you climb the wooden pole. Climbing spikes work by using your weight to drive the gaff towards the heart of the pole. This requires you to keep your legs strong enough to keep the spike rooted in place Otherwise, the gaff could slide out, and you may fall. For this reason, proper climbing practice requires you to keep your knees locked open after driving in the gaff. This maintains the necessary amount of tension to both propel yourself upward and establish a solid foundation to take a break if needed.