Certified Arborist Practice Exam

Where must carabiners always be loaded?

1. Across the gate

2. Double-braid

3. Drop cut

4. Rigging

The correct answer is: Across the gate

Carabiners must always be loaded across the gate to ensure maximum strength and safety during use. When a carabiner is loaded in this manner, the spine—or the strongest part of the carabiner—bears the weight and stress, allowing it to function correctly without risk of failure. Loading a carabiner across the gate aligns the forces acting on it with its designed structural integrity, minimizing the risk of accidental opening or bending that can occur if it is loaded along the gate. Other options do not represent correct loading practices. Double-braid typically refers to a type of rope and does not pertain to how a carabiner should be loaded. A drop cut may refer to a technique in tree removal or pruning but is unrelated to carabiner loading. Rigging is a broader term involving various equipment and techniques in tree care and does not specifically define the proper orientation for loading a carabiner. Understanding the importance of loading across the gate is crucial for ensuring safety during climbing and rigging operations.