CWI Climbing Wall Safety & Equipment 5

Question 1

Which condition in a climbing gym environment poses the highest risk of hold failure on a woodboard training wall?

Accepted Answer

Holds mounted with T-nuts that have spun or pulled through the board

Answer

Spun or pulled-through T-nuts lose their gripping capacity and can cause holds to rotate or detach unexpectedly under load.

Question 2

What is the recommended minimum ceiling clearance above the top of a climbing wall for safe operation?

Accepted Answer

3 feet

Answer

At least 3 feet of clearance above the top anchor allows for safe rope handling and prevents a climber from contacting the ceiling during a fall.

Question 3

A CWI observes a climber wearing open-toed sandals on the wall. The correct action is to:

Accepted Answer

Stop the climber and require proper climbing shoes or closed-toe footwear

Answer

Open-toed footwear creates a significant risk of foot injury from holds and the wall surface, and proper footwear is a mandatory safety requirement.

Question 4

When a climbing rope shows sheath slippage (the sheath bunching or sliding relative to the core), the rope should be:

Accepted Answer

Retired from use

Answer

Sheath slippage indicates the sheath and core have separated, compromising the rope's dynamic performance and requiring retirement.

Question 5

During a lead climbing fall, a 'whipper' refers to:

Accepted Answer

A long, dynamic fall where the climber swings or falls a significant distance

Answer

A whipper is slang for a long, dynamic lead fall where the climber swings or falls far before the rope catches them.

CWI Practice Test