Spurs, spikes and climbing irons: where the codes say they may be used

This page reports what the named codes, regulators and makers say. It is not training and does not teach the work. This page reports what the official source says. It is not legal advice: ask the office named here. Every source below was read on October 9, 2026. The courses that teach climbing are in the guides on chainsaw tickets and certifications by country, and the systems the codes name are in the guide on climbing systems compared.

Credits: SafeWork NSW text is adapted from the Tree works code of practice (March 2026), copyright State of New South Wales (SafeWork NSW), licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0; changes were made, because the text is summarised and reworded. WorkSafe New Zealand material is summarised from its Approved Code of Practice for Safety and Health in Arboriculture, with the source acknowledged.

What each source says

Source	What it says about spikes
ICoP, United Kingdom, 3.8.7	Spikes are used only where harm to the tree's health matters little, and the code gives removal of the tree or tree section, and aerial rescue where the casualty's safety comes first, as examples. It calls spiking invasive and says it can do significant damage to the tree. It says spiking is not a technique on its own and goes with a personal fall protection system.
SafeWork NSW code, 4.8, New South Wales	Spikes are used only if the tree is being removed, and not when pruning. They go with a fall prevention system of work positioning harness and adjustable lanyards, are made for tree climbing and adjusted to the climber's leg length, and are not worn on the ground.
WorkSafe NZ code, 3.2.7, New Zealand	No limit by type of job is stated. Spurs come from acknowledged suppliers and are used to the maker's specifications. The code defines spikes as a climbing accessory attached to the lower leg and used with a safety strop.
WorkSafeBC, 26.7.1, British Columbia	For forestry operations, a climber uses a safety belt, a climbing rope or strap and climbing spurs, unless other equipment acceptable to the Board is used. The rules for tree-climbing outside forestry operations, sections 26.12.0.2 to 26.12.0.6, do not mention spurs.
OSHA fact sheet 3752, United States	No limit stated. The sheet says employers provide protective equipment free, naming hard hat, climbing spurs and harness.

The ICoP in detail

The ICoP calls climbing irons a technique for ascent, descent and movement where the operator needs a secure, mobile hold on the stem, notes that they are often called spikes, and says they suit stems with no features that are vertical or nearly so. In its hierarchy for work at height it lists spiking among the methods that minimise the chance of a fall, to be used with moving rope technique, stationary rope technique or a combination of both. HSE's own tree climbing page, which points readers to the ICoP, does not mention spikes.

The SafeWork NSW code in detail

The NSW code defines climbing spikes as sharpened steel spikes attached to a climber's leg, commonly used to ascend trees. Beyond the removal-only point, it says spikes are fitted, sharpened, stored and maintained to the maker's specifications. It says webbing is kept on the outside of the climber's legs and clear of the spikes, that spikes are kept clear of loose ropes, and that they are stored with guards or separately so that they do not damage other climbing equipment.

The New Zealand code in detail

Section 3.2.7 of the WorkSafe code lists what a climber checks on spurs before use: fractures or hairline cracks in the metal parts, misshapen, bent or loose spikes, cut or worn straps, pulled rivets, and damaged or worn buckles, rings and pins. It says excessively worn or damaged components are replaced, or the whole spur is removed from service, and that spurs are kept properly sharpened as the maker recommends. WorkSafe notes the code was written under the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 and has not been updated for the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.

The standard for the kit

ASTM International lists F887-18, Standard Specifications for Personal Climbing Equipment. Its scope covers specifications and qualification testing of climbers, climber straps, climber pads and climber footplates, and also of body belts, arborist saddles, harnesses and energy absorbing lanyards. ASTM says the devices are used by workers climbing poles, trees, towers and other structures. The standard is a product specification; it does not say where spikes may be used.

What the sources leave out

California's Title 8 tree work article and HSE's tree climbing page do not carry a rule on spurs. The ANSI Z133 standard is described on the ISA release page as the safety standard for arboricultural operations in the United States, available since May 27, 2026; that public page does not describe its spike requirements.