Eliminating musculoskeletal injuries during Climb School through Ergonomics
Utility companies depend on a workforce that can perform physically demanding tasks under pressure, often outdoors in grueling weather conditions, at height, or during long shifts. Preparing for such a role starts at Climb School, where new hires are introduced to the realities of line work. Within a matter of days, they are expected to climb poles, move equipment overhead, and demonstrate the physical grit needed for the job.
Many of these new employees arrive with limited exposure to physically intensive work. That lack of conditioning, combined with high physical demand, creates real injury risk not just for the individual, but for the crew as a whole. Case in point: One utility company client recorded seven musculoskeletal injuries in a single year during Climb School training, injuries that happened before the job even began.
That’s when they called BIOKINETIX. As a result, the next two years saw zero injuries during Climb School. That is what early ergonomic intervention can do.
What Makes Climb School So Physically Demanding
Most utility employees start in apprentice roles and quickly move into Climb School, often within weeks of being hired. For many, Climb School is the entry point to becoming a lineman or journeyman, the roles where they’ll spend their careers performing complex, physically intense work.
Lineman jobs generally fall into two categories: underground and overhead. Underground linemen spend their time inside manholes, splicing and maintaining electrical joints in tight spaces with low visibility. Overhead linemen climb poles and work on high-voltage electrical wires above ground. Both roles require confidence, endurance, and full-body control, and both begin with Climb School.
Climb School is where new hires learn how to physically do the job, including how to strap climbing hooks (gaffs) to their boots, force them into wooden poles, and climb vertically while carrying the tools and gear needed for overhead work. This movement alone places significant strain on the lower legs, hips, shoulders, and grip.
Trainees are expected to:
- Work overhead with arms raised for extended periods
- Perform repetitive climbs using leg-mounted gaffs
- Wear full-body harnesses and carry loaded tool belts
- Maintain grip strength while suspended or unbalanced
- Maneuver crossarms and equipment in awkward positions
- Train outdoors in variable weather and heat
But the job demands more than just strength or grit. Conditioning in this setting means preparing the entire body for stress in addition to muscular strength, including joint stability, soft tissue resiliency, and movement control under load.
BIOKINETIX athletic trainers teach new hires to think like athletes. Just like a preseason training camp, Climb School requires ramping up gradually and recovering purposefully. That includes understanding the importance of proper hydration and electrolyte intake, limiting caffeine overload, sleeping consistently, along with understanding how the body responds to repeated load over time.
Most new hires have never thought about movement this way, or at least not the movement associated with their new occupations. Without that foundation, even hard-working trainees are at risk of injury.
The Role of Ergonomics in New Hire Training: Prevent injuries before they start
BIOKINETIX program managers integrate ergonomics for new hire training directly into utility company’s own training programs. Climb School is the ideal environment for real-time coaching as trainees repeat the same tasks over and over. This gives the BIOKINETIX team a unique opportunity to observe movements, make corrections, and reinforce safe patterns from the beginning before they become bad habits.
BIOKINETIX athletic trainers work alongside Climb School instructors to help new hires adjust their technique, build body awareness, and avoid high-risk positions. The sooner trainees learn what safe movement feels like, the more likely they are to carry those habits into the field.
This training often includes:
- Movement screenings using 3D motion capture
- Pre-training strength and conditioning guidance
- Daily warmups and recovery support on site
- Real-time coaching during mock job tasks
- Ongoing education around posture, hydration, rest, and recovery
Ergonomics is not a one-time training session. It is one of the most important strategies we can implement to help new employees learn how to use their body safely and effectively and build habits they can carry through their careers.
Let’s Talk About Your Training Program
BIOKINETIX provides the experience, tools, and on-site coaching you need to add comprehensive ergonomics training to help your new employees move well and stay injury-free. Reach out today to talk about how BIOKINETIX can support your Climb School and build More UpTime from the very beginning.
