NCCCO Emergency Procedures & Accident Prevention 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A crane's wire rope breaks during a lift. What is the operator's immediate priority?
- Try to catch the load with another line
- Sound the alarm, ensure personnel are clear, and secure the crane (Correct answer)
- Inspect the broken rope immediately
- Continue operations with the remaining lines
Correct answer: Sound the alarm, ensure personnel are clear, and secure the crane
Immediately alert all personnel in the area, ensure no one approaches the fallen load, secure the crane, and report the incident. Investigation and rope inspection come after the area is safe.
Question 2: What should happen if a crane contacts a power line?
- The operator should immediately jump out of the cab
- The operator should stay in the cab, try to move the crane away, and warn others to stay clear (Correct answer)
- Turn off the engine and exit normally
- Have someone disconnect the power line
Correct answer: The operator should stay in the cab, try to move the crane away, and warn others to stay clear
The cab provides electrical protection. The operator should try to swing or drive away from the line. If unable to move, stay in the cab. If forced to exit, jump clear without touching the crane and ground simultaneously.
Question 3: What is the 'crane operator's stop work authority'?
- The right to take scheduled breaks
- The authority to stop any operation they believe is unsafe, regardless of who ordered it (Correct answer)
- The ability to stop traffic near the job site
- Authority to shut down other equipment
Correct answer: The authority to stop any operation they believe is unsafe, regardless of who ordered it
OSHA and industry standards give operators the right and responsibility to stop work if conditions become unsafe. This authority cannot be overridden by supervisors or site managers.
Question 4: During a critical pick, what additional safety measures should be in place?
- No additional measures beyond normal operations
- A detailed lift plan, additional personnel for spotting, pre-lift meeting, and contingency procedures (Correct answer)
- Just extra hard hats
- Only a backup crane
Correct answer: A detailed lift plan, additional personnel for spotting, pre-lift meeting, and contingency procedures
Critical lifts (near capacity, over personnel, with hazardous loads) require a written lift plan, engineering review, pre-lift safety meeting, dedicated signal persons, and documented contingency procedures.
Question 5: What is the first step in responding to a crane tip-over or collapse?
- Try to right the crane immediately
- Evacuate the area, call emergency services, account for all personnel, and secure the scene (Correct answer)
- Take photographs for documentation
- Notify the crane manufacturer
Correct answer: Evacuate the area, call emergency services, account for all personnel, and secure the scene
Immediate actions: evacuate the area to prevent additional injuries, call 911, account for all personnel who were in or near the work zone, and secure the scene to prevent further incidents.
Question 6: How can 'caught between' hazards be prevented during crane operations?
- By working faster
- By maintaining safe distances from pinch points, using tag lines to control loads, and establishing exclusion zones (Correct answer)
- By wearing thicker gloves
- Caught-between hazards only apply to forklifts
Correct answer: By maintaining safe distances from pinch points, using tag lines to control loads, and establishing exclusion zones
Caught-between injuries occur when people are trapped between the crane/load and a fixed object. Prevention includes exclusion zones, tag lines for load control, swing radius barriers, and constant communication.
NCCCO Emergency Procedures & Accident Prevention 2
A crane's wire rope breaks during a lift.
What is the operator's immediate priority?