Hand Signals & Communication Protocols Flashcards
7 cards from real NCCCO practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Hand Signals & Communication Protocols flashcards as text
In low-visibility or noisy environments where hand signals and radio are both impractical, what backup communication method is NCCCO-recognized?
Answer: Using a pre-agreed whistle or air horn code
NCCCO and ASME B30.5 recognize audible signals (horn or whistle codes) as an acceptable backup when standard methods are impractical.
What is the correct hand signal for 'Extend Boom' (telescoping)?
Answer: Both fists together, thumbs pointing outward
To signal 'Extend Boom,' both fists are held together with thumbs pointing outward, mimicking the boom telescoping out.
A newly assigned signalperson arrives on a job site. Before they direct any crane operation, what NCCCO requirement must be met?
Answer: They must be verified as qualified and acknowledged by the operator before work begins
NCCCO and OSHA require the signalperson to be qualified (trained and evaluated) and the crane operator must acknowledge them before any signals are given.
During a pick-and-carry operation, who has primary authority over travel direction signals?
Answer: The appointed signalperson designated before the operation began
Only the pre-designated signalperson has authority to direct the operator during pick-and-carry; random workers along the path cannot override this.
What does it mean when a signalperson taps the top of their helmet with an open palm?
Answer: This is a crane operator signal only — not a standard ASME hand signal
Tapping the helmet is not an ASME B30.5 standardized hand signal; only the defined set of signals should be used to avoid misinterpretation.
When a radio battery dies mid-lift and no backup is available, what should the signalperson do?
Answer: Signal STOP, advise the operator, and switch to hand signals before resuming
If radio fails, the lift must stop and both parties must agree to switch to an alternative method (typically standardized hand signals) before continuing.
Which of the following correctly describes the hand signal for 'Retract Boom' (telescoping in)?
Answer: Both fists held together with thumbs pointing inward toward each other
To signal 'Retract Boom,' both fists are held together with thumbs pointing inward, the opposite of the extend signal.