Emergency Procedures & Accident Prevention Flashcards

During a critical lift, the crane's load moment indicator (LMI) fails and cannot be reset. The operator has already rigged the load and the lift is time-sensitive. What is the correct course of action?

Answer: Suspend the lift immediately, notify the lift director, and do not resume until the LMI is repaired or a qualified person authorizes a controlled workaround per the manufacturer

A failed LMI is a safety-critical device failure. OSHA 1926.1416 and manufacturer requirements prohibit operating with malfunctioning safety devices unless a qualified person authorizes a specific documented procedure. The operator must suspend operations, not improvise safety margins or rely on visual judgment alone.

A crane operator notices the load has begun to swing uncontrollably due to an unexpected gust of wind. The load is over an exclusion zone with personnel below. Which sequence of actions is correct?

Answer: Sound the alarm, lower the load immediately to the nearest ground surface, and radio personnel to evacuate

When a load is swinging over personnel, the priority is to clear the exclusion zone hazard. Lowering the load to the nearest safe surface while simultaneously evacuating personnel removes the overhead danger. Engaging swing brakes on a swinging load can cause sudden shock loading; booming up increases radius forces; emergency stops lock all motion leaving the load suspended overhead.

A lattice boom crawler crane is traveling on a job site when the operator feels an unusual vibration and the machine begins to list to one side. What should the operator do FIRST?

Answer: Stop travel, keep the boom in the direction of travel, and assess ground conditions before any further movement

When a crane begins listing during travel, ground instability (soft soil, voids, or underground utilities) is the likely cause. The operator must stop travel immediately to prevent further settling. The boom should remain in the direction of travel per manufacturer guidelines to maintain stability. Swinging the boom shifts the center of gravity and can accelerate a tip-over; increasing speed worsens ground pressure; lowering the boom immediately could create an asymmetric load on already compromised ground.

While performing a tandem lift with two cranes, the primary crane's hydraulic system develops a slow leak mid-lift. The load is at 80% of the primary crane's rated capacity. What is the required action under ASME B30.5?

Answer: Immediately lower the load to the ground in a controlled manner, coordinating with the secondary crane operator

A hydraulic leak on a crane under load is an emergency — hydraulic pressure loss can cause uncontrolled load lowering or boom drop. ASME B30.5 and standard crane safety protocols require lowering the load in a controlled, coordinated manner as the immediate response. Transferring load to the secondary crane in a tandem lift without an engineered procedure creates unplanned load sharing beyond the approved lift plan. Continuing the lift or locking hydraulic controls are unsafe — hydraulic integrity cannot be assumed with an active leak.

An operator is working near energized power lines at 115 kV. The minimum approach distance required under OSHA 1926.1408 for equipment under normal operating conditions is:

Answer: 15 feet

Under OSHA 1926.1408 Table A, for voltages over 50 kV up to 200 kV, the minimum clearance distance is 15 feet. The common misconception is that the default 10-foot rule applies universally — it only applies to lines up to 50 kV. At 115 kV, the required minimum is 15 feet. This is a frequently tested distinction because operators often memorize only the 10-foot default.

During a pick-and-carry operation, the operator realizes the outriggers were never extended because the foreman stated 'pick-and-carry doesn't need outriggers.' The load is already rigged. What is the operator's responsibility?

Answer: Refuse to make the lift until the crane manufacturer's load chart for the specific pick-and-carry configuration is confirmed and conditions comply

Pick-and-carry is a specific operation with its own rated capacity chart — some cranes are rated for it, some are not, and those that are have strict load, boom angle, travel speed, and surface requirements. The operator must verify the manufacturer's pick-and-carry load chart applies and that all conditions (surface, load, configuration) are met before the lift. Proceeding because 'pick-and-carry doesn't use outriggers' conflates the absence of outriggers with the absence of requirements — both are wrong in this context. The operator bears final responsibility and must refuse an unsafe lift regardless of foreman instruction.