Pick and Carry Operations Flashcards

During a pick and carry operation, a crane travels downhill on a 3% grade. Compared to the original pick radius measured on level ground, what happens to the effective load radius and what action is required?

Answer: The radius increases as the crane tilts forward, and the operator must verify the pick and carry chart at the new, larger radius before continuing

When traveling downhill, the crane pitches nose-down, causing the boom to rotate forward and the load to swing away from the crane centerline. This effectively increases the load radius beyond what was measured on level ground. The operator must cross-reference the pick and carry load chart at this new, larger radius — which will show a lower rated capacity — before proceeding. There is no ASME B30.5 'grade tolerance' exemption.

A pick and carry operation is in progress when the suspended load begins oscillating in a direction perpendicular to the crane's travel path. What is the MOST appropriate immediate corrective action according to ASME B30.5 principles?

Answer: Stop crane travel immediately and allow the load oscillation to dampen naturally before resuming

Stopping travel immediately removes the driving energy causing the swing and allows the pendulum motion to dissipate. Applying the swing brake (A) during a perpendicular oscillation can transmit a sudden lateral force through the crane structure and potentially initiate a tip. Increasing speed (B) amplifies oscillation energy. Emergency lowering (D) at maximum speed while the crane is moving and the load is swinging can cause a ground impact incident or structural shock load.

A hydraulic rough-terrain crane's pick and carry load chart shows a rating of 18,000 lbs at a 14-foot radius. The crane's tires are inflated to 85 PSI, but the manufacturer's specification requires 110 PSI for pick and carry operations. The operator determines the load is only 16,500 lbs. Which statement is MOST accurate?

Answer: The lift is NOT acceptable — pick and carry chart ratings are explicitly conditioned on tires inflated to manufacturer-specified pressures

Pick and carry load chart ratings are specifically conditioned on tires being inflated to the manufacturer's required pressure. Under-inflated tires change the crane's effective height, alter the dynamic load distribution, and reduce the structural stiffness of the wheel assembly — all of which affect stability. The rated capacity is voided when a prerequisite condition (proper tire pressure) is not met, regardless of how far under the rating the actual load appears to be.

Under ASME B30.5, which factor MOST directly governs the maximum permissible travel speed during a pick and carry operation when the load chart specifies no explicit speed limit?

Answer: The speed at which the load remains under control and crane stability is maintained, as determined by the operator in compliance with the manufacturer's requirements

ASME B30.5 does not impose a single universal speed cap for pick and carry operations. Instead, it requires that travel speed be controlled so the load remains stable and the crane remains under control, consistent with the manufacturer's operational requirements. If the manufacturer specifies a limit (e.g., 2 mph), that limit applies. Where no explicit limit is given, the operator and lift director must select a speed that maintains load control and stability — and that judgment must account for ground conditions, load weight, radius, and dynamic effects.

An operator is assigned to perform a pick and carry operation using a crane whose manufacturer has issued a Service Bulletin that revises (reduces) pick and carry ratings for a specific boom length. The load chart currently in the cab predates the bulletin. The planned lift is within the original chart's rating but exceeds the bulletin's revised rating. Which statement best describes the operator's ASME B30.5 obligation?

Answer: The operator must refuse to proceed until the load chart in the cab reflects the revised ratings from the applicable Service Bulletin

ASME B30.5 requires that cranes be operated in accordance with the manufacturer's current instructions, which include Service Bulletins that modify structural or capacity-related information. A Service Bulletin revising load ratings is a mandatory manufacturer directive — not advisory. The chart in the cab is effectively superseded for the boom lengths addressed by the bulletin. Operating above the revised rating — even if within the older chart's values — violates both the manufacturer's requirements and ASME B30.5. The operator must not proceed until the chart is updated or the load is reduced to comply with the bulletin.

During a pick and carry operation, an operator must navigate a 90-degree turn with a 22,000 lb load suspended from the boom tip. Which engineering phenomenon presents the GREATEST additional hazard during the turn that does NOT exist during straight-line travel?

Answer: Centrifugal force acting on the suspended load, causing it to swing outward and increase the effective load radius beyond the chart value used for straight travel

When a crane carrying a suspended load executes a turn, centrifugal acceleration acts on the load, causing it to pendulum outward from the turn arc. This outward displacement increases the effective load radius — potentially significantly — beyond the radius used to verify chart compliance for straight-line travel. The load chart value is now being exceeded at the actual (larger) radius, which reduces rated capacity. This dynamic effect is compounded at higher speeds and tighter turn radii, and is one of the primary reasons many manufacturers restrict or prohibit turns during pick and carry operations with heavy loads.