NCCCO Lift Planning and Critical Lift Procedures 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When planning a lift near electrical power lines, what is the minimum default clearance distance required by OSHA for lines up to 350 kV?
- 5 feet
- 10 feet
- 15 feet (Correct answer)
- 20 feet
Correct answer: 15 feet
OSHA requires a minimum 15-foot clearance from power lines up to 350 kV when no table value is available.
Question 2: During lift planning, the 'rated capacity' of a crane refers to:
- The maximum load the crane has ever lifted
- The load limit established by the manufacturer for specific configurations (Correct answer)
- The load a crane can lift under ideal weather conditions only
- The working load limit divided by a safety factor of 5
Correct answer: The load limit established by the manufacturer for specific configurations
Rated capacity is the manufacturer-established maximum load for a specific boom length, angle, and radius configuration.
Question 3: A 'tandem lift' requires special planning because:
- It uses a single crane with two hook blocks
- Two or more cranes share the load, making load distribution critical (Correct answer)
- The load must be lifted at least twice the normal height
- Tandem lifts are prohibited under NCCCO standards
Correct answer: Two or more cranes share the load, making load distribution critical
Tandem lifts involve multiple cranes sharing a load, so precise coordination and load distribution calculations are essential to prevent overloading either crane.
Question 4: What document must be developed and approved before performing a critical lift?
- A general safety meeting agenda
- A written lift plan reviewed by a qualified person (Correct answer)
- A verbal agreement between the crane operator and rigger
- A post-lift inspection report
Correct answer: A written lift plan reviewed by a qualified person
Critical lifts require a written lift plan that must be reviewed and approved by a qualified person before the lift begins.
Question 5: Which condition would most likely classify a routine lift as a 'critical lift'?
- The load weighs more than 1,000 lbs
- The load is lifted above 10 feet
- The lift exceeds 75% of the crane's rated capacity (Correct answer)
- The operator has less than 5 years of experience
Correct answer: The lift exceeds 75% of the crane's rated capacity
A lift is typically classified as critical when it exceeds 75% of the crane's rated capacity, requiring enhanced planning and oversight.
Question 6: When calculating the load radius for lift planning, the radius is measured from:
- The tip of the boom to the load center
- The center of rotation of the crane to the center of the load (Correct answer)
- The front outrigger pads to the load attachment point
- The ground level to the load's center of gravity
Correct answer: The center of rotation of the crane to the center of the load
Load radius is measured horizontally from the crane's center of rotation to the center of the suspended load.
Question 7: Before beginning a critical lift over an occupied structure, the lift planner must:
- Post warning signs only on the day of the lift
- Evaluate exclusion zones and ensure personnel are evacuated from the area below the load path (Correct answer)
- Obtain permission from the crane manufacturer
- Increase the load by 25% to test structural limits
Correct answer: Evaluate exclusion zones and ensure personnel are evacuated from the area below the load path
For lifts over occupied structures, establishing exclusion zones and clearing personnel from beneath the load path is mandatory for safety.
NCCCO Lift Planning and Critical Lift Procedures 3
When planning a lift near electrical power lines, what is the minimum default clearance distance required by OSHA for lines up to 350 kV?