NCCCO Lift Planning and Critical Lift Procedures 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: According to ASME B30.5, a lift over a public roadway typically requires:
- Only a flagman at each intersection
- Permits, coordination with authorities, and often a written lift plan (Correct answer)
- Written approval from the crane manufacturer
- A minimum of three cranes working in tandem
Correct answer: Permits, coordination with authorities, and often a written lift plan
Lifts over public roadways require appropriate permits, coordination with local authorities, and typically a documented lift plan for traffic management and safety.
Question 2: When must a lift plan be revised during an ongoing operation?
- Only at the end of the shift
- When conditions change significantly, such as a weather change or unexpected ground conditions (Correct answer)
- Only if a crane operator requests the revision in writing
- After every individual pick, regardless of conditions
Correct answer: When conditions change significantly, such as a weather change or unexpected ground conditions
Lift plans must be updated whenever site conditions change significantly enough to affect the safety assumptions on which the original plan was based.
Question 3: The function of outrigger float pads (cribbing) during lift planning is to:
- Increase the crane's boom angle for better capacity
- Distribute the outrigger load over a larger area to reduce ground bearing pressure (Correct answer)
- Lock the outriggers in place to prevent retraction
- Elevate the crane to improve operator sightlines
Correct answer: Distribute the outrigger load over a larger area to reduce ground bearing pressure
Cribbing or outrigger pads spread the concentrated outrigger load over a greater surface area, reducing pressure on the ground and preventing sinking.
Question 4: Which factor is NOT typically required in a critical lift plan?
- Crane capacity at the required radius
- The crane operator's personal fitness level (Correct answer)
- Rigging details and sling capacities
- Identification of hazards and control measures
Correct answer: The crane operator's personal fitness level
While operator qualifications and certifications matter, personal fitness level is not a standard element documented in a critical lift plan.
Question 5: When a crane is operating on a slope, how does the incline affect the lift plan?
- Slopes always increase the rated capacity by allowing wider outrigger extension
- The effective radius increases on the downhill side, reducing the rated capacity for lifts in that direction (Correct answer)
- Slopes have no effect if the outriggers are fully extended
- Only slopes greater than 45 degrees require consideration in lift planning
Correct answer: The effective radius increases on the downhill side, reducing the rated capacity for lifts in that direction
A crane on a slope experiences an increased effective radius on the downhill side, which reduces the rated capacity for lifts made toward the low side.
Question 6: What is the significance of 'structural competency' when selecting a crane for a critical lift?
- It refers only to the crane's hook rated load
- It ensures the crane's boom, structure, and components can withstand the imposed loads without failure (Correct answer)
- It measures how quickly the crane can be assembled on site
- It describes the crane operator's training level
Correct answer: It ensures the crane's boom, structure, and components can withstand the imposed loads without failure
Structural competency confirms that the crane's entire structure — boom, turntable, carrier — is capable of safely handling the planned load without risk of failure.
Question 7: If the load chart shows a capacity of 40 tons at a 30-foot radius, and the planned load plus rigging equals 38 tons, what percentage of rated capacity is being used?
- 80%
- 85%
- 90%
- 95% (Correct answer)
Correct answer: 95%
38 tons divided by 40 tons equals 0.95, or 95% of rated capacity, which would classify this as a critical lift requiring enhanced planning.
NCCCO Lift Planning and Critical Lift Procedures 5
According to ASME B30.5, a lift over a public roadway typically requires: