NCCER Crane Lift Planning, Critical Lifts & Personnel Hoisting — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When hoisting personnel on a crane-suspended platform, the total load cannot exceed what percentage of the crane's rated capacity at that radius and configuration?
- 75%
- 100%
- 50% (Correct answer)
- 85%
Correct answer: 50%
OSHA 1926.1431 limits the total weight of the loaded personnel platform and rigging to 50% of the crane's rated capacity for the radius and configuration used.
Question 2: What must be done before hoisting personnel on a crane-suspended platform at each new location?
- A trial lift with the unoccupied platform loaded to at least the anticipated lift weight (Correct answer)
- A full annual inspection
- A load test to 200% of rated capacity
- Lowering the boom to 0 degrees
Correct answer: A trial lift with the unoccupied platform loaded to at least the anticipated lift weight
OSHA requires a trial lift with the unoccupied platform loaded to at least the anticipated weight, from ground level to each location the platform will be hoisted to. It must be repeated whenever the crane is moved or set up again.
Question 3: Which of these lifts is MOST commonly classified as a critical lift that needs a written lift plan?
- A routine lift at 30% of chart capacity
- Lifting a pallet of block in open terrain
- A tandem lift with two cranes (Correct answer)
- Unloading a flatbed truck within the crane's normal duty cycle
Correct answer: A tandem lift with two cranes
Multi-crane (tandem) lifts are almost always critical lifts, and OSHA 1926.1432 requires a plan from a qualified or competent person. Lifts near chart capacity, over occupied areas and personnel lifts are also typical critical-lift triggers.
Question 4: Which information is LEAST needed when preparing a lift plan?
- Total load weight including rigging
- Maximum radius during the lift
- Ground bearing conditions
- The crane's paint color (Correct answer)
Correct answer: The crane's paint color
A lift plan needs gross load weight (load plus rigging and hook block), radius, boom length and angle, ground conditions, obstructions and power lines. Paint color has nothing to do with lift safety.
Question 5: When calculating gross load for a lift, which items must be added to the weight of the object being lifted?
- Only the slings
- The hook block, slings, shackles, spreader bars and any other lifting attachments (Correct answer)
- The counterweight
- Nothing, since load charts already include all rigging
Correct answer: The hook block, slings, shackles, spreader bars and any other lifting attachments
Everything below the boom tip counts as load. That includes the hook block or overhaul ball, slings, hardware and below-the-hook devices, and on many cranes stowed or erected jibs and hoist line as the manufacturer specifies.
Question 6: During a personnel lift, what must the crane's hoist and boom be operated with?
- Power-controlled lowering, with free fall prohibited (Correct answer)
- Free fall allowed to save time
- Load brakes disengaged
- The swing lock released
Correct answer: Power-controlled lowering, with free fall prohibited
OSHA requires the load line and boom to lower under power when hoisting personnel. Free fall is prohibited.
