OSHA Cranes & Derricks Quiz — 29 CFR 1926.1400-1442 Practice (Subpart CC) — Page 2 of 4
Free OSHA 30-Hour Construction cranes and derricks practice test with 40 realistic scenarios. Operator certification, rigging inspection, power line clearance, load charts, signal person requirements, and crane assembly/disassembly with 29 CFR 1926 Subpart CC references. (Page 2 of 4)
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Q11/ 40
A 50-ton hydraulic crane is set up with outriggers fully extended on asphalt. The outrigger pads are 2-foot square steel plates. The ground pressure under one outrigger during a near-capacity lift is calculated at 85 psi. The asphalt is 3 inches thick on compacted base. Is this setup adequate?
✅ Correct Answer: B
1926.1402(c): the controlling entity must ensure ground conditions are adequate to support the equipment. Hot asphalt can soften significantly, reducing bearing capacity. Typical asphalt bearing capacity is 30-60 psi depending on temperature and base. At 85 psi, the outrigger can punch through, causing the crane to tilt. Timber cribbing/mats increase the footprint area, reducing ground pressure. The competent person must evaluate ground conditions per 1926.1402(b).
Q12/ 40
A mobile crane is working 30 feet from an energized 115 kV transmission line. The operator plans a lift where the boom tip could come within 18 feet of the line. What is the minimum clearance required under 1926.1408 Table A?
✅ Correct Answer: B
1926.1408 Table A: for lines rated over 50 kV to 200 kV, the minimum clearance is 20 feet. At 115 kV (which falls in the >50-200 kV range), 20 feet is required. The planned 18-foot clearance is 2 feet short. Additionally, 1926.1408(a)(1) requires the work zone to be identified before operations. The 20-foot power line safety zone under 1926.1408(a)(1) applies — since the equipment could be within 20 feet, encroachment prevention measures are mandatory.
Q13/ 40
During assembly of a tower crane, the crew discovers a wire rope sling with 8 randomly distributed broken wires in one strand, within one lay length. The sling is 3/4-inch diameter, 6×19 classification. Is the sling usable?
✅ Correct Answer: B
1926.1414(a)(1): wire rope shall be taken out of service when any of the conditions in 1926.1413(a) are present. 1926.1413(a)(2)(ii): for 6×19 classification, removal is required at 6 randomly distributed broken wires in one lay, or 3 broken wires in one strand in one lay. At 8 broken wires in one strand, the rope is significantly damaged and must be removed from service — no de-rating is permitted.
Q14/ 40
A crane operator is making a blind lift — the load is on the other side of a building, out of the operator's view. A signal person with a radio provides directions. The radio battery dies mid-lift. The operator loses communication. What must the operator do?
✅ Correct Answer: B
1926.1419(c): when the operator does not have a clear view of the load, a signal person must be used. 1926.1419(d): if communication is lost, the operator must stop operations until communication is restored. The signal person is the operator's eyes — without communication, the operator is blind to hazards. Continuing a blind lift without communication is extremely dangerous — the load could strike workers, structures, or power lines.
Q15/ 40
A lattice-boom crawler crane is traveling with an 8,000-lb load suspended, on firm level ground. The track is 12 feet wide. The operator is traveling at a normal walking speed. Workers are walking alongside the load to steady it. Is this compliant?
✅ Correct Answer: B
1926.1425(a): employees shall not be under or on suspended loads. 1926.1424(a)(3): the swing radius must be barricaded to prevent unauthorized access. Workers walking alongside a suspended load are exposed to: load swing, boom collapse, rigging failure, and crane tip-over. If the load must be steadied, tag lines should be used from a safe distance outside the fall zone and swing radius.
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Q16/ 40
A rigger attaches two 5/8-inch wire rope slings to a 6,000-lb steel beam using a vertical hitch configuration (each sling straight up from the load to the hook). The sling's rated capacity in a vertical hitch is 6,200 lbs each. The sling angle is 0 degrees (vertical). Is the lift acceptable?
✅ Correct Answer: A
For a 6,000-lb load with two vertical slings, each sling carries 3,000 lbs (assuming balanced loading). This is well within the 6,200-lb rated capacity (safety factor of ~2). The setup is acceptable provided: slings have legible identification tags per 1926.1414(b)(1), slings were inspected before use per 1926.1414(a), and the rigging is configured to prevent load shifting. The key is ensuring the center of gravity is centered — if the load shifts, one sling could see more than 3,000 lbs but still within the 6,200-lb limit.
Q17/ 40
A crane operator arrives Monday morning. The crane has been parked on-site over the weekend with the boom lowered. The operator does a walk-around visual check but skips the operational checks (function test of all controls, LMI test, anti two-block test) because 'it worked fine Friday.' Is this compliant?
✅ Correct Answer: B
1926.1412(d)(1): safety devices and operational aids shall be checked before each shift to ensure they are working properly. This includes: anti two-block device, LMI/RCL, boom angle indicator, horn, boom/jib stops, and all control functions. 1926.1412(f)(1): a monthly inspection is also required with documentation. The pre-shift check takes 5-10 minutes — skipping it risks operating with a failed safety device.
Q18/ 40
During a lift, a crane's load moment indicator (LMI) alarm sounds, warning of an impending overload. The operator pauses, checks the load chart, and realizes the lift is at 98% of capacity at this radius. The foreman says 'just bump it up — it's only for a minute.' What must the operator do?
✅ Correct Answer: B
1926.1417(a): the operator must not exceed the manufacturer's rated capacity. 1926.1417(c): the operator has the authority to stop operations if conditions are unsafe. The LMI at 98% leaves a 2% margin — dynamic loading from wind or load movement can push it over 100%. Additionally, 1926.1417(b): if the LMI is not functioning properly, the operator must stop operations. The operator cannot be coerced into unsafe lifts — 1926.1400(c) grants operators stop-work authority.
Q19/ 40
A tower crane is erected on a construction site adjacent to a public sidewalk. There is no overhead protection for pedestrians. During a lift, the load will at one point pass over the sidewalk. Is this permitted?
✅ Correct Answer: B
1926.1425(b): the operator must not swing or pass a load over employees or the public. 1926.1424(a)(3)(i): the area within the swing radius must be barricaded to prevent unauthorized access. The public sidewalk is within the crane's swing radius and under the load path. The sidewalk must be closed, and protected with overhead canopy or the lift path must avoid the sidewalk entirely. Dropped loads from tower cranes have killed pedestrians in multiple incidents.
Q20/ 40
A signal person is directing a crane operator using hand signals during a critical lift. The signal is 'boom up, load up, swing right' — a complex multi-function signal. The operator sees the signal but hesitates. The signal person repeats the signal more aggressively. What is the correct protocol?
✅ Correct Answer: B
1926.1419(b): the operator must follow the signals of the designated signal person, except for the STOP signal which overrides all others and can be given by anyone. 1926.1428(a): hand signals must be per Appendix A of Subpart CC. Complex multi-function signals are acceptable if both operator and signal person are trained and understand the signals. The operator can stop at any time if uncertain, but should generally follow the qualified signal person's directions.