Study guide aligned with the Year 2 practice exam. Every term card maps to a tested concept — no filler, just exam-relevant material.
Answer: Increasing radius and/or decreasing angle from vertical decreases capacity. Longer radius and flatter boom angles reduce capacity due to increased moment on the boom.
Answer: To stop hoisting when the load block approaches the upper boom block. Anti-two-block devices prevent the load block from colliding with the boom block, which would damage rigging and create hazards.
Answer: An electronic system measuring and displaying actual load weight. Load indicators (scales) measure actual load and alert the operator if safe working load limits are approached.
Answer: (Load weight × boom length) ÷ total outrigger pad area. Bearing pressure = load moment (weight × radius) ÷ total outrigger pad area; must not exceed ground capacity.
Answer: Up to 5 degrees. Maximum safe slope is 5 degrees; beyond this, outrigger leveling becomes unsafe and capacity decreases.
Answer: Variable reach without repositioning the crane. Telescoping booms extend and retract, providing variable reach to reduce relocation and improve efficiency.
Answer: Bolted and guyed with supporting rigging hardware. Jibs are bolted and secured with guy wires to the boom tip, allowing both safe operation and removal.
Answer: 60 km/h (37 mph). Most cranes have a maximum operating wind speed of 60 km/h; higher speeds create instability and excessive swaying.
Answer: Call locating service; verify on-site with operator knowledge. Utility locating service must be called; marks verified; operator must remain aware during setup and operation.
Answer: Planning for obstacles, hazards, and verifying crane capacity at all positions along the load's path. Load path planning identifies obstacles, clears hazards, and ensures the crane has adequate capacity throughout the lift.
Answer: CSA-defined standard signals, or radio communication with clear acknowledgment. CSA standards define specific hand signals for crane operation; radio communication with clear protocol is preferred.
Answer: To control load swing and guide the load to position safely. Tag lines prevent load rotation and swaying, allowing spotters to control the load's movement safely.
Answer: Calculated from weight distribution; verified by suspension testing if necessary. Center of gravity is calculated from load dimensions and mass distribution; complex loads may require suspension testing.
Answer: Momentary forces exceeding static weight caused by acceleration, deceleration, or shock. Dynamic loads (sudden stops, swaying) create forces several times the load's weight; rigging must account for this.
Answer: Structural integrity, hydraulics, rigging, controls, brakes, and safety devices. Daily inspections verify structural integrity, fluid levels, rigging condition, and all safety devices are functioning.
Answer: The center of gravity of the beam, using spreader bars to prevent tipping. I-beams must be lifted at their center of gravity using spreader bars to prevent rotation and tipping.
Answer: Distance depends on voltage; no closer than 3m for distribution lines. For distribution lines (25 kV), minimum clearance is 3 meters; for transmission lines (100+ kV), distance is greater.
Answer: Visual inspection for damage, certification verification, and load test records reviewed. Rigging must be visually inspected, have current certification, and load test records demonstrating safe working load.
Answer: Immediately stop, lower to a safe area, and correct the rigging. Any load shift indicates rigging failure; immediately lower the load and investigate before attempting another lift.
Answer: Static load weight × dynamic load factor (typically 1.5-2.0 for sudden stops). Shock loading = static weight × impact factor; sudden stops or drops create forces 1.5-2.0 times the load weight.
Answer: Lift date, time, load weight, location, operator name, and any incidents. All lifts should be documented for liability, insurance, and to verify operator compliance with procedures.
Answer: The ratio of load lifted to pulling force applied (e.g., 4:1 mechanical advantage). Mechanical advantage is the force multiplication ratio; a 4:1 advantage means you pull 4 units to lift 4 units of load.
Answer: The rated capacity divided by a safety factor (typically 5-10). SWL is the rated capacity divided by a safety factor; for example, a sling rated at 10,000 kg SWL breaks at ~100,000 kg.
Answer: Equally distributed among all slings. Load must be evenly distributed to prevent overloading one sling and to maintain load stability.
Answer: To connect rigging hardware together; rated for the full load. Shackles are connecting devices rated for full load; they must match the sling working load limit.
Answer: Load is distributed among four legs; each leg carries less load than in a two-leg setup. With four-leg slings, load is shared among four paths, reducing the stress on each leg compared to two-leg rigging.
Above 60 degrees from vertical, sling capacity drops below 50% of rated capacity; angles must be kept steep.
Answer: Clear radio communication with confirmed acknowledgment; hand signals as backup. Radio communication with call-and-response is standard; hand signals provide backup when radio is unavailable.
Answer: Approximately 30% reduction (load × 0.7). At 45 degrees from vertical, each sling leg carries approximately 1.4 times its share, reducing total safe load.
Answer: Protected from sharp edges on loads; inspected for fraying and broken wires. Wire rope must be protected from abrasion on sharp load edges; fraying, kinks, or broken wires require replacement.
Answer: Verify building occupancy, clear the area, position spotters, test lift slowly, then proceed. Critical lifts require advance planning: verify building occupancy, clear the area, position spotters, and perform test lifts.
Answer: Shipping documentation is used; load indicator is used for final verification. Shipping documentation provides initial load weight; load indicators verify actual weight before proceeding.
Answer: Roll-over Protective Structure / Fall-over Protective Structure. ROPS (Roll-over Protective Structure) and FOPS (Fall-over Protective Structure) protect operators in tip-over scenarios.
Answer: Position load paths away from buildings and occupied areas when possible. Load paths should avoid occupied areas; if necessary, spotters clear the area and monitor for objects falling.
Answer: To verify the rigging is safe by testing at 125-150% of intended load. Load testing at 125-150% of working load verifies rigging integrity and safety before critical operations.
Answer: Boom lowered, outriggers deployed, parking brake engaged, keys removed. Unattended cranes should have the boom down, outriggers deployed, brakes engaged, and keys removed.
Answer: Extreme heat can reduce synthetic sling capacity; cold has minimal effect on wire rope. Heat degrades synthetic slings; wire rope is less affected by temperature but may lose ductility in extreme cold.
Answer: At the point where the load would balance if suspended. Center of gravity is where the load balances; for uniform rectangular loads, this is typically at the geometric center.
Answer: Longer booms decrease stability and reduce capacity at greater radii. Longer booms create greater moment on the crane base, reducing stability and overall capacity.
Answer: Based on load width and weight distribution to prevent tipping or sling damage. Spreader bars prevent slings from angling too steeply and loads from tipping; they must support half the load each.
All four answer choices before selecting. Eliminating wrong answers improves odds significantly.
Words like "always", "never", "only" often signal an incorrect option — trades rarely have zero exceptions.
On Year 2 questions, two options are usually clearly wrong. Focus your reasoning on the remaining two.
Write down given values and the formula before calculating. Check units match on both sides of the equation.
The Year 2 exam allows ~90 seconds per question. Flag difficult ones and return — don't get stuck.
Your apprenticeship OJT hours count. If theory and memory conflict, think about what you've seen on the job.
Safety questions appear in every block. When in doubt, the safest option for workers is almost always correct.
The Year 2 exam draws from all NOA blocks. Don't over-study one area at the expense of others.