Study guide aligned with the Year 4 practice exam. Every term card maps to a tested concept — no filler, just exam-relevant material.
Answer: Load calculation, rigging, load path, hazards, wind limits, rescue procedure, and qualified spotters. Engineered lift plans ensure safety.
Answer: Verify center of gravity, dynamic effects (shock), and actual load weight vs. declared weight. Load verification prevents overload.
Answer: Calculate load per crane based on position and geometry; verify equal tension in rigging. Load sharing calculation prevents imbalance.
Answer: Restricted travel areas, no over-personnel, continuous load position monitoring, limited speed. Pick-and-carry requires restricted protocols.
Answer: Load charts, rigging inspection, witness accounts, weather records, and load test results. Investigation data identifies causation.
Answer: Static load test at 100-125% of rated capacity; dynamic test at rated capacity. Load testing verifies crane integrity.
Answer: Standard-specific endorsements (mobile, boom truck, overhead, etc.); renewed per jurisdiction. CSA Z150 specifies certification requirements.
Answer: Adjust for boom angle, radius, and environmental factors; use interpolation or de-rate conservatively. Chart interpretation requires environmental adjustment.
Answer: Load weight, swing area, personnel proximity, weather, equipment condition, rigging fatigue. Risk assessment identifies hazards.
Answer: Load moment indicator (LMI) with wireless display; alerts if approaching 85% of capacity. LMI systems monitor load in real-time.
Answer: Slings must be equal length; load must be balanced; geometry angles must be symmetric. Rigging geometry prevents load tilt.
Answer: Minimum annually; ultrasonic testing for internal corrosion; retire at broken wire limits per code. Wire rope inspection ensures safety.
Answer: Typically 2-5 mph maximum; reduced for slopes or poor visibility. Speed limits ensure safe pick-and-carry.
Answer: Immediate; photograph/video scene, preserve equipment, obtain witness statements within 24-48 hours. Timely investigation preserves evidence.
Answer: Load weight, test duration, load position, crane response, strain gauge readings, final condition. Comprehensive documentation proves test.
Answer: Clear line-of-sight to load or radio communication with trained signal person. Vision/communication standards ensure safety.
Answer: Use lower of two adjacent values; never interpolate upward. Conservative interpolation ensures safety.
Answer: Lifting personnel, over-workers, or >80% rated capacity requires full engineering. Critical lift criteria determine planning level.
Answer: Secondary indicator or hardwired gauge; system failure must trigger lift stoppage. Backup indicators prevent monitoring loss.
Answer: Calculate load factor per angle (0-30° = 1.0; >60° = 2.0); verify sling capacity includes factor. Angle-based load factor prevents rigging failure.
Answer: Retire if 6+ broken wires per lay or 3+ in one strand; any kink that doesn't straighten. Retirement criteria prevent rope failure.
Answer: Spotter for clearance, air monitoring, and emergency backup rescue plan. Confined space work requires hazard control.
Answer: Report serious incidents to authority within 48 hours; maintain records per provincial regulation. Regulatory reporting ensures oversight.
Answer: Typically <0.1% of span under rated load; recovery within 15 minutes indicates elastic deformation. Deflection limits indicate structural soundness.
Answer: Typically 5-year renewal; additional training if endorsement expires >2 years. Regular renewal maintains operator competency.
Answer: Use most restrictive (lowest capacity) value for the range; obtain manufacturer guidance for beyond-chart conditions. Conservative extrapolation ensures safety.
Answer: Minimum 7-10 years (varies by jurisdiction); especially critical lifts indefinitely. Long-term records support accident investigation.
Answer: After repairs >5% of value or equipment changes; full load test required before return to service. Post-repair testing verifies integrity.
Answer: Load chart reading, rigging setup, safe-load determination, and lift execution under observation. Practical skills assessment verifies competency.
Answer: Reduce rated capacity 25% in >20 mph wind; suspend operations >35 mph sustained. Wind derating ensures safe operation.
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 4 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 4 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 4 exam draws from all NOA blocks. Don't over-study one area at the expense of others.