22 Inspections & Safety Requirements Practice Questions & Answers

1. 1. A competent person completes the required inspection of a mobile crane before the shift begins. Under OSHA's cranes and derricks in construction standard, what documentation of that shift inspection does the regulation itself require?

   • A.A signed record listing items checked, retained for 12 months
   • B.No documentation is required by the regulation for the shift inspection✓ Answer
   • C.A signed record that must be posted in the crane cab for the duration of the job
   • D.A signed record listing items checked, retained for 3 months

   OSHA's construction crane standard requires documentation for the monthly inspection (retained 3 months) and the annual/comprehensive inspection (retained 12 months), but imposes no recordkeeping requirement on the each-shift inspection. Many employers use a shift checklist as company policy, and that is good practice, but the regulatory floor is that the shift inspection itself need not be documented. Knowing which tier carries a record is what separates policy from legal duty.

   Source: OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1412 (cranes and derricks in construction, inspections)Report a problem with this question

2. 2. Under the OSHA construction crane standard, who must perform the monthly inspection of a mobile crane, and how long must the record be kept?

   • A.A qualified person; record kept a minimum of 12 months
   • B.A competent person; record kept a minimum of 3 months✓ Answer
   • C.The assigned operator; no record required
   • D.A registered professional engineer; record kept for the life of the crane

   The monthly inspection covers the same scope as the shift inspection but must be documented with the items checked and results, the name and signature of the inspector, and the date, and that record is retained a minimum of 3 months. It is assigned to a competent person because it is an observational inspection, not the detailed teardown-as-necessary examination that the annual inspection requires of a qualified person. The reliable split is competent person for shift and monthly, qualified person for annual.

   Source: OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1412 (monthly inspection and documentation)Report a problem with this question

3. 3. How long must the documentation of the annual/comprehensive inspection of a mobile crane be retained under the OSHA construction crane standard?

   • A.A minimum of 30 days
   • B.A minimum of 3 months
   • C.A minimum of 12 months✓ Answer
   • D.Only until the next annual inspection is scheduled

   The annual/comprehensive inspection record must contain the items checked and the results, the name and signature of the qualified person performing it, and the date, and it is retained for a minimum of 12 months. The 12-month retention matches the 12-month inspection interval, so a complete inspection history is always on hand; the 3-month figure belongs to the monthly inspection. Reversing these two retention periods is one of the most common errors on this material.

   Source: OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1412 (annual/comprehensive inspection documentation)Report a problem with this question

4. 4. A mobile crane has just been reassembled at a new work location. Before it is used, who must inspect the assembled configuration, and what is that inspection verifying?

   • A.Any trained employee, verifying that all warning decals are legible
   • B.The operator, verifying the load chart in the cab matches the boom length
   • C.A competent person, verifying only that ground conditions are adequate
   • D.A qualified person, verifying the crane is configured in accordance with the manufacturer's criteria✓ Answer

   The post-assembly inspection is an event-triggered inspection: upon completion of assembly, a qualified person must inspect the equipment to confirm it is configured in accordance with manufacturer criteria before it is used. Event-triggered inspections — after assembly, modification, repair or adjustment, severe service, or a long idle period — all go to a qualified person because they involve judging the machine against engineering criteria rather than simply observing for apparent defects.

   Source: OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1412 (post-assembly inspection)Report a problem with this question

5. 5. A mobile crane has been sitting idle on a yard and has not been used for more than three months. Under the OSHA construction crane standard, what is required before it is placed back in service?

   • A.A registered professional engineer must recertify the boom
   • B.Nothing additional; the next scheduled annual inspection covers it
   • C.A qualified person must perform a monthly-level inspection before initial use✓ Answer
   • D.The operator's normal shift inspection is sufficient

   Equipment not in regular use for three months or more must receive an inspection at the monthly level, performed by a qualified person, before initial use. The rule exists because deterioration during storage — seized components, deteriorated hoses, corrosion, tire and fluid loss — does not announce itself and can be present even though nothing was operated. Note that the general industry and consensus-standard scheme uses different idle triggers, so read which standard a question names.

   Source: OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1412 (equipment not in regular use)Report a problem with this question

6. 6. A mobile crane is shock loaded when a load hangs up and then breaks free during a lift. What does the OSHA construction crane standard require?

   • A.Use of the equipment stops immediately and a qualified person inspects it for structural damage✓ Answer
   • B.The operator notes it on the shift form and finishes the workday
   • C.The lift may continue if the load was within the rated capacity
   • D.A competent person re-levels the crane and work resumes

   Shock loading is one of the named severe-service triggers, along with exceeding rated capacity and prolonged exposure to a corrosive atmosphere. When severity of use gives a reasonable probability of damage or excessive wear, equipment use must stop immediately and a qualified person must inspect for structural damage. Staying within rated capacity does not exempt the machine, because a dynamic shock imposes forces well above the static weight of the load.

   Source: OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1412 (severe service inspection)Report a problem with this question

7. 7. During a shift inspection a competent person finds a hydraulic hose weeping oil at a fitting. What does the OSHA construction crane standard require next?

   • A.The deficiency is logged and repaired within 30 calendar days while the crane keeps working
   • B.The operator decides whether to continue, since the operator runs the machine
   • C.The competent person immediately determines whether the deficiency is a safety hazard, and if so the crane is taken out of service until corrected✓ Answer
   • D.The crane may work until the next monthly inspection re-evaluates the hose

   Pressurized lines are on the shift inspection list precisely because deterioration and leakage are progressive and can fail suddenly under load. When any deficiency is found, the competent person must immediately determine whether it constitutes a safety hazard, and if it does, the equipment is taken out of service until corrected. The 30-day window belongs to a specific list of operational aids and does not apply to a mechanical defect found during a shift inspection.

   Source: OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1412 (shift inspection; deficiency determination)Report a problem with this question

8. 8. Under the OSHA construction crane standard, how often must a mobile crane be checked for level within the manufacturer's tolerance?

   • A.Only at the annual inspection by a qualified person
   • B.Once per month as part of the documented monthly inspection
   • C.Before each shift and again after each move and setup✓ Answer
   • D.Only when the load moment indicator signals an out-of-level condition

   Equipment level is on the shift inspection list with an explicit additional trigger: it must be checked before each shift and after each move and setup. The reason is mechanical rather than administrative — an out-of-level crane increases the effective load radius as the boom swings, so capacity is silently reduced and stability degraded even though nothing on the load chart has changed. Candidates commonly remember the shift check and forget the move-and-setup check.

   Source: OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1412 (shift inspection; level of equipment)Report a problem with this question

9. 9. A running rope on a mobile crane shows randomly distributed broken wires. Under the OSHA construction crane standard, which finding requires the rope to be removed from service?

   • A.Six randomly distributed broken wires in one rope lay, or three broken wires in one strand in one lay✓ Answer
   • B.More than one broken wire in a rope lay located at an end connection
   • C.Two randomly distributed broken wires in six rope diameters
   • D.Any single broken wire anywhere along the rope

   For running ropes the removal criteria are six randomly distributed broken wires in one rope lay or three broken wires in one strand in one lay; three breaks concentrated in a single strand matter as much as six spread out because clustered breaks signal localized loss of that strand's share of the load. The two-in-six-diameters figure belongs to rotation-resistant rope and the end-connection criterion belongs to standing rope, and mixing these three sets is the single most-missed item in this material.

   Source: OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1413 (wire rope removal from service criteria)Report a problem with this question

10. 10. Under the OSHA construction crane standard, what reduction from nominal wire rope diameter requires the rope to be removed from service?

    • A.More than 15 percent
    • B.More than 5 percent✓ Answer
    • C.More than 1 percent
    • D.More than 10 percent

    A reduction of more than 5 percent from nominal diameter is a removal criterion because diameter loss reflects either external wear on the outer wires or, more dangerously, internal core deterioration that lets the strands nest closer together. Either way the rope's cross-sectional steel area and its strength have dropped without any broken wire necessarily being visible, so measuring diameter catches damage that a wire count alone would miss.

    Source: OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1413 (wire rope removal from service criteria)Report a problem with this question

11. 11. An inspection finds that a mobile crane's hoist rope previously contacted an energized power line. Under the OSHA construction crane standard, what must be done with that rope?

    • A.The rope may stay in service if the diameter reduction is under 5 percent
    • B.The rope may stay in service if no broken wires are found
    • C.The rope may be spliced at the contact point and returned to service
    • D.The rope must be replaced; it may not be repaired✓ Answer

    Prior electrical contact with a power line is a removal condition requiring replacement, and such a rope may not be repaired at all. Arc and resistance heating anneal the wires and can fuse or embrittle them internally, so the strength loss is distributed and invisible — a visual wire count or diameter measurement cannot certify a rope that has been through that. Splicing wire rope on a crane is prohibited in any case.

    Source: OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1413 (wire rope; conditions requiring replacement)Report a problem with this question

12. 12. During a shift wire rope inspection a competent person finds birdcaging and crushing on a section of hoist rope. How does the OSHA construction crane standard treat that finding?

    • A.It may be ignored until the qualified person's annual rope inspection
    • B.It is automatically acceptable because no broken wires were counted
    • C.The rope must be untwisted and opened to complete the shift inspection
    • D.The competent person must determine whether the deficiency constitutes a safety hazard and act on that determination✓ Answer

    Kinking, crushing, unstranding, birdcaging, core failure, corrosion, heat or electric arc damage and damaged end connections form the category of deficiencies where a competent person must judge whether a safety hazard exists, rather than being settled by a fixed count. That judgment step exists because these are distortion and degradation conditions whose severity varies; broken-wire counts and diameter loss, by contrast, are fixed thresholds. Untwisting the rope is not required during a shift inspection.

    Source: OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1413 (wire rope inspection; competent person determination)Report a problem with this question

13. 13. Which areas of a crane's wire rope deserve particular attention during inspection under the OSHA construction crane standard?

    • A.Only the last three feet of rope above the load block
    • B.Only the portion of rope stored on the drum during transport
    • C.Only the sections that pass over the boom tip sheaves
    • D.Reverse bends on boom hoist rope, drum crossover and flange points, terminal ends, and sections at saddles and equalizer sheaves✓ Answer

    These are the critical review areas the standard singles out because each concentrates stress or hides damage: reverse bends work the wires in both directions, drum crossover and flange points crush and abrade the rope against itself, terminal ends carry the full line pull through a fitting, and equalizer sheave sections move very little so wear concentrates in one spot where it is easy to overlook. Rotation-resistant rope in use also warrants extra attention.

    Source: OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1413 (wire rope; critical review items)Report a problem with this question

14. 14. Before operations begin, the crew discovers the crane's boom stops are damaged. Under the OSHA construction crane standard, what is required?

    • A.Operations may proceed for up to 30 calendar days if parts are on order
    • B.Operations must not begin; boom stops are a safety device with no repair grace period✓ Answer
    • C.Operations may proceed for up to 7 calendar days with temporary alternative measures
    • D.Operations may proceed if a spotter watches the boom angle

    Boom stops are one of the listed safety devices, and the rule for safety devices is absolute: operations must not begin unless they are all in proper working order, and if one stops working during operations the equipment is taken out of service until it works again. The 7-day and 30-day repair windows with temporary alternative measures apply only to operational aids, and applying an aid's grace period to a safety device is the classic error on this topic.

    Source: OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1415 (safety devices)Report a problem with this question

15. 15. Which of the following is a safety device under the OSHA construction crane standard rather than an operational aid?

    • A.A boom angle indicator
    • B.A load moment indicator
    • C.A crane level indicator✓ Answer
    • D.A hoist drum rotation indicator

    The crane level indicator sits on the safety device list along with boom stops, jib stops where a jib is attached, foot pedal brake locks, an integral holding device or check valve on hydraulic outrigger jacks, rail clamps and rail stops where applicable, and a horn. Load moment indicators, boom angle and radius indicators and drum rotation indicators are operational aids, which carry defined repair windows and required temporary alternative measures. Safety devices carry neither.

    Source: OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1415 (safety devices) and 1926.1416 (operational aids)Report a problem with this question

16. 16. An anti two-block device on a mobile crane stops working. Under the OSHA construction crane standard, what governs continued operation?

    • A.No action is required as long as the operator watches the boom tip
    • B.It is a safety device: the crane is out of service immediately with no repair window
    • C.It is a Category II operational aid: repair within 30 calendar days, no alternative measures needed
    • D.It is a Category I operational aid: repair within 7 calendar days and mandatory temporary alternative measures in the meantime✓ Answer

    The anti two-block device joins the boom hoist limiting device and the luffing jib limiting device in Category I, the 7-calendar-day group, and temporary alternative measures are mandatory while it is out — on a telescopic boom that means marking the cable so it is visible to the operator plus a spotter when the boom is extended. The short window reflects the consequence: two-blocking can part the hoist line and drop the load.

    Source: OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1416 (operational aids, Category I)Report a problem with this question

17. 17. A load moment indicator on a mobile crane is not working and replacement parts have been ordered. Under the OSHA construction crane standard, what must be provided to the operator in the meantime?

    • A.The weight of the load, determined from manufacturer load data or an industry-recognized method, given to the operator before the lift✓ Answer
    • B.A spotter positioned at the load to call out when it feels heavy
    • C.A reduction of all chart capacities by half until the indicator is repaired
    • D.Permission to test-lift the load and judge capacity by boom deflection

    The load moment indicator is a Category II operational aid with a 30-calendar-day repair window, but the window is conditional on the required temporary alternative measure: the weight of the load must be determined from manufacturer load data or an industry-recognized calculation method and given to the operator before the lift. This preserves the underlying rule that load weight is verified rather than estimated by feel, which is exactly what the indicator normally does.

    Source: OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1416 (operational aids, Category II)Report a problem with this question

18. 18. A mobile crane has been tagged out of order after an inspection deficiency. What does the OSHA construction crane standard require of an operator who finds the tagged machine?

    • A.The operator may remove the tag if the shift inspection now looks satisfactory
    • B.The operator must not activate the equipment until the tag is removed by an authorized person or repairs are verified complete✓ Answer
    • C.The operator may start the machine to confirm the reported defect still exists
    • D.The operator may operate it at reduced capacity until a mechanic arrives

    Equipment found to be out of order must display a tag stating it must not be used, and an operator must not activate tagged equipment until the tag is removed by an authorized person or until it is verified that no one is servicing the machine and repairs are complete. The tag is a communication control protecting people who may be working on the machine, so unilaterally clearing it — even after a clean-looking visual check — defeats its purpose.

    Source: OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1417 (operation; tagging out of service equipment)Report a problem with this question

19. 19. Under the OSHA construction crane standard, which documents must be readily available in the cab of a mobile crane at all times during operation?

    • A.Load charts, recommended operating speeds, special hazard warnings, instructions, and the operator's manual✓ Answer
    • B.Only the manufacturer's assembly and disassembly procedures
    • C.Only the operator's certification card and medical certificate
    • D.Only the current month's inspection record

    The standard requires that load charts, recommended operating speeds, special hazard warnings, instructions and the operator's manual be readily available in the cab at all times. These are the documents the operator must consult to keep the machine within rated capacity in the configuration actually rigged, and a capacity decision made from memory instead of the chart in front of the operator is exactly the failure mode the requirement prevents.

    Source: OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1417 (operation; availability of procedures)Report a problem with this question

20. 20. A laborer on the ground, not part of the lift crew, sees a hazard developing and gives a stop signal. What must the mobile crane operator do?

    • A.Continue the lift and ask the lift director whether to stop
    • B.Ignore it, because only the designated signal person may signal the operator
    • C.Obey the stop signal; a stop signal must be obeyed regardless of who gives it✓ Answer
    • D.Continue if the load moment indicator shows the crane is within capacity

    The standard makes the stop signal a universal authority: anyone who becomes aware of a safety problem may give it, and the operator must obey it. Signals that direct the load — hoist, swing, boom up — come only from the designated signal person, but stopping is different because the person best placed to see a developing hazard is often not the signal person, and any delay in stopping costs the margin that would have prevented the incident.

    Source: OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1417 (operation; stop signal)Report a problem with this question

21. 21. An employee must enter an area behind a mobile crane that is out of view of the operator while the crane is set up for work. What does the OSHA construction crane standard require?

    • A.The employee informs the lift director, who decides afterward whether to tell the operator
    • B.The employee informs the operator through a prearranged communication system, and the operator must not rotate the superstructure until told the employee is in a safe position✓ Answer
    • C.The employee may enter if wearing high-visibility clothing
    • D.The employee may enter provided the crane is not currently lifting a load

    Where the rotating superstructure creates a reasonably foreseeable risk of striking or pinching employees, the employer must mark the hazard boundary with control lines, warning lines or barriers, or with warning signs and high-visibility markings where barriers are infeasible. Before entering a hazard area out of the operator's view, the employee must inform the operator through a prearranged system, and the operator must not rotate until told the employee is safe. Clothing and an empty hook do not protect against a swinging counterweight.

    Source: OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1424 (work area control)Report a problem with this question

22. 22. A crane operator holds a current certification for the type and capacity of crane at the site. Is the operator therefore cleared to run that specific machine?

    • A.Yes, provided the operator also completed the shift inspection
    • B.Yes — a current certification is by itself sufficient authorization for any crane of that type
    • C.No — certification shows tested knowledge and skill, but the employer must still evaluate and authorize the operator on that specific equipment and its configuration✓ Answer
    • D.No — the operator must first obtain a separate certification for each individual machine

    Certification, qualification on a specific machine, and employer authorization are three separate things. Certification demonstrates tested knowledge and skill for a category of equipment; the employer must still evaluate the operator's ability to run the particular equipment safely in the configurations and activities assigned, and then authorize that operator. Controls, load charts and operational aids differ enough between machines that category-level certification cannot substitute for machine-specific evaluation.

    Source: OSHA 29 CFR 1926 Subpart CC (operator qualification, evaluation and authorization requirements)Report a problem with this question

Practice questions based on the published NCCCO mobile crane operator exam outlines and the consensus safety practices the trade runs on. CCO and NCCCO are marks of the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators; this site is not affiliated with or endorsed by NCCCO. Capacity always comes from the load chart for the machine and configuration in front of you, and wind, ground-bearing and permit limits are set by the manufacturer's manual and the authority having jurisdiction — never from a practice question. Confirm current exam requirements before testing. About CCO certification →