22 Load Assessment & Job Scope Practice Questions & Answers

1. 1. During the pre-lift assessment, a rigger plans how a load will travel from the lay-down yard to its setting location. What does identifying the travel path require?

   • A.Checking the ground at the pick point, because the set point is the fitter's job
   • B.Measuring only the vertical lift height, since the swing is the operator's concern
   • C.Walking the full route to find clearances, obstructions and pinch points✓ Answer
   • D.Marking the route after the load is airborne, when the swing path is visible

   The travel path is planned on the ground before anything is attached. Walking it lets the rigger find overhead and side clearances, obstructions and pinch points, and decide which areas must be cleared or barricaded so no one is under or beside the load.

   Source: NCCCO Certified Rigger Level I Written Examination Outline (Scope of the Rigging Activity); ASME B30.9 SlingsReport a problem with this question

2. 2. The planned path for a suspended load passes under a mezzanine, alongside racked material and through a doorway. How should the rigger treat those restrictions?

   • A.Assume that a doorway rated for forklift traffic will clear any crane-lifted load
   • B.Confirm the load and its rigging clear each one, and reroute where they do not✓ Answer
   • C.Let the signal person judge each clearance by eye as the load approaches it
   • D.Measure the doorway only, since overhead steel sits above any lift height

   Clearance is a planning item, not something to discover while the load is moving. The rigger checks the load's dimensions plus the height the rigging adds above it against every restriction, and changes the route or the rigging when the load will not pass with room to spare.

   Source: NCCCO Certified Rigger Level I Written Examination Outline (Scope of the Rigging Activity); ASME B30.9 SlingsReport a problem with this question

3. 3. While walking the travel path, a rigger sees a place where the load will pass within a few inches of a fixed column. What hazard does that spot create?

   • A.A bending hazard, since the column scrapes paint from the load's edge
   • B.A pinch point where a worker's hand or body could be caught between load and column✓ Answer
   • C.A shock load, since the sling will tighten suddenly when the load swings
   • D.A side load, since the column pushes the hoist line away from vertical

   Any place where a moving load closes on a fixed object is a pinch point. The rigger plans the path so no one has to stand in that gap, and keeps hands, feet and body out of the closing space while the load goes by.

   Source: NCCCO Certified Rigger Level I Written Examination Outline (Scope of the Rigging Activity); OSHA 29 CFR 1926.251Report a problem with this question

4. 4. A load is about to be lifted and moved. Where must workers who are not engaged in the lift be kept?

   • A.Out of the fall zone, clear of the area under and around the suspended load✓ Answer
   • B.Beside the load in arm's reach, so they can steady it as it moves
   • C.Anywhere the signal person can see them, including beneath the boom
   • D.At the landing spot under the load, ready to guide it onto blocking

   The fall zone is the area a load or part of it could fall into, and it is cleared before the lift. Rigging hardware can fail or a load can shift, so people stay out from under the load and out from between the load and any fixed object while it is suspended.

   Source: OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1425; ASME B30.9 SlingsReport a problem with this question

5. 5. A foreman tells the rigger that a fabricated skid 'looks like about three tons.' The skid also carries a manufacturer's data plate listing its weight. Which figure should be used to select the rigging?

   • A.The foreman's estimate, because experienced eyes are close enough
   • B.An average of the two, since both come from credible sources
   • C.The data plate figure, because it is documented by the maker of the load✓ Answer
   • D.The heavier of the two, since rounding upward covers any error

   Rated capacity is selected against a known weight, so the weight must come from a documented source such as a data plate, shipping papers, markings on the load, engineered drawings, or a calculation from dimensions and material. A visual estimate is not one of those sources.

   Source: NCCCO Certified Rigger Level I Written Examination Outline (Scope of the Rigging Activity); ASME B30.9 SlingsReport a problem with this question

6. 6. No shipping papers, data plate, markings or drawings exist for a load, and its weight cannot be calculated from its dimensions and material. What should the rigger do?

   • A.Rig it with the biggest slings on hand, since oversized gear covers it
   • B.Use the capacity of the smallest sling in the set as the assumed weight
   • C.Pick it a few inches and read the crane indicator to size the slings
   • D.Have the weight established by a qualified source before rigging is selected✓ Answer

   Every sling and fitting is chosen against the load's weight, so an unknown weight means the rigging cannot be sized. The lift waits until the weight is established by a documented source or an engineered calculation; guessing transfers the whole risk onto the gear.

   Source: NCCCO Certified Rigger Level I Written Examination Outline (Scope of the Rigging Activity); ASME B30.9 SlingsReport a problem with this question

7. 7. Why is a crane's load-weighing indicator not an acceptable primary source of load weight for the rigger?

   • A.The indicator reads only once the load is off the ground, after rigging is chosen✓ Answer
   • B.The indicator shows gross weight, which is always below the net load
   • C.The indicator is calibrated for the hook block and ignores the load
   • D.The indicator reads in metric units, which cannot be compared to sling tags

   Sling and hardware selection happens before the load leaves the ground, so a reading taken during the pick comes too late to govern that choice. An indicator is a useful cross-check on a documented weight, not a substitute for one.

   Source: NCCCO Certified Rigger Level I Written Examination Outline (Scope of the Rigging Activity); ASME B30.9 SlingsReport a problem with this question

8. 8. A rigger assesses an open-top bin partly filled with loose fittings, with a drum of liquid strapped beside it. What does this tell the rigger about the lift?

   • A.Liquid in a closed drum acts as a solid block and adds no concern
   • B.The contents can shift in flight, so the center of gravity may move✓ Answer
   • C.Shifting contents matter only on a tilted pick, so a level pick removes it
   • D.Loose contents settle once the load is airborne, making the pick steadier

   A load whose contents can move does not have a fixed center of gravity, and a load that shifts in the air can swing, tip or slip out of the slings. Contents are secured, or the load is repacked or restrained, before it is picked.

   Source: NCCCO Certified Rigger Level I Written Examination Outline (Scope of the Rigging Activity); ASME B30.9 SlingsReport a problem with this question

9. 9. Before a machine base is lifted off its concrete pad, what must the rigger confirm about how the load is attached to its surroundings?

   • A.That the base stays bolted down while the slings are tensioned tight
   • B.That the anchor bolts stay in place until the slings take the weight
   • C.That anchor bolts, shims, grout and piping are released so it lifts free✓ Answer
   • D.That any piping will break loose once the crane applies tension

   A load that is still fastened down resists the hoist, so the rigging can be overloaded and the load can release suddenly and shock the system. Part of the pre-lift assessment is confirming the load is free to be lifted before any tension is taken.

   Source: NCCCO Certified Rigger Level I Written Examination Outline (Scope of the Rigging Activity); OSHA 29 CFR 1926.251Report a problem with this question

10. 10. A rigger must move a long, limber run of sheet-metal ducting that sags visibly when it is supported only at its ends. How does that flexibility change the assessment?

    • A.It needs support at more points so it does not buckle or fold in the air✓ Answer
    • B.Flexibility adds no concern, because sling tension will pull the load straight
    • C.It is safest picked at one central point, because a flexible load self-levels
    • D.It should be picked at the two ends, so the sag keeps the pick balanced

    A flexible load holds its shape only when it is supported often enough. Picked at too few points it bends, and the bend can slide the slings, damage the load or dump it, so the plan adds pick points or a below-the-hook device to spread the support.

    Source: NCCCO Certified Rigger Level I Written Examination Outline (Scope of the Rigging Activity); ASME B30.20 Below-the-Hook Lifting DevicesReport a problem with this question

11. 11. Why should the attachment points selected for a load be above the load's center of gravity?

    • A.The load can then be landed without blocking under it at the set point
    • B.The load then hangs stable and resists tipping when it leaves the ground✓ Answer
    • C.The sling legs then carry less tension than the weight of the load
    • D.The center of gravity then rises, which lowers the sling angle needed

    A load supported from points above its center of gravity settles under the hook and returns to level if it is disturbed. Points below the center of gravity let the load roll over as soon as it is free, because the weight then hangs above its support.

    Source: NCCCO Certified Rigger Level I Written Examination Outline (Scope of the Rigging Activity); ASME B30.9 SlingsReport a problem with this question

12. 12. A rigger is choosing where to attach slings on a packaged unit. Which of these is an unsuitable attachment point?

    • A.A handrail welded to the frame for access, not for lifting the unit✓ Answer
    • B.A lifting lug shown on the unit's drawing as an approved pick point
    • C.A shackle fitted in a padeye the manufacturer designated for lifting
    • D.A cast-in lifting eye stamped by the maker with a rated load value

    Attachment points must be designed to carry the load: lugs, padeyes and lifting eyes provided or approved by the manufacturer or the engineer. Handrails, conduit, piping and access framing are built for other duties and can tear out under the weight.

    Source: NCCCO Certified Rigger Level I Written Examination Outline (Scope of the Rigging Activity); ASME B30.9 SlingsReport a problem with this question

13. 13. During the pre-lift walk-around, which feature of a load tells the rigger that edge protection will be needed where a sling bears?

    • A.A painted finish the sling might scuff as the load is tensioned up
    • B.A rounded casting radius that is wider than the sling's bearing width
    • C.A sheared plate corner with a square, burred edge where the sling wraps✓ Answer
    • D.A large-diameter machined shaft passing under the sling bearing area

    Slings are damaged by pressure against a corner sharper than the sling's own thickness, and a cut sling can fail without warning. Softeners or corner protection go between the sling and any square, sheared or burred edge before tension is applied.

    Source: OSHA 29 CFR 1926.251(c)(9); ASME B30.9 SlingsReport a problem with this question

14. 14. Slings are being drawn up snug around a load just before the pick. Where must the rigger's hands be?

    • A.Clear of the sling and load, so nothing is caught as it tightens✓ Answer
    • B.Between the sling and the load, keeping the sling off the paint
    • C.Under the sling eye at the hook, holding the eye square on the hook
    • D.On the sling body near the load, guiding it as the slack comes out

    Hands and fingers must never be between the sling and the load while the sling is being tightened, because the closing gap can crush them without warning. Slings are positioned before tension comes on, and adjusted only with the tension released.

    Source: OSHA 29 CFR 1926.251(c)(10)Report a problem with this question

15. 15. What is shock loading, and why must it be avoided?

    • A.Leaving a load hanging too long, stretching the sling permanently
    • B.Sudden application or release of load, multiplying force on the rigging✓ Answer
    • C.Loading the legs unequally, which overloads the shorter bridle leg
    • D.A steady pull at an angle to the sling, which twists the hardware sideways

    Shock loading is a rapid change in the force on the rigging: snatching up slack, a sudden stop, or a dropped load caught by the slings. The peak force can be several times the static weight, so it can exceed the rated capacity even though the load itself does not.

    Source: OSHA 29 CFR 1926.251(c)(11); ASME B30.9 SlingsReport a problem with this question

16. 16. A load will be dragged sideways a short distance before it lifts clear, pulling the hoist line off vertical. Which hazard is the rigger identifying?

    • A.Point loading, which is the load bearing on the tip of the hook
    • B.Side loading, which puts force across hardware not rated to take it✓ Answer
    • C.Shock loading, which is the sudden force when slack comes out fast
    • D.Basket slippage, which is a sling sliding on a load held in a basket

    Side loading is force applied across a component instead of along its intended line of pull. Shackles, hooks and eyebolts lose a large share of their rating when pulled sideways, and dragging a load also risks it breaking free and swinging.

    Source: ASME B30.26 Rigging Hardware; ASME B30.10 HooksReport a problem with this question

17. 17. As the slings come tight and the load begins to leave the ground, what is correct body positioning for the rigger?

    • A.Stand to the side, out of any bight and clear of the load's path✓ Answer
    • B.Ride the load with one foot on it to keep it from starting to spin
    • C.Stand in line with the taut sling leg to watch it for slippage
    • D.Stand between the load and the wall to fend it off as it swings

    A rigger stands where a failure or a swing cannot reach them: out of the bight, out of line with a taut line, off the load, and never between the load and a fixed object. Loads are guided from a distance with a tagline, not by hand.

    Source: NCCCO Certified Rigger Level I Written Examination Outline (Scope of the Rigging Activity); ASME B30.9 SlingsReport a problem with this question

18. 18. The lift is near overhead power lines that site personnel say are de-energized, but no documentation of that exists. How must the rigger treat those lines?

    • A.As a hazard only if the load or the boom actually contacts a line
    • B.As safe, since the site's word is enough when the load is kept low
    • C.As safe, provided a spotter watches the lines for arcing throughout the lift
    • D.As energized until the owner confirms they are de-energized and grounded✓ Answer

    Lines are assumed energized until the utility owner or operator confirms that they are de-energized and visibly grounded. Word of mouth is not confirmation, and induced voltage can remain on a line that has merely been switched out.

    Source: OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1408Report a problem with this question

19. 19. A rigger's helper notices a badly damaged sling just as the load starts to lift. Who has the authority to stop the lift?

    • A.Anyone below the hook may stop it; others must report it afterward
    • B.Anyone may raise a concern, but only the operator may stop the lift
    • C.Anyone may stop the lift only after the load is landed on blocking
    • D.Anyone on the crew who sees an unsafe condition may stop the lift✓ Answer

    Standard rigging practice is that a stop signal is obeyed no matter who gives it, because the person who sees the hazard is often not the person in charge. Stopping costs a few minutes; continuing with a defective sling risks the whole load.

    Source: ASME B30 series operating practice that a stop signal shall be obeyed regardless of who gives it; NCCCO Certified Rigger Level I Written Examination OutlineReport a problem with this question

20. 20. During the pre-lift assessment a rigger finds that the landing area is soft ground with no blocking laid out. What must be done with that finding?

    • A.Note it privately and watch the landing closely as the load comes down
    • B.Mention it to the crew at the end of the shift so the next lift is planned
    • C.Report it to the lift supervisor and correct it before the lift starts✓ Answer
    • D.Handle it in the air by landing one corner of the load first

    A hazard the rigger finds is useless unless the people who can act on it hear about it in time. The condition goes to the lift supervisor or lift director and is corrected — here, blocking and cribbing set out — before the load is picked.

    Source: NCCCO Certified Rigger Level I Written Examination Outline (Scope of the Rigging Activity); ASME B30.9 SlingsReport a problem with this question

21. 21. A crated load is stenciled with orientation arrows, a 'do not tip' marking and a note that an internal component is shock-sensitive. How should that affect the plan?

    • A.A faster lift shortens the time the shock-sensitive part is at risk
    • B.The crate may be tipped briefly if it is upright again before landing
    • C.The markings are meant for truck transport and do not apply to a crane lift
    • D.The rigging must keep the crate upright and its movement free of jolts✓ Answer

    Special handling markings are part of the load's characteristics and drive the rigging choice: pick points that hold the crate level, a slow steady lift with no snatching, and a landing on prepared blocking. A rigger who cannot meet them stops and asks.

    Source: NCCCO Certified Rigger Level I Written Examination Outline (Scope of the Rigging Activity); ASME B30.9 SlingsReport a problem with this question

22. 22. A skid carries a heavy pump at one end and light control cabinets at the other. What does that tell the rigger about the center of gravity?

    • A.It cannot be found without weighing each end on load cells first
    • B.It lies at the middle of the skid, since the skid frame carries the weight
    • C.It lies toward the cabinet end, because the taller end raises it
    • D.It lies toward the pump end, so the pick points must straddle it✓ Answer

    The center of gravity sits toward the heavy end, not at the geometric center. Attachment points are chosen so the center of gravity falls between them and under the hook; otherwise the load hangs out of level and the legs share the weight unequally.

    Source: NCCCO Certified Rigger Level I Written Examination Outline (Scope of the Rigging Activity); ASME B30.9 SlingsReport a problem with this question

Practice questions built from the published NCCCO Rigger Level I written examination outline and the consensus rigging practices of the ASME B30 series and the OSHA rigging regulations. 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. This bank covers the WRITTEN examination only — Rigger Level I certification also requires a hands-on practical examination that no multiple-choice question can prepare you for, and there is no substitute for supervised practice with real gear. Capacity always comes from the identification tag and the manufacturer's rating for the specific sling, shackle or device in your hands, never from a practice question. Confirm current requirements with NCCCO before testing. Official exam outline →