General Knowledge Exam Outline


The General Knowledge Exam tests the knowledge of the candidate in the following areas:

Site Evaluation & Crane Setup

25%
Technical Information

25%
Load Charts

25%
Crane Operation

25%

Exam candidates should be familiar with the following:

Site Evaluation & Crane Setup

  • Roles and responsibilities of all persons involved with the lift      
  • Factors that impact the lift such as tail swing, load path and clearances      
  • Impact of various weather conditions      
  • How to deal with unstable ground and setup on soft surfaces
  • Hazards such as overhead obstructions, power lines and underground hazards      
  • Standards and guidelines regarding various risks and hazards      
  • ASME standards and OSHA regulations      
  • Requirements of crane setup such as radii, clearances, crane dimensions and load dimensions      
  • Crane setup procedures such as use of outriggers, lifting on rubber and leveling the crane    
  • Site requirements for blocking      

Technical Information

  • Crane inspection procedures
  • Crane components including the following:
    • Engine, air, electrical & hydraulic systems
    • Chassis & running gear components
    • Outriggers and counterweights
    • Boom components
    • Hoisting systems
    • Operating controls
    • Operational aids
  • Basic load rigging procedures
  • Knowledge of sling and hardware capacity
  • Impact of deformities in slings and hardware

Load Charts

  • Using/Interpreting capacity charts
  • Determining lifting capacity, including the following:
    • Configuration of crane mounting
    • Areas of operation for different types of mobile cranes
    • Boom length
    • Load radius
    • Boom angle
    • Gross capacity
    • Capacity deductions
    • Net capacity
    • Parts of line
  • Conditions that reduce capacities, including the following:
    • Crane not to specification
    • Crane condition
    • Crane level
    • Wind
    • Side loading
    • Increase in load radius
    • Dynamic loading
    • Shock loading
    • Eccentric reeving
    • Duty cycle operations

Crane Operation

  • How to enter and exit the cab of the crane in a safe manner
  • Procedures for setup and usage of operational aids      
  • Hand signals or voice signals used to direct crane operator
  • Handling loads out of operator’s sight (operating in the blind)
  • How to handle loads submerged in water
  • How to move loads from an elevated position
  • Duty cycle considerations (i.e., steel erection, concrete bucket operations)
  • Traveling the crane
  • Heavy lift operations, procedures and types of heavy lift attachments
  • Attachments for luffing jibs
  • Hoisting procedures and personnel hoisting equipment
  • Procedures for securing the crane under standard and emergency conditions.