Site
22%of exam
Operations
28%of exam
Technical Knowledge
23%of exam
Load Charts
27%of exam
Quick Facts
- Exam
- MCO Core
- Questions
- 95 core
- Time
- 90 min
- Calculator
- Core: no
- Specialty
- 28 questions
- Cert term
- 5 years
- Window
- 12 months
- Designations
- LAT TSS TLL
Ground Scan
Look below, surface, and boom.
VoidsSlopesExcavationsQuadrant
Site Picker
- Ground unknown→Qualified evaluation
- Void or tank→Avoid setup
- Soft surface→Mats cribbing
- Near excavation→Keep setback
- Power line nearby→Plan clearance
- Blind landing→Signal person
Ground
- Firm
- Resists settlement
- Drained
- No water weakening
- Graded
- Supports level setup
- Voids
- Hidden collapse risk
- Loose fill
- Poor compaction
- Slope
- Stability loss
- Excavation
- Edge failure
- Mats
- Spread outrigger load
Power Options
Ground, twenty, or Table A.
Deenergize20 ftTable A
Site Hazards
- Swing radius
- Barricade counterweight
- Tail swing
- Crush zone
- Underground
- Utilities or tanks
- Overhead
- Lines or obstructions
- Access road
- Support crane travel
- Lift path
- Clear travel route
- Landing area
- Ready before lift
- Controlling entity
- Provides site information
Power Lines
- <=50 kV
- 10 ft
- >50-200 kV
- 15 ft
- >200-350 kV
- 20 ft
- >350-500 kV
- 25 ft
- >500-750 kV
- 35 ft
- >750-1000 kV
- 45 ft
- Unknown voltage
- Use safe option
- Tagline
- Nonconductive near lines
Stop Rule
Any stop signal stops everything.
AnyoneHazardStopVerify
Signal Picker
- Clear sight→Direct control
- Obstructed view→Designated signaler
- Radio used→Dedicated channel
- Signal unclear→Stop first
- New signal→Agree before lift
- Hazard seen→Stop signal
Setup
- Level
- Within manufacturer tolerance
- Outriggers
- Per chart notes
- Stabilizers
- Prevent tipping
- Crawlers
- Extend as charted
- Rubber
- Use on-rubber chart
- Quadrant
- Capacity zone
- Counterweight
- Match chart setup
- Boom config
- Match chart notes
Signals
- Hand
- Standard visual commands
- Voice
- Dedicated channel
- Audible
- Horn or whistle
- Nonstandard
- Agree before lift
- Blind lift
- Use signal person
- Stop
- Anyone may give
- Emergency stop
- Obey immediately
- One signaler
- Avoid conflicting commands
Emergency
- Power contact
- Stay in cab
- Step potential
- Shuffle away
- Control failure
- Stop operations
- Overload
- Reduce load moment
- Two-blocking
- Stop hoisting
- Fire
- Secure then evacuate
- Unattended
- Shutdown and secure
- Authority
- Operator may stop
LMI vs LML
LMI
- Displays condition
- Warns operator
LML
- Limits functions
- Allows safer motion
Indicator warns; limiter intervenes
Aid Picker
- Need angle→Boom angle indicator
- Need length→Boom length indicator
- Monitor load moment→LMI
- Limit overload motion→LML
- Prevent two-block→A2B
- Check level→Level indicator
Systems
- Boom angle
- Angle to horizontal
- Boom length
- Extended boom measure
- LMI
- Load moment display
- LML
- Limits worsening functions
- A2B
- Prevents two-blocking
- Level indicator
- Setup aid
- Hoist brake
- Controls suspended load
- Boom stop
- Prevents over-angle
Aid vs Device
Aid
- Helps operator
- May have alternate procedure
Device
- Required protection
- Do not bypass
Know malfunction procedure
Wire Rope
- Reeving
- Rope path
- Parts line
- Supporting rope parts
- Line pull
- Single-line limit
- Running rope
- Moves over sheaves
- Standing rope
- Fixed support rope
- Birdcage
- Remove from service
- Kink
- Remove from service
- Broken wires
- Inspect replacement criteria
TSS vs TLL
TSS
- Fixed operator station
- Telescopic boom
TLL
- Rotating operator station
- Telescopic boom
Cab rotation separates them
Inspections
- Shift
- Before operating
- Monthly
- Documented inspection
- Annual
- Comprehensive inspection
- Modified
- Qualified person inspect
- Repaired
- Inspect before use
- Deficiency
- Evaluate safety hazard
- Safety hazard
- Remove from service
- Manufacturer
- Follow stricter procedures
Net Load
Gross minus gear equals net.
GrossDeductionsNetCompare load
Gross vs Net
Gross
- Read from chart
- Before deductions
Net
- Available to lift
- After deductions
Net carries the load
Chart Picker
- On outriggers→Outrigger chart
- On rubber→Rubber chart
- Crawler pick→Crawler chart
- Traveling load→Pick-carry chart
- Jib erected→Jib chart
- Exact value absent→Less favorable
Chart Terms
- Gross capacity
- Chart capacity
- Net capacity
- After deductions
- Load weight
- Object plus rigging
- Radius
- Center to hook
- Boom angle
- Chart reference
- Range diagram
- Reach envelope
- Work area
- Quadrant chart
- Capacity limit
- Stability or structure
Radius vs Boom Angle
Radius
- Center to hook
- Capacity usually lower
Boom angle
- Angle to horizontal
- Infers working radius
Radius governs capacity
Deductions
- Hook block
- Subtract from gross
- Ball
- Subtract from gross
- Rigging
- Subtract from gross
- Jib stowed
- May require deduction
- Jib erected
- Use correct chart
- Aux sheave
- Check chart notes
- Whip line
- Check chart notes
- Load line
- Deduct if required
Stability vs Structural
Stability
- Tipping limit
- Ground and radius sensitive
Structural
- Component strength limit
- Do not exceed
Both limits matter
Chart Rules
- Unlisted radius
- Use next larger
- Unlisted boom
- Use next longer
- Notes
- Govern the chart
- Configuration
- Must match exactly
- On rubber
- Separate capacity chart
- Pick carry
- Use travel chart
- Parts line
- Check enough capacity
- Calculator
- Specialty only
Common Traps
Chart Capacity Trap
Gross chart value ≠ Net usable capacity
Radius Trap
Measured before load ≠ Deflects under load
Power-Line Trap
Assume deenergized ≠ Assume energized
Signal Trap
Random directions ≠ Designated signaler
Outrigger Trap
Partly extended guess ≠ Charted position only
Inspection Trap
Deficiency noted ≠ Hazard evaluated
Specialty Trap
Core only ≠ Core plus specialty
Last Minute
- 1.Core: 95 questions, 90 minutes
- 2.Core calculator is prohibited
- 3.Site 22; Operations 28
- 4.Technical 23; Charts 27
- 5.Use exact crane configuration
- 6.Net equals gross minus deductions
- 7.Unlisted radius: next larger
- 8.Unlisted boom: next longer
- 9.Stop signal: anyone may give
- 10.Power lines presumed energized
- 11.Outriggers follow chart notes
- 12.Certification window is 12 months
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