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100+ Free High Risk Work Licence — Derrick Crane (CD) Practice Questions

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Key Facts: High Risk Work Licence — Derrick Crane (CD) Exam

100

Practice Questions

OpenExamPrep

TLILIC0017

Unit of Competency

training.gov.au

Must-pass

Calculations & Safety Questions

RTO Assessment Rules

5 Years

Licence Validity Period

WHS Regulators

The Australia HRWL Derrick Crane (CD) assessment uses a closed-book NAI knowledge test, calculations, and practical for TLILIC0017. Critical stability calculations and safety items are must-pass. This prep includes 100 practice questions.

Sample High Risk Work Licence — Derrick Crane (CD) Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your High Risk Work Licence — Derrick Crane (CD) exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1When planning derrick crane operations near overhead powerlines, what is the first action you must take?
A.Contact the relevant electricity supply authority to confirm safe working distances and permit requirements.
B.Install warning flags on the guy ropes to alert the power company.
C.Ensure the crane operator wears rubber-soled safety boots.
D.Lower the boom to its lowest angle to reduce the crane's height.
Explanation: Before any crane work begins near overhead powerlines, you must contact the local electricity supply authority. This ensures you establish the correct exclusion zones, obtain necessary permits, and implement appropriate safety controls.
2Which weather condition is most critical to monitor for derrick crane safety due to its large structural surface area?
A.Heavy rain
B.High wind speed
C.Extreme ambient temperature
D.Fog and low visibility
Explanation: High wind speed poses the greatest structural and operational risk to a derrick crane, as it can cause instability, swinging of the load, and structural failure of the mast or boom. Operators must always refer to the manufacturer's maximum wind speed limits.
3Who is responsible for identifying hazards and conducting a risk assessment before setting up a derrick crane?
A.The crane manufacturer's engineer only
B.The site supervisor and the crane operator/dogger team
C.The local municipal council representative
D.The WHS inspector during their annual visit
Explanation: Hazard identification and risk assessment are collaborative safety duties. The crane operator, dogger/rigger, and site supervisor must work together to identify local site hazards and establish risk controls prior to assembly or operation.
4Under Australian Standards, if the crane operator loses sight of the dogger or rigger during a lift, what must they do?
A.Continue the lift slowly until the load is visible again.
B.Sound the horn twice and rely on guess-estimation.
C.Immediately stop all crane movements until communication is re-established.
D.Increase the luffing speed to get the boom clear of obstructions.
Explanation: Safety is paramount in blind lifting. If direct line of sight or radio contact is lost at any point during crane operations, the operator must immediately halt all movement until communication is restored.
5Why must you locate underground services before positioning a derrick crane's foundations or sole plates?
A.To ensure the crane's electrical grounding is connected to water pipes.
B.To prevent the heavy structural loads from crushing or collapsing underground utilities.
C.To comply with local stormwater recycling regulations.
D.To locate water sources for cleaning the crane.
Explanation: Derrick cranes exert massive concentrated loads through their sole plates, sills, or anchor points. Locating underground services prevents structural collapse, ground subsidence, or severe utility damage.
6What is a key requirement for using two-way radios during derrick crane operations?
A.The radio must remain on a shared public channel for general site use.
B.The radio frequency must be dedicated, clear, and tested before lifting commences.
C.The operator must hold the talk button down continuously during the entire lift.
D.The radio must be voice-activated (VOX) to avoid manual operation.
Explanation: Radio communication must be conducted on a dedicated, interference-free channel. It should be thoroughly tested before any lifting begins to ensure clear communication between the operator and dogger/rigger.
7What is the primary purpose of wearing a safety helmet (hard hat) on a derrick crane site?
A.To shield the eyes from solar glare.
B.To protect the head from falling objects, structural contact, and impact hazards.
C.To identify the worker's trade based on helmet color.
D.To comply with thermal insulation comfort guidelines.
Explanation: Under WHS regulations, hard hats protect personnel from serious head injuries caused by falling loads, rigging gear, or structural contact within the crane's operating radius.
8Which document must be consulted to identify site-specific safety rules and emergency evacuation paths?
A.The crane manufacturer's sales brochure
B.The Site Safety Plan and Induction materials
C.The national crane licensing gazette
D.The local weather forecast archives
Explanation: Site safety rules, exclusion zones, and emergency evacuation protocols are detailed in the Site Safety Plan. Every worker must complete site induction to familiarise themselves with these details.
9What is the primary purpose of the 'sole plate' under a derrick crane's mast or stiff leg?
A.To prevent rust from forming on the steelwork.
B.To distribute structural loads over a larger ground surface area to prevent sinkage.
C.To act as a pivot point for slewing the mast.
D.To secure the counterweights to the crane frame.
Explanation: Sole plates (and associated cribbing) distribute the massive down-forces of the derrick crane over a larger area. This prevents the ground or supporting structure from yielding under the crane's weight.
10If a defect is found during the pre-operational inspection of a derrick crane, what is the correct procedure?
A.Continue operating but note the defect in the logbook at the end of the shift.
B.Repair the defect yourself using tools available on site.
C.Tag the crane 'Out of Service', isolate power, and report the issue to the supervisor.
D.Ignore the defect if it is not located on the primary hoist winch.
Explanation: Any safety-critical defect must result in immediate tag-out, isolation, and reporting. The crane must not be operated until the defect is repaired and signed off by a competent person.

About the High Risk Work Licence — Derrick Crane (CD) Exam

The High Risk Work Licence for Derrick Crane (CD class) is required in Australia to operate a derrick crane, which is defined as a slewing strut-member crane with its boom pivoted at the base of a mast which is member-supported or guyed. Assessment is based on the national unit of competency TLILIC0017 — Licence to operate a derrick crane. It covers planning the work, hazard identification and risk controls, pre-operational checks on the crane structure, winches, guy ropes or stiff legs, reading load charts, performing weight and radius calculations, safe operation (slewing, luffing, hoisting), and safe shutdown and isolation procedures.

Assessment

Closed-book National Assessment Instrument (NAI) knowledge and calculations assessment, plus a practical derrick crane operation assessment, administered by an accredited high-risk work assessor through a Registered Training Organisation (RTO).

Time Limit

Varies by RTO / assessor (closed-book knowledge and calculations, then practical)

Passing Score

Competency-based overall. Candidates must answer calculations and safety-critical theory correctly and demonstrate competent practical operation.

Exam Fee

RTO training and assessment fees commonly fall in the $1,500–$3,000 AUD range depending on provider, plus a separate regulator HRWL application fee (e.g. SafeWork NSW: $95 for a new licence class). (State and Territory Work Health and Safety (WHS) regulators (e.g., SafeWork NSW, WorkSafe Victoria, WorkSafe Queensland, WorkSafe WA).)

High Risk Work Licence — Derrick Crane (CD) Exam Content Outline

25%

Plan Work & Hazard Identification

Task planning, WHS regulations, site hazard identification (overhead hazards, power lines, wind, weather, underground services), risk assessment, hierarchy of controls, SWMS, and communication systems (whistle codes, radio protocols, hand signals).

25%

Pre-Start Inspection & Preparation

Pre-operational inspections, checking structural integrity (lattice boom, mast, sills), verifying guy rope tension and anchorage, inspecting stiff leg attachments, checking winches and wire ropes (birdcaging, broken wires), checking brakes, limit switches, and logbook records.

20%

Stability, Load Charts & Calculations

Understanding derrick stability principles, determining load centre of gravity, reading derrick-specific load charts, calculating horizontal radius and boom angles, gross load calculations (including hook blocks and rigging), and calculating line pull, parts of line, and wind deratings.

30%

Operate & Shut Down

Safe operation including hoisting, slewing (swing control, centrifugal effects), luffing (derricking), managing tag lines, avoiding side-loading and shock-loading, responding to power line contact, weathervaning, proper post-operational shutdown, parking angles, brakes, and electrical isolation.

How to Pass the High Risk Work Licence — Derrick Crane (CD) Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Competency-based overall. Candidates must answer calculations and safety-critical theory correctly and demonstrate competent practical operation.
  • Assessment: Closed-book National Assessment Instrument (NAI) knowledge and calculations assessment, plus a practical derrick crane operation assessment, administered by an accredited high-risk work assessor through a Registered Training Organisation (RTO).
  • Time limit: Varies by RTO / assessor (closed-book knowledge and calculations, then practical)
  • Exam fee: RTO training and assessment fees commonly fall in the $1,500–$3,000 AUD range depending on provider, plus a separate regulator HRWL application fee (e.g. SafeWork NSW: $95 for a new licence class).

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

High Risk Work Licence — Derrick Crane (CD) Study Tips from Top Performers

1Master the whistle codes commonly used on site: 1 short blast = Stop, 2 short blasts = Hoist up, 3 short blasts = Lower, and one continuous blast = Emergency stop (confirm your site's code set, as codes can vary by RTO/site).
2Understand the effect of guy rope angles: flatter guy ropes increase tension in the guys and increase compressive forces on the mast.
3Practice the gross load formula: Gross Load = Payload + Hook Block + Rigging Gear. Always check this against the load chart for the current operating radius.
4Remember crane orientation: stiff-leg derricks experience tension (uplift) in the rear leg when the boom is pointed away from it, and maximum compression when the boom is pointed towards it. Anchorages/ballast must be engineered to resist this uplift.

Frequently Asked Questions

What defines a Derrick Crane under Australian HRW licensing?

A derrick crane is a slewing strut-member crane with its boom pivoted at the base of a mast which is member-supported or guyed. The two main types are guyed derricks (stabilised by guy ropes anchored to the ground) and stiff-leg derricks (stabilised by rigid steel legs anchored to sills and loaded with weights or anchored structurally).

How long is a CD High Risk Work Licence valid?

Australian High Risk Work Licences are valid for 5 years and are recognized nationally. You must apply for renewal with your state or territory WHS regulator before it expires to continue operating legally.

What is the passing criteria for the TLILIC0017 assessment?

The assessment is competency-based. To achieve competency, candidates must answer all safety-critical questions and all load calculation questions correctly in the written assessment, and demonstrate 100% safe practices during the practical crane operation.

What are the common communication methods required during operations?

Communication between the dogger/rigger and the crane operator is vital. AS 2550.1 governs standard hand and whistle signals; commonly taught dogman whistle codes are one short blast = Stop, two short blasts = Hoist up, three short blasts = Lower, and one continuous blast = Emergency stop (confirm the exact code set used on your site, as codes can vary). Two-way radios on a dedicated, tested channel are also used.