OSHA crane signal person qualifications practice questions

1. No third party qualified evaluator has documented a worker's qualifications, and no qualified evaluator of the employer has assessed the worker. The superintendent wants the worker to signal a crane anyway because the worker has signaled cranes for ten years. How does 1926.1428(a) treat that?

• A. It complies, because ten years of signaling experience stands in for an assessment
• B. It falls short, because the requirement must be met by using either Option (1) or Option (2)
• C. It complies, if the crane operator signs off on the worker's signals
• D. It complies, if the worker holds a crane operator certification

2. A contractor assigns a newly hired laborer to signal a crane on the first morning and plans to have the laborer assessed at the end of the week. How does 1926.1428(a) treat that plan?

• A. It complies, because the assessment comes within the first 30 days
• B. It complies, if the crane operator agrees to accept the laborer's signals in the meantime
• C. It falls short, because the employer must ensure the signal person meets the Qualification Requirements prior to giving any signals
• D. It complies, if a second signal person stands next to the laborer

3. An independent entity that, due to its independence and expertise, has demonstrated that it is competent in accurately assessing signal persons gives a worker documentation from its assessment. If the worker's employer relies on that documentation, which route in 1926.1428(a) is it using?

• A. Option (1)—Third party qualified evaluator
• B. Option (2)—Employer's qualified evaluator
• C. Crane operator certification under § 1926.1427
• D. None; documentation from outside the employer cannot be used

4. Under Option (1) in 1926.1428(a)(1), what must the third party qualified evaluator's documentation show?

• A. The number of hours the signal person has worked near cranes
• B. That the signal person also holds crane operator certification
• C. The rated capacity of each crane the signal person will direct
• D. That the signal person meets the Qualification Requirements

5. Under Option (2) in 1926.1428(a)(2), what must the employer's qualified evaluator provide once it determines that the individual meets the Qualification Requirements?

• A. A wallet card issued by OSHA
• B. Documentation of that determination
• C. A report to the crane's manufacturer
• D. A copy of the crane operator's certification

6. A signal person's only assessment was made by Employer X's own qualified evaluator under Option (2). She then goes to work for Employer Y, which wants her to give signals on its crane. Under 1926.1428(a), how may Employer Y meet its duty to ensure she meets the Qualification Requirements before she gives any signals?

• A. By keeping a copy of Employer X's Option (2) documentation at the site
• B. By relying on Employer X's Option (2) assessment for her first year with Employer Y
• C. By using either Option (1) or Option (2) itself, because other employers are not permitted to use Employer X's assessment
• D. By having the crane operator agree to accept her signals

7. For what period does 1926.1428(a)(3) require the employer to make the signal person's qualification documentation available at the site?

• A. While the signal person is employed by the employer
• B. For three years after the signal person's last lift
• C. Only until the crane's next annual inspection
• D. Only on the first day the signal person works at the site

8. A signal person's documentation specifies hand signals as the only type of signaling for which she meets the Qualification Requirements. Her employer now wants her to direct a lift by radio. Under 1926.1428(a) and (c), what must her employer do before she gives radio signals?

• A. Nothing; documentation for one type of signaling covers every type
• B. Only the crane operator's agreement to accept her radio signals
• C. Only a second signal person giving hand signals at the same time
• D. Ensure, by using Option (1) or Option (2), that she meets the Qualification Requirements for radio signals, with documentation that specifies radio signaling

9. An employer relies on a signal person's documentation from a third party qualified evaluator. The employer says the site-availability duty in 1926.1428(a)(3) covers only assessments made by its own qualified evaluator. Is the employer right?

• A. Yes; in that case only the third party qualified evaluator keeps the documentation
• B. No; the employer must make the documentation for whichever option is used available at the site
• C. Yes; in that case the documentation needs to be kept only at the employer's main office
• D. Yes; in that case only the signal person keeps the documentation

10. Under 1926.1428(b), what triggers the employer's duty to stop an individual from continuing to work as a signal person?

• A. Subsequent actions by the signal person indicate that the individual does not meet the Qualification Requirements
• B. The signal person has not given signals for 30 days
• C. The crane is moved to a new site
• D. A new operator starts work on the crane

11. A signal person's actions on the job showed that he does not meet the Qualification Requirements, so his employer took him off signaling. He has now finished re-training, but no re-assessment has been made yet. Under 1926.1428(b), may he go back to work as a signal person?

• A. Yes, because re-training has been provided
• B. Yes, if the operator watches his signals closely
• C. No; first a re-assessment made in accordance with paragraph (a) must confirm that he meets the Qualification Requirements
• D. Yes, but for hand signals only

12. An evaluator is preparing the equipment part of a signal person assessment. Under 1926.1428(c)(3), what understanding of equipment operation and limitations must the signal person have?

• A. Only the crane's maximum boom length
• B. None; equipment operation is a matter for the operator alone
• C. Only the rated capacity of each crane on the site
• D. A basic understanding, including the crane dynamics involved in swinging and stopping loads and boom deflection from hoisting loads

13. Paragraph (c)(1) of 1926.1428 requires each signal person to know and understand the type of signals used. What does paragraph (c)(2) require about those same signals?

• A. Being competent in the application of the type of signals used
• B. Being able to teach the type of signals used to other workers
• C. Having used the type of signals used on at least three earlier jobs
• D. Being certified as a crane operator for each crane the signals will direct

14. An evaluator has confirmed that a worker knows and understands the signals used, is competent in applying them and has a basic understanding of equipment operation and limitations, but has not checked the worker on any regulatory requirements. Which of the Qualification Requirements in 1926.1428(c)(1) through (4) is still left to show?

• A. Holding a crane operator certification
• B. Knowing and understanding the relevant requirements of §§ 1926.1419 through 1926.1422 and 1926.1428
• C. Having signaled under supervision for a set number of hours
• D. Being able to inspect the crane's rigging

15. A worker passes a written test covering everything in 1926.1428(c)(1) through (4), but the evaluator never has the worker give signals in a practical test. Has the worker met (c)(5)?

• A. Yes, because a written test alone is enough
• B. Yes, if the worker has signaled on other jobs before
• C. Yes, if the crane operator vouches for the worker
• D. No; (c)(5) requires the demonstration through an oral or written test, and through a practical test

16. Under 1926.1428(c)(5), what must a signal person demonstrate through testing?

• A. That the signal person meets the operator requirements of § 1926.1427
• B. Only that he/she can give signals during a lift
• C. That he/she meets the requirements in (c)(1) through (4): the signals used, their application, equipment operation and limitations, and the relevant rules
• D. That the crane's rated capacity is not exceeded