High Risk Work Licence - Slewing Mobile Crane C2 (20t) exam-day guide
High Risk Work Licence - Slewing Mobile Crane C2 (20t) · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo ID
Bring the original government-issued photo ID you used to enrol (driver licence or passport). The assessor must match your name to the enrolment record before testing starts. Confirm with the provider which ID types they accept and whether a digital licence is allowed.
Licence or permit paperwork
Carry any interim licence, learner permit, or enrolment confirmation the provider asked you to bring. If you already hold a related high risk work licence, bring it. Confirm with the provider exactly which documents they require on the day.
PPE: helmet, hi-vis, safety boots
Bring a hard hat, high-visibility vest or shirt, and steel-capped safety boots. Most assessment sites will not let you near the crane without them. Confirm with the provider whether gloves, safety glasses, or hearing protection are also required.
Weather-appropriate clothing
Wear long trousers and sleeves suitable for outdoor work in sun, wind, or rain. Loose clothing that could snag on controls or rigging is a hazard. Check the forecast and dress in layers.
Logbook or training record
If your training pathway requires a record of supervised operating hours or a logbook, bring it completed and signed. Confirm with the provider whether hours must be logged before the practical assessment.
Site induction evidence
Some assessment sites require a completed induction or visitor sign-in before entry. Confirm with the provider whether an induction is done on the day or must be completed online beforehand.
Arrival time and location confirmed
Reconfirm the address, gate, parking, and reporting time 24 hours ahead. Assessment yards are often in industrial areas with limited signage. Allow extra travel time for traffic and check-in.
Study the crane and site layout
If the provider gives a site plan or crane familiarisation sheet in advance, review it. Know where the pick and set-down zones are and where exclusion zones will be marked. Ask the provider for any pre-reading.
Plan meals, water, and medication
Bring water and a snack; practical assessments can run long in heat. Carry any personal medication you may need. Tell the assessor privately about any medical condition that could affect safe operation.
Rest and sobriety
Get a normal night's sleep and arrive free of alcohol and drugs, including anything that causes drowsiness. Fatigue and impairment are grounds for removal from the crane. Confirm with the provider their fitness-for-work policy.
Questions about the assessment format
Ask the provider in advance how the practical is structured: pre-start checks, set-up, lifts, and shutdown. Knowing the sequence reduces day-of anxiety. Do not assume the format matches another provider's.
Payment and admin complete
Confirm fees are paid and any paperwork is submitted so you are not turned away at the gate. Keep a copy of your confirmation email or receipt on your phone and printed.
Plan the day
Re-read the assessment outline and the crane's load chart and operating manual if the provider supplies them. Practise the pre-start inspection sequence aloud, covering tyres or tracks, outriggers, slew and hoist brakes, limiters, load moment indicator, and rigging condition. Confirm the reporting time, address, and what to bring with the provider by phone or email, and note the answers.
Do a dry run of your travel route and parking, or at least check maps and traffic patterns. Check your PPE for damage: cracked helmet shell, worn boot tread, torn hi-vis. Replace anything unsafe. Confirm your ID is current and not expired.
Reconfirm the booking and reporting time. Pack your bag: ID, paperwork, PPE, water, snack, and any medication. Charge your phone and save the provider's contact number. Avoid heavy physical work or late nights. Review the lift plan method: assess load weight, sling angles, radius, boom length, and ground conditions, and rehearse your communication signals.
Eat a proper meal and arrive early, typically well before the reporting time. Sign in and complete any site induction. Listen carefully to the assessor's briefing and ask clarifying questions before you touch the crane. Use the toilet before the practical starts, since breaks may be limited.
Walk the crane and complete the inspection in a logical order, saying what you are checking and why. Check fluid levels, tyres or tracks, outrigger pads and ground bearing, level indicators, and all safety devices. Set up within the load chart, barricade the work area, and confirm your spotter and signals before lifting.
Plan each lift aloud: weight, radius, boom configuration, and path. Keep the load under control, use tag lines where required, and stay within the rated capacity. Watch the load, the spotter, and your surroundings. Stop and reassess if anything changes. Smooth, deliberate control inputs score better than fast ones.
Lower the load, stow the boom per the manufacturer's procedure, retract outriggers, and secure the crane. Complete any post-operational checks and housekeeping. Return controls and isolators to the required state and report any defects.
Ask the assessor for feedback and confirm what happens next with your results and licence application. Record any areas to improve for future work. Confirm with the provider the timeline for results and how to appeal if you disagree with an outcome.
Rules to check
Follow all site rules and the assessor's directions at all times. The assessor's stop signal overrides everything; stop the crane immediately when given.
Present original photo ID matching your enrolment. If your name or documents do not match, the assessor may not be able to proceed; confirm with the provider how to fix discrepancies before the day.
Arrive on time. Late arrival may mean you are not assessed and fees are forfeited; confirm with the provider their late-arrival and rescheduling policy.
No alcohol or drugs, and no operating while fatigued or impaired. Declare any medication that could affect your alertness; confirm with the provider how declarations are handled.
Ask before taking breaks. Practical assessments may run for extended periods; confirm with the provider whether scheduled breaks exist and whether you can pause mid-task.
Do not use phones, headphones, or other distractions while operating the crane or during the assessed tasks unless the assessor permits it for communication.
Scoring is competency-based: you must demonstrate each required element safely. A serious safety breach, such as exceeding rated capacity or bypassing a safety device, can end the assessment; confirm with the provider the exact critical-failure criteria.
Treat the assessment as real work: wear your PPE, keep exclusion zones clear, use correct signals, and communicate with your spotter. Housekeeping and shut-down are assessed too.