High Risk Work Licence - Bridge and Gantry Crane (CB) exam-day guide
High Risk Work Licence - Bridge and Gantry Crane (CB) · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo identification
Bring the original government-issued photo ID you used for enrolment (for example a passport or driver licence). The assessor must match you to your enrolment before testing starts. Confirm with the provider which ID forms they accept and whether a digital licence is acceptable.
Assessment booking confirmation
Carry your booking confirmation or appointment letter showing date, time, and venue. This helps at reception and resolves any scheduling mix-up. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is required or a digital copy is fine.
Enclosed safety footwear
Steel-cap or equivalent protective boots are standard for crane operations. Wear them in already broken in. Confirm with the provider whether they supply footwear or require you to bring your own.
High-visibility clothing
A hi-vis vest or shirt is normally required on any operational site or yard. Confirm with the provider what minimum standard applies at the assessment venue.
Helmet and eye and hearing protection
If the assessment is on a live site, standard site PPE may be mandatory. Ask the provider in advance whether PPE is supplied at the venue or whether you must bring your own compliant items.
Gloves suitable for controlling loads
Hand protection is common when handling slings, taglines, and controls. Confirm with the provider whether gloves are required and whether any type is prohibited near controls.
Knowledge of the crane you will be assessed on
Ask the provider which crane type and configuration (for example overhead bridge or gantry, pendant or radio control) will be used. Familiarise yourself with its controls and load chart before the day so you are not learning basic layout under test conditions.
Pre-start inspection knowledge
Be ready to describe and demonstrate a pre-operational check: controls, brakes, limit switches, warning devices, wire rope or chain condition, hooks and latches, and the load chart. Review the manufacturer manual and your training notes.
Load calculation and slinging basics
Practise estimating load mass and centre of gravity, reading sling angle effects, and selecting and inspecting slings and shackles. These underpin safe planning and are commonly observed during practical tasks.
Communication and hand signals
Revise standard crane hand signals and radio or verbal communication protocols used with a dogger or spotter. Confirm with the provider which signal set applies at the venue.
Arrive early and rested
Plan to arrive with time to sign in, complete any site induction, and change into PPE. Avoid late nights and heavy meals before the test. Confirm with the provider the required arrival time relative to your booking.
Medication and fitness declaration
If you take medication or have a condition that could affect safe operation, disclose it according to the provider process before assessment. Confirm with the provider how and when to declare fitness concerns.
Plan the day
Re-read your training notes and the relevant load charts. Walk through the sequence of a pre-start inspection and a typical lift out loud, including hazard identification, load estimation, sling selection, and communication with a spotter. Confirm venue address, arrival time, and PPE requirements with the provider. Sort out transport and a backup plan, and protect your sleep in the nights before.
Pack your ID, booking confirmation, PPE, and footwear. Check the weather forecast if any part of the assessment is outdoors. Do a light revision session on hand signals and emergency lowering or stop procedures, then stop studying early. Avoid alcohol and unfamiliar strenuous activity. Set two alarms and confirm your travel time.
Eat a normal meal and stay hydrated. Arrive at the venue with spare time to sign in, complete any induction, and fit PPE. Do a final calm mental rehearsal of the pre-start check and the first lift. Listen carefully to the assessor briefing and ask clarifying questions before you begin rather than mid-task.
Follow the assessor instructions precisely. Verbalise your hazard checks, load calculations, and control inputs where the format allows. Operate smoothly and deliberately, use signals and communication as trained, and stop immediately if anything is unclear or unsafe. Treat every task as a real job: no shortcuts, no assumptions about load mass, and no operating outside the load chart.
Rules to check
Bring original photo identification matching your enrolment. If you cannot produce acceptable ID, you may be refused entry; confirm with the provider what alternatives, if any, are accepted.
Wear the required PPE for the whole assessment and keep it in good condition. An assessor may stop the test if you remove PPE or breach a site safety rule.
Follow all site rules and assessor directions, including exclusion zones, pedestrian routes, and isolation procedures. Unsafe conduct can end the assessment regardless of your technical skill.
Declare any medication, illness, fatigue, or condition that could affect safe operation before the assessment starts. Hiding a fitness issue is itself a safety breach; confirm with the provider how declarations are handled.
Ask the assessor how breaks are managed if the session is long. Do not leave the assessment area or operate equipment without permission; confirm with the provider whether scheduled rest breaks are built in.
Understand the scoring before you start. Practical assessments typically require every critical safety element to be demonstrated correctly, and some errors may be immediately disqualifying. Confirm with the provider the pass criteria, re-sit policy, and appeal process.
Do not coach or receive coaching from other candidates during the assessment, and do not use notes or phones in the operational area unless the assessor permits it.
If you believe an assessment decision was wrong or conditions were unfair, raise it through the provider formal process rather than arguing at the time. Confirm with the provider the complaints and appeal pathway.