Emergency Procedures, Incident Response and Shutdown
Preparedness
Before the lift, the team should know the emergency stop location, the isolation procedure, the first aid and emergency contacts, and the evacuation route. For crane-specific emergencies: powerline contact (stay in the cab, warn others away, do not touch the crane and the ground simultaneously), hydraulic failure (lower the load if possible, then isolate), fire (isolate power, use the correct extinguisher, evacuate), and overturning risk (lower the load, retract the boom, move to stable ground).
Incident response
After any incident: make the area safe, isolate the crane, provide first aid, notify the supervisor and relevant authorities as required, preserve the scene and records, and do not return the crane to service until inspected and cleared by a competent person. Record what happened factually.
Shutdown
Correct shutdown: land the load, lower and retract the boom to the transport position, apply the parking brake, chock wheels on a slope, isolate and remove the key, secure the cab, and complete the logbook.
Traps
Questions test whether you know not to leave the cab during a line contact unless the crane is on fire, and that a crane involved in an incident must be inspected before reuse.
Worked example
If the crane contacts a live line, the operator stays in the cab, warns others to stay clear, and calls for the line to be de-energised. Exit only if fire forces it, then jump clear with feet together and shuffle away.