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High Risk Work Licence - Materials Hoist (HM) study materials
High Risk Work Licence - Materials Hoist (HM) study resources

High Risk Work Licence - Materials Hoist (HM) practice questions

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Question 1Legislative, duty-of-care and regulatory requirements for high risk work

Under the model Work Health and Safety Act, what is the primary duty of a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) that operates a materials hoist on a construction site?

  1. Guarantee that no worker is ever injured while using the hoist
  2. Delegate all safety responsibility to the hoist manufacturer
  3. Comply with safety duties only when a regulator issues an improvement notice
  4. Ensure the health and safety of workers and others affected by the business, so far as is reasonably practicable Correct answer.

Explanation

The primary duty requires a PCBU to ensure health and safety so far as is reasonably practicable, which is an objective test balancing likelihood and severity of harm against cost and feasibility. It is not an absolute guarantee and cannot be transferred to the manufacturer or activated only by regulator action.

Question 2Legislative, duty-of-care and regulatory requirements for high risk work

A materials hoist is classified as high risk work. What does this classification require of a person who operates the hoist?

  1. They must be supervised by an engineer at all times
  2. They must hold a first aid certificate only
  3. They must complete a university qualification in rigging
  4. They must hold a current high risk work licence for the relevant class Correct answer.

Explanation

High risk work is defined by the model WHS Regulations, and operating a materials hoist falls within that definition. A person performing high risk work must hold the appropriate high risk work licence for that class of work.

Question 3Legislative, duty-of-care and regulatory requirements for high risk work

Which class of high risk work licence is required to operate a materials hoist under the model WHS Regulations?

  1. Materials hoist (HM) Correct answer.
  2. Concrete placing boom (PB)
  3. Dogging (DG)
  4. Boom-type elevating work platform (WP)

Explanation

The model WHS Regulations list materials hoist operation as its own high risk work class, commonly designated HM. Other classes such as dogging, elevating work platforms and concrete placing booms authorise different plant and tasks.

Question 4Legislative, duty-of-care and regulatory requirements for high risk work

What is the general age requirement for a person to be issued a high risk work licence in the model WHS Regulations?

  1. At least 18 years of age Correct answer.
  2. At least 16 years of age
  3. At least 21 years of age
  4. There is no minimum age requirement

Explanation

The model WHS Regulations set a minimum age of 18 years for high risk work licence holders. Younger workers may perform other tasks but cannot be licensed for high risk work such as hoist operation.

Question 5Legislative, duty-of-care and regulatory requirements for high risk work

A registered training organisation delivers the materials hoist training. Who may legally apply for the high risk work licence after training?

  1. The training organisation on the candidate's behalf without consent
  2. The hoist manufacturer
  3. The site principal contractor automatically
  4. The candidate, who must lodge the application with the regulator Correct answer.

Explanation

The individual who has been trained and assessed as competent applies to the WHS regulator for the licence. The application is personal to the candidate, although an RTO may assist with paperwork at the candidate's request.

Question 6Legislative, duty-of-care and regulatory requirements for high risk work

What is the key purpose of a high risk work licence assessment conducted by a registered assessor?

  1. To replace the need for site-specific induction
  2. To determine the candidate's pay rate on site
  3. To certify the hoist itself as safe to use
  4. To confirm the candidate can perform the high risk work competently and safely against the unit of competency Correct answer.

Explanation

The licence assessment verifies that the candidate can perform the specified high risk work to the standard set by the relevant unit of competency. It focuses on the operator's competence, not on wages, plant certification or site induction.

Question 7Legislative, duty-of-care and regulatory requirements for high risk work

A licensed hoist operator notices the hoist's upper limit device is faulty. Under the model WHS Act, what is the operator's duty?

  1. Record the fault in a diary and keep operating normally
  2. Repair the limit device personally without authorisation
  3. Continue operating at reduced speed until the end of the shift
  4. Stop using the hoist, isolate it and report the fault to the PCBU Correct answer.

Explanation

Workers must take reasonable care for their own and others' safety and must report hazards or defects to the PCBU. Continuing to operate plant with a faulty safety device would breach that duty and create serious risk.

Question 8Legislative, duty-of-care and regulatory requirements for high risk work

What is the role of a Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) when high risk construction work involving a hoist is carried out?

  1. It is prepared by the regulator for each site
  2. It documents how the high risk work will be done and the controls to be applied, and must be followed Correct answer.
  3. It replaces the need for a licensed operator
  4. It is only required for jobs lasting more than one month

Explanation

For high risk construction work, the PCBU must prepare an SWMS that identifies the work, the hazards and the risk controls, and the work must be carried out in accordance with it. An SWMS does not substitute for operator licensing and is not prepared by the regulator.

Question 9Legislative, duty-of-care and regulatory requirements for high risk work

A principal contractor engages a subcontractor to operate a materials hoist. How does the model WHS Act treat the overlapping duties of both parties?

  1. Only the principal contractor has duties because it controls the site
  2. Only the subcontractor has duties because it directly employs the operator
  3. Both parties have duties, and each must discharge them so far as reasonably practicable Correct answer.
  4. Duties are shared only if they sign a written agreement allocating them

Explanation

Where more than one person has a duty for the same matter, each retains that duty and must discharge it so far as reasonably practicable. Duties cannot be contracted away, and the parties must consult and coordinate with each other.

Question 10Legislative, duty-of-care and regulatory requirements for high risk work

What does the model WHS Act require regarding consultation with workers when decisions are made about hoist safety controls?

  1. Only union delegates may be consulted
  2. Consultation is required only after an incident has occurred
  3. Consultation is optional and depends on the site manager's preference
  4. The PCBU must consult, so far as reasonably practicable, with workers who are affected Correct answer.

Explanation

The model WHS Act imposes a duty to consult, so far as reasonably practicable, with workers who carry out work for the PCBU and are affected by a health and safety matter. Consultation should occur when identifying hazards and deciding on controls, not only after incidents.

Question 11Legislative, duty-of-care and regulatory requirements for high risk work

A materials hoist operator's licence has expired. What is the operator's legal position if they continue operating the hoist?

  1. They may operate if the site has a current SWMS
  2. They may operate if a licensed colleague watches them
  3. They may continue while a renewal application is being processed, without restriction
  4. They are performing high risk work without a valid licence, which is an offence Correct answer.

Explanation

High risk work must be carried out by a person holding a current licence for that class. Once the licence expires, continuing to operate the hoist is unlicensed high risk work and exposes both the operator and the PCBU to enforcement action.

Question 12Legislative, duty-of-care and regulatory requirements for high risk work

Which document issued by the regulator authorises a person to perform high risk work while their application is being finalised in some jurisdictions?

  1. A plant registration certificate
  2. A provisional driver licence
  3. A site induction card
  4. A notice of satisfactory assessment Correct answer.

Explanation

In some jurisdictions a notice of satisfactory assessment issued after a successful licence assessment allows the person to perform the work while the licence is processed. It is time-limited and specific to the class assessed.

Question 13Legislative, duty-of-care and regulatory requirements for high risk work

A PCBU plans to install a materials hoist. Which regulatory obligation applies to the plant before it is used for the first time?

  1. The plant must be operated by the site manager only
  2. The plant must be painted in a high-visibility colour
  3. The plant must be inspected annually by the manufacturer
  4. The plant must be registered with the regulator where the regulations require registration Correct answer.

Explanation

The model WHS Regulations require certain items of plant, including some hoists, to be registered with the regulator before use. Registration involves design and item registration processes, and an item cannot be used until the registration is in place.

Question 14Legislative, duty-of-care and regulatory requirements for high risk work

What must a PCBU do when a notifiable incident involving a materials hoist occurs, such as a structural failure that exposes a worker to serious risk?

  1. Notify only the hoist manufacturer
  2. Wait until the end of the month to include it in a routine report
  3. Notify the regulator immediately and preserve the site until clearance is given Correct answer.
  4. Investigate internally and notify only if a worker is hospitalised

Explanation

A serious incident or dangerous occurrence must be notified to the regulator immediately, and the site must be preserved so far as reasonably practicable until the regulator permits otherwise. Delaying notification or disturbing the site can obstruct the investigation.

Question 15Legislative, duty-of-care and regulatory requirements for high risk work

A worker holds an HM licence but is asked to operate a different class of plant on site. What is the correct response?

  1. Operate it under the supervision of an unlicensed colleague
  2. Operate it only if the task takes less than an hour
  3. Decline unless they hold the licence for that class or are appropriately authorised Correct answer.
  4. Operate it because all high risk work licences are interchangeable

Explanation

Each high risk work licence authorises only the class of work specified on it. Operating plant outside the licensed class is unlicensed high risk work, regardless of how briefly or under whose supervision it occurs.

Question 16Legislative, duty-of-care and regulatory requirements for high risk work

Which statement best describes the 'reasonably practicable' test applied to controlling hoist risks?

  1. It weighs the likelihood and severity of harm against the cost and feasibility of controls Correct answer.
  2. It applies only to workers, not to visitors near the hoist
  3. It allows a PCBU to ignore risk if insurance covers it
  4. It requires eliminating all risk regardless of cost

Explanation

The test considers the likelihood of the hazard occurring, the degree of harm, what the person knows about the hazard and ways to control it, and the availability and suitability of controls, weighed against cost. It is not an absolute elimination standard and applies to all persons affected by the business.

Question 17Legislative, duty-of-care and regulatory requirements for high risk work

A principal contractor and a hoist hire company both have duties over the same hoist. How should they manage their overlapping obligations?

  1. Each discharges its own duty and consults, cooperates and coordinates with the others Correct answer.
  2. The principal contractor may transfer its duty to the hire company by contract
  3. The hire company's duty displaces the principal contractor's duty
  4. Whichever party holds the plant registration bears all duties

Explanation

Where duties overlap, each duty holder must discharge its own duty and, to do so effectively, must consult, cooperate and coordinate activities with the other duty holders. Duties cannot be displaced or transferred by contract or by holding plant registration.

Question 18Legislative, duty-of-care and regulatory requirements for high risk work

An operator's licence is suspended by the regulator following a safety breach. What is the effect of suspension on the operator's authority to perform hoist work?

  1. The operator is not authorised to perform the work while the suspension is in force Correct answer.
  2. The operator may continue only on sites where the regulator has no presence
  3. The operator may continue if the PCBU provides written permission
  4. The operator may continue until the suspension period ends

Explanation

A suspended licence has no effect during the suspension period, so the holder is not authorised to perform the licensed work. The PCBU cannot override a regulator's suspension by giving permission.

Question 19Legislative, duty-of-care and regulatory requirements for high risk work

A PCBU intends to rely on a 'competent person' to inspect a materials hoist. What does the model WHS Regulations generally require of that person?

  1. They must be employed by the hoist manufacturer
  2. They must hold the relevant high risk work licence for hoist operation
  3. They must have acquired through training, qualification or experience the knowledge and skills to carry out the inspection task Correct answer.
  4. They must be a registered engineer in all cases

Explanation

The regulations define a competent person as someone who has acquired through training, qualification or experience the knowledge and skills to carry out the task. This is task-specific and does not always require a licence, manufacturer employment or engineering registration.

Question 20Legislative, duty-of-care and regulatory requirements for high risk work

A hoist operator believes a planned lift exceeds the hoist's rated capacity. The site supervisor instructs them to proceed. What is the operator's most appropriate legal response?

  1. Proceed but log the instruction in the site diary
  2. Proceed because the supervisor accepts responsibility for the instruction
  3. Refuse to operate outside the rated capacity and escalate the concern through the safety process Correct answer.
  4. Proceed at reduced speed to limit the load on the hoist

Explanation

Operating beyond rated capacity breaches the operator's duty to take reasonable care and the PCBU's duty to control risk, and a supervisor's instruction does not make unlawful or unsafe work lawful. The operator should refuse and escalate the concern through consultation and reporting channels.

Question 21Hazard identification, risk assessment and control for hoist operations

Before a materials hoist is used on a new site, what is the most appropriate first step in the risk management process?

  1. Identify the hazards associated with the hoist, its loads and the surrounding workplace Correct answer.
  2. Order additional spare parts for the hoist winch
  3. Record the hoist serial number in the site diary
  4. Train workers only after the first lift is completed

Explanation

Risk management begins with hazard identification, which means systematically finding the things that could cause harm before controls are chosen. Only after hazards are identified can risks be assessed and control measures selected and implemented. Ordering parts, training timing and record keeping are administrative actions that follow, not replace, hazard identification.

Question 22Hazard identification, risk assessment and control for hoist operations

A materials hoist is installed beside a public footpath. Which control is the most reliable way to prevent unauthorised people entering the danger zone under the platform?

  1. A high-visibility vest issued to the hoist operator
  2. A toolbox talk reminding workers to watch for pedestrians
  3. A physical barrier fence with locked gates around the hoist base Correct answer.
  4. A warning sign fixed to the hoist mast

Explanation

Controls are ranked by reliability, and physical barriers sit high in the hierarchy because they do not depend on human memory or behaviour. A fence with locked gates physically prevents access to the falling-object and crush zone. Signs, talks and PPE rely on people noticing and complying, so they are lower-order controls used in support of the barrier.

Question 23Hazard identification, risk assessment and control for hoist operations

When should the daily pre-use inspection of a materials hoist be carried out?

  1. At the end of each week by the site manager
  2. Before the hoist is used at the start of each shift Correct answer.
  3. Only after a load has slipped on the platform
  4. Once a month during the scheduled service

Explanation

A pre-use check is performed before the hoist is operated at the start of each shift so that defects are found before anyone is exposed to them. Items typically checked include the platform, gates, guides, ropes, limiters and controls. Weekly, monthly or reactive checks do not replace the shift-level inspection.

Question 24Hazard identification, risk assessment and control for hoist operations

A load on the hoist platform is stacked so that it leans against the gate. What is the main hazard this creates?

  1. The hoist rope may become permanently shorter
  2. The hoist motor may run faster than normal
  3. The load may fall from the platform when the gate is opened Correct answer.
  4. The platform may become lighter than its rated capacity

Explanation

A load resting against a gate creates stored energy that is released when the gate is opened, allowing material to topple out of the platform. Loads must be secured and kept clear of gates and edges so they cannot shift or fall. The other options describe effects that are not caused by leaning loads.

Question 25Hazard identification, risk assessment and control for hoist operations

What does the rated capacity marked on a materials hoist represent?

  1. The load at which the hoist will automatically stop
  2. The maximum load the hoist is designed to lift safely under stated conditions Correct answer.
  3. The average load the hoist will carry during a normal day
  4. The weight of the platform and mast combined

Explanation

Rated capacity is the maximum load the designer permits under the specified operating conditions, and it must never be exceeded. It accounts for the strength of the structure, ropes and drive, not for average usage or the dead weight of the equipment. Exceeding it removes the designed safety margin.

Question 26Hazard identification, risk assessment and control for hoist operations

A hoist operator notices the upper limit switch has been bypassed. What is the correct immediate action?

  1. Reduce the load by half and finish the remaining lifts
  2. Continue operating but keep a close watch on the platform height
  3. Stop using the hoist, isolate it and report the defect for repair Correct answer.
  4. Ask a workmate to press the stop button if the platform overruns

Explanation

A bypassed limit switch removes a safety device that prevents the platform from overrunning and causing structural failure or rope damage. The hoist must be taken out of service, isolated so it cannot be started, and the defect reported so it is repaired and re-verified. Continuing use with reduced load or a spotter does not restore the missing protection.

Question 27Hazard identification, risk assessment and control for hoist operations

Which weather condition most directly increases the risk of a materials hoist platform being pushed out of alignment or struck by wind loading?

  1. High humidity
  2. Overcast skies
  3. Light overnight frost
  4. Strong gusting wind Correct answer.

Explanation

Strong or gusting wind applies lateral force to the platform, load and mast, which can cause load shift, loss of control or structural overloading. Manufacturers specify maximum wind speeds for operation, and work must stop when these are reached. Frost, humidity and cloud cover affect surfaces or comfort but not wind loading.

Question 28Hazard identification, risk assessment and control for hoist operations

A worker needs to reach a level slightly above the hoist platform to guide a load. What is the safest approach?

  1. Climb the hoist guides while the platform is stationary
  2. Stand on the load stacked on the platform
  3. Use a properly erected ladder or work platform with fall protection Correct answer.
  4. Stand on the platform gate and hold the mast

Explanation

Materials hoists are not designed as work platforms for people, and climbing on loads, gates or guides creates fall and crush hazards. Any task at height must use suitable access equipment such as a ladder or elevated work platform with appropriate fall protection. The hoist must not be used as a substitute for that equipment.

Question 29Hazard identification, risk assessment and control for hoist operations

Why must the area beneath a materials hoist be treated as a exclusion zone during operation?

  1. Because the hoist uses hydraulic oil that may drip
  2. Because objects can fall and the platform can descend rapidly Correct answer.
  3. Because the mast casts a shadow on the ground
  4. Because the hoist motor produces loud noise

Explanation

The zone below a hoist is exposed to falling materials, tools and debris, and to the platform itself if it descends or fails. Keeping people out of this zone is a primary control against struck-by and crush injuries. Noise, shadows and minor drips are not the reason for excluding people.

Question 30Hazard identification, risk assessment and control for hoist operations

A pallet of bricks is loaded so that it overhangs the edge of the hoist platform. What risk does this create?

  1. The hoist will lift the load faster because of the overhang
  2. The overhanging material may strike the structure or fall as the platform travels Correct answer.
  3. The bricks will become lighter as they are lifted
  4. The platform will automatically level itself

Explanation

Overhanging material extends beyond the platform envelope and can hit the mast, guides, landing structures or scaffold as the platform moves, knocking the load loose. Loads must sit fully within the platform and be secured against movement. Overhang does not change lifting speed, levelling or mass.

Question 31Hazard identification, risk assessment and control for hoist operations

What is the purpose of a risk assessment for a materials hoist task?

  1. To prove that the hoist was bought at the lowest price
  2. To record the names of everyone who has ever used a hoist
  3. To replace the need for operator training
  4. To identify hazards, evaluate the likelihood and severity of harm, and decide on controls Correct answer.

Explanation

A risk assessment identifies the hazards of the task, judges how likely and how severe harm could be, and sets out controls to reduce that risk to an acceptable level. It is a decision-making tool, not a purchasing record or a substitute for training. It should be reviewed when conditions change.

Question 32Hazard identification, risk assessment and control for hoist operations

During a lift, the operator cannot see the landing level because of scaffolding. What is the appropriate control?

  1. Rely on the hoist's limit switches to stop at the right height
  2. Raise the platform quickly to reduce the time it is hidden
  3. Ask nearby workers to shout if something looks wrong
  4. Use a competent signal person or reliable communication system Correct answer.

Explanation

Where the operator's view is obstructed, safe movement depends on a competent signal person or a reliable communication system agreed before the lift. This gives positive control over the platform's position and speed. Speed, shouting and limit switches do not provide the information the operator needs.

Question 33Hazard identification, risk assessment and control for hoist operations

What is the main hazard when a materials hoist is erected too close to overhead power lines?

  1. Slower lifting speed due to magnetic fields
  2. Increased wear on the hoist rope
  3. Reduced rated capacity of the platform
  4. Electrical contact or arcing that can electrocute workers and damage equipment Correct answer.

Explanation

Hoist masts, ropes and loads can contact or come close enough to overhead lines to cause arcing, electric shock, burns and fire. Exclusion distances or de-energising and isolation are required before erecting or operating near lines. Rope wear, speed and capacity are not the controlling hazard in this situation.

Question 34Hazard identification, risk assessment and control for hoist operations

A load must be lifted to a landing where a worker will pull it onto the floor. What control best reduces the risk of the worker being pulled from the edge?

  1. The worker removes the guard rail to get a better grip
  2. The worker stands on the platform edge to guide the load by hand
  3. The worker uses a long hook or tag line from a safe position behind a guard Correct answer.
  4. The worker leans out over the edge to reach the load

Explanation

Using a hook or tag line lets the worker control the load while standing back from the edge behind the guard, reducing the chance of being pulled over or falling. Leaning out, standing on the edge or removing guards defeats the fall protection. The landing edge must remain protected at all times.

Question 35Hazard identification, risk assessment and control for hoist operations

Which of the following best describes a hazard associated with an overloaded materials hoist?

  1. The hoist will simply refuse to move until unloaded
  2. The hoist will sound a horn but continue normally
  3. The load will automatically become lighter during ascent
  4. The platform may drop, the mast may deform, or the rope may fail Correct answer.

Explanation

Overloading stresses the platform, guides, ropes and drive beyond their design limits, which can lead to structural deformation, rope failure or uncontrolled descent of the platform. Rated capacity must be respected and loads checked before lifting. Not all hoists have overload protection, so the effect cannot be assumed to be a harmless refusal.

Question 36Hazard identification, risk assessment and control for hoist operations

A materials hoist is to be used in a location where the ground may be soft after rain. What is the most important check before operation?

  1. The colour of the hoist's paintwork
  2. That the hoist has been washed recently
  3. That the operator has a hi-vis shirt
  4. That the base is founded on ground able to support the loads without settlement Correct answer.

Explanation

The hoist base and its foundations must be able to carry the dead and live loads, including wind and dynamic effects, without settlement or overturning. Soft or disturbed ground can cause the mast to lean or the base to move, leading to collapse. Cosmetic and clothing matters do not affect foundation stability.

Question 37Hazard identification, risk assessment and control for hoist operations

What is the correct response when a hoist operator believes a load is unsafe to lift?

  1. Ask a workmate to stand under the load and guide it
  2. Lift it slowly and watch closely
  3. Refuse the lift and report the concern before proceeding Correct answer.
  4. Add extra weight to stabilise the load

Explanation

Any worker who believes a lift is unsafe has the right and responsibility to stop and report it, and the lift should not proceed until the concern is resolved. Proceeding slowly, placing a person underneath or adding weight all increase the risk. Stopping work is a legitimate and expected safety action.

Question 38Hazard identification, risk assessment and control for hoist operations

Which factor most strongly affects the severity of harm if a load falls from a materials hoist?

  1. The time of day the lift occurs
  2. The height from which the load falls and its mass Correct answer.
  3. The number of signs on the hoist
  4. The colour of the load

Explanation

Severity for a falling load depends mainly on the energy involved, which is governed by the mass of the object and the height through which it falls. Greater height and greater mass mean more impact energy and more severe injury or damage. Colour, time of day and signage do not change the impact energy.

Question 39Hazard identification, risk assessment and control for hoist operations

What is the safest way to secure a wheelbarrow on a materials hoist platform?

  1. Rest it against the platform gate
  2. Leave it free so it can settle during travel
  3. Place it on top of other loose material
  4. Chock or tie it so it cannot move or tip during travel Correct answer.

Explanation

Equipment and loads must be restrained so they cannot roll, slide or tip as the platform starts, stops or moves. Chocking or tying the wheelbarrow achieves this. Leaving it free, resting it against a gate or stacking it on loose material creates movement and falling hazards.

Question 40Hazard identification, risk assessment and control for hoist operations

A hoist is fitted with a device that prevents the platform from moving while a gate is open. Why is this interlock important?

  1. It allows the operator to leave the controls unattended
  2. It prevents movement while people or loads could be exposed at an open edge Correct answer.
  3. It reduces the noise made by the hoist
  4. It increases the rated capacity of the platform

Explanation

An interlock ensures the platform cannot travel while a gate is open, so a person or load cannot be caught or fall through an unprotected opening. It is a safety device that must be maintained and never bypassed. It does not change noise, capacity or the need to control the hoist at all times.

Question 41Hazard identification, risk assessment and control for hoist operations

When planning a lift, what should be confirmed about the landing area before the platform arrives?

  1. That the landing light is switched off
  2. That the landing has a fresh coat of paint
  3. That the landing has been swept with a broom
  4. That the landing is clear, guarded and able to take the load Correct answer.

Explanation

The landing must be clear of obstructions and people, protected against falls at open edges, and strong enough to support the load being transferred. This planning prevents collisions, falls and floor collapse. Cleaning, lighting state and paint are not the structural or guarding checks required.

Question 42Hazard identification, risk assessment and control for hoist operations

A worker is hit by a small offcut that fell through a gap in the hoist platform. Which control would most directly prevent a recurrence?

  1. Asking workers to walk faster past the hoist
  2. Issuing the worker with a hard hat only
  3. Fitting the platform with close-fitting decking or edge containment so material cannot escape Correct answer.
  4. Increasing the hoist's lifting speed

Explanation

Material escapes through gaps in decking or around edges, so closing those gaps with suitable decking or containment directly removes the pathway. A hard hat may reduce injury but does not stop objects falling. Behavioural reminders and speed changes do not address the source of the falling object.

Question 43Hazard identification, risk assessment and control for hoist operations

Why should the risk assessment for a hoist be reviewed when a new subcontractor starts work near the hoist?

  1. Because new people and activities can introduce hazards or change the effectiveness of existing controls Correct answer.
  2. Because the hoist's rated capacity changes with the number of workers
  3. Because subcontractors always work faster than direct employees
  4. Because the risk assessment must be rewritten each day regardless of change

Explanation

A risk assessment reflects the people, tasks and environment at the time it was made. New workers, equipment or activities can add hazards, such as unfamiliarity with the exclusion zone, or undermine controls, so the assessment must be reviewed and updated. Capacity and work speed are not the reasons for review.

Question 44Hazard identification, risk assessment and control for hoist operations

Which combination best reflects the hierarchy of control applied to a hoist hazard?

  1. Training first, then PPE, then engineering, then substitution
  2. Eliminate the hazard, then substitute or engineer controls, then administrative controls, then PPE Correct answer.
  3. PPE first, then signs, then engineering, then elimination
  4. Signs first, then training, then barriers, then elimination

Explanation

The hierarchy ranks controls from most to least reliable: eliminate the hazard, substitute or engineer it out, then apply administrative controls, with PPE as the last line of defence. Higher-order controls do not depend on human behaviour. The other sequences place weaker controls ahead of stronger ones.

Question 45Hoist types, major components, terminology and load capacity limits

In the context of materials hoists, what does the rated capacity of the hoist represent?

  1. The breaking strength of the hoist wire rope
  2. The maximum load the hoist is designed to lift safely under its stated operating conditions Correct answer.
  3. The maximum wind speed in which the hoist may remain erected
  4. The total mass of the hoist structure including the mast and base

Explanation

Rated capacity is the load the manufacturer certifies the hoist can raise under the defined operating conditions, and it must never be exceeded. It accounts for the structure, ropes, drive and anchorage as a system, not just one component. Operators must check the load mass against this figure before every lift.

Question 46Hoist types, major components, terminology and load capacity limits

Which component of a materials hoist carries the moving platform and runs up and down the mast?

  1. The counterweight
  2. The tie-in collar
  3. The base frame
  4. The car or platform Correct answer.

Explanation

The car, also called the platform or cage, is the load-carrying element that travels vertically along the mast. It is guided by rollers and driven by the hoist mechanism. The other listed parts are structural or stability components rather than the moving load carrier.

Question 47Hoist types, major components, terminology and load capacity limits

A materials hoist is specifically designed and intended to carry which of the following?

  1. Both personnel and materials interchangeably
  2. Personnel during maintenance tasks
  3. Passengers in an emergency
  4. Materials and goods only Correct answer.

Explanation

A materials hoist is engineered for goods and materials and is not a passenger-carrying device. Its platform, controls and guarding are set up on the basis that no person rides in the car. Using it to carry people is a serious breach of its design intent.

Question 48Hoist types, major components, terminology and load capacity limits

What is the function of the mast in a materials hoist?

  1. It houses the operator's seating position
  2. It stores the wire rope when the hoist is idle
  3. It provides the vertical guide and structural column along which the car travels Correct answer.
  4. It acts as the electrical earthing conductor

Explanation

The mast is the vertical structural column that guides the car and transfers loads down to the base and tie-ins. It is typically built from modular sections bolted together. It is not a rope store, a seating area, or an earthing conductor.

Question 49Hoist types, major components, terminology and load capacity limits

Why must the load in a materials hoist be distributed evenly across the platform?

  1. To keep the platform level and avoid uneven loading that could overload one side or destabilise the car Correct answer.
  2. To reduce the electrical current drawn by the motor
  3. To make the wire rope last longer between inspections
  4. To allow the hoist to be operated at a higher speed

Explanation

Uneven loading concentrates force on one side of the platform and its guides, which can cause tilting, binding or overstress. Even distribution keeps the car balanced and within its design assumptions. Load placement is therefore a capacity and stability issue, not a speed or power matter.

Question 50Hoist types, major components, terminology and load capacity limits

What does the term SWL mean when marked on lifting equipment associated with a hoist?

  1. The size of the electrical supply cable
  2. The span of the mast between tie-ins
  3. The safe working load the equipment is rated to bear Correct answer.
  4. The speed at which the winch winds the rope

Explanation

SWL stands for safe working load, the maximum load a sling, shackle or attachment is rated to carry in service. It is a capacity limit and must be respected just like the hoist's own rating. It has nothing to do with speed, mast span or cable size.