Crane Setup, Assembly, and Disassembly
Setup and assembly questions test whether you understand sequence, verification, and the manufacturer's procedures. Know the components of a proper setup: carrier leveling, outrigger or track placement on competent ground, full extension per the load chart, and verification that floats or mats are sized to the bearing pressure. Understand that load charts are valid only for the configurations the manufacturer publishes-partial outrigger extension, non-level setup, or unapproved counterweight combinations invalidate the chart.
Assembly and disassembly concepts include boom section pinning, jib and auxiliary head installation, counterweight and carbody weight handling, and the role of the assembly/disassembly supervisor and a documented procedure. Know that rigging used to assemble the crane is itself a lifting operation subject to inspection and capacity limits, and that a pre-assembly briefing and post-assembly inspection are expected.
Traps: assuming a level bubble alone proves stable ground; believing outriggers can be extended "most of the way"; forgetting that counterweight changes affect capacity and stability; and treating assembly as a non-lifting task. Questions also probe who may direct assembly-typically a qualified person following the manufacturer's instructions-and what to do when site conditions differ from the plan (stop and re-evaluate).
Rule of thumb: if the configuration does not match a published load chart exactly, the chart does not apply. Match first, lift second.
Worked example: a chart specifies full outrigger extension; the site allows only 75% extension. The correct action is to relocate or re-rig for full extension, or obtain a manufacturer's chart for the partial configuration-never to interpolate capacity yourself.