Safety, Regulations, and Emergency Procedures
What the exam tests
Regulatory compliance and emergency response: OSHA requirements, power-line safety, silica exposure, PPE, hand signals, emergency shutdown, fire, and injury response. The exam tests whether the operator stops work when a limit is reached.
Core rules
- Follow OSHA 29 CFR 1926 for construction. Where cranes or lifting apply, Subpart CC requirements for assembly, operation, and power-line safety apply.
- Power lines: treat as energized; maintain required clearance, use a dedicated spotter, and de-energize or ground if you cannot maintain distance. Account for mast and boom movement.
- Silica: drilling rock or concrete can generate respirable crystalline silica. Use water or dust collection and respiratory protection per 1926.1153.
- PPE: hard hat, eye and face protection, hearing protection, gloves, boots, and high-visibility clothing. Use fall protection when climbing the mast.
- Emergency: know shutdown locations, fire extinguisher, first aid, emergency contacts, and rescue plan. Stop for lightning, high wind, or loss of communication.
Worked example
A rig will work near a 13.8 kV overhead line. The minimum clearance table gives 20 ft for lines up to 350 kV. The mast can sway 3 ft, so the plan keeps the mast at least 23 ft from the line at all times, uses a dedicated spotter, and considers de-energizing. If the spotter cannot maintain the distance, the move stops.
Traps
Relying on “it is only 10 ft”; working without a spotter; assuming rubber tires insulate; ignoring silica dust; lacking a rescue plan for a hole or mast fall; bypassing emergency stops to finish a hole.