NCCCO LBC study plan
NCCCO LBC · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 6 hours per week
Load Charts and Capacity Determination
Read the load chart legend, notes, and footnotes on a lattice boom crawler chart and rewrite each footnote in your own words
Identify and label the parts of a load chart: boom length, radius, capacity, boom angle, and the deduction table
Compute net capacity for 10 straight-boom picks with no jib, subtracting hook block, rigging, and slings by hand
Distinguish between structural capacity, stability capacity, and the governing value on a given chart line
Your checkpoint
A one-page load chart anatomy sheet plus a 10-problem worked worksheet with every deduction and final net capacity shown, scored to 90% or better
Load Charts and Capacity Determination & Site Setup and Inspection
Solve 15 problems using boom length, radius, and capacity interpolation between chart columns
Calculate capacity with a jib or boom extension attached, including the jib deduction and reduced main boom ratings
Determine allowable ground bearing pressure for a crawler crane by dividing total weight plus load by the track contact area
Convert between working radius and load radius when the boom is offset or the load has a known dimension
Your checkpoint
A 15-question timed load chart quiz (30 minutes) completed with a written explanation for each answer and a recorded score
Site Setup and Inspection
List the pre-shift inspection items for crawler tracks, undercarriage, boom sections, pendants, and wire rope, and state the rejection criteria for each
Describe how to verify level and stable ground for a crawler crane and identify soil conditions requiring matting or blocking
Identify overhead hazards: power line distances, obstruction clearance, and swing radius marking requirements
Sequence the steps for setting up a crane on a site from arrival to ready-to-lift
Your checkpoint
A completed pre-shift inspection checklist you built yourself, covering at least 25 line items grouped by system, with pass/fail criteria written for each
Site Setup and Inspection & Crane Operation and Load Handling
Decide where to position a crane for a given pick by evaluating radius, capacity, and ground conditions together
Practice hand signals and voice/radio communication protocols, and identify who directs the lift
Explain the roles of signalperson, rigger, operator, and lift director during a pick
Recognize unsafe setup conditions from written scenarios and state the corrective action
Your checkpoint
Three written site-setup scenarios solved end to end: crane position, matting plan, capacity check, and hazard controls - each reviewed against a self-made rubric
Crane Operation and Load Handling
Perform the pre-lift checklist sequence, including load weight verification, rigging inspection, and trial lift
Calculate load weight from volume and material density and compare it to chart capacity with the required margin
Identify the causes and warning signs of tipping, boom deflection, and two-blocking, and state the operator response
Describe swing control, tag line use, wind limits, and stopping distance for a smooth, controlled pick
Your checkpoint
A written lift plan for one realistic pick, including load weight calculation, rigging selection, capacity check at the worst-case radius, and a hazard control list
Crane Operation and Load Handling & Safety, Standards, and Regulations
Match operator, rigger, and signalperson responsibilities to the OSHA crane standard requirements for each role
State the rules for working near power lines, including voltage-based distances and the requirement for a spotter or de-energizing
Identify the conditions that require stopping work: unsafe wind, unstable ground, unqualified personnel, or damaged rigging
Explain the difference between a standard lift and a critical lift, and list the extra controls a critical lift requires
Your checkpoint
A one-page compliance cross-check sheet mapping 10 common jobsite situations to the specific rule that governs them and the required action
Safety, Standards, and Regulations
Summarize the inspection intervals and recordkeeping requirements for cranes, wire rope, and rigging gear
Distinguish the qualifications and certifications required for operators, signalpersons, and riggers
Describe the process for reporting an accident, near miss, or equipment deficiency, and who must be notified
Identify the load handling and travel restrictions specific to lattice boom crawler cranes in the standards
Your checkpoint
A 20-item flashcard deck covering regulations and responsibilities, self-tested to 90% recall in one sitting
Load Charts and Capacity Determination & Site Setup and Inspection & Crane Operation and Load Handling & Safety, Standards, and Regulations
Complete two full-length timed practice exams under test conditions and score each by domain
Re-solve every missed question and write the rule or chart step behind the correct answer
Re-drill load chart problems and pre-shift inspection items where accuracy fell below 80%
Build a personal one-page formula and reference sheet for exam day from memory
Your checkpoint
Two scored practice exams at 85% or higher overall with no domain below 80%, plus a completed one-page reference sheet
Milestones
Week 2: Score 80% or better on the timed load chart quiz and correctly solve a jib or boom extension capacity problem without notes
Week 4: Complete a full pre-shift inspection checklist from memory and correctly position a crane in all three written site scenarios
Week 6: Write a complete lift plan for an unfamiliar pick in under 30 minutes and pass a self-quiz on power line and role responsibility rules at 80%
Week 8: Score 85% or higher on two full-length timed practice exams with no domain below 80%