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NCCER Signal Person study materials
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NCCER Signal Person: Hand Signals

NCCER Signal Person · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.

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Hand Signals

What the exam tests

The Hand Signals domain checks whether you can give and read the standard signals used to control crane motions, and whether you know when hand signaling is appropriate. OSHA 1926.1422 points to the ASME B30.5 hand signals for cranes; the signal person must use those standard signals unless a non-standard signal has been agreed upon for a motion the standards do not cover.

Core rules

  • Give one motion at a time. Combined motions are used only when the operator and signal person have pre-arranged them.
  • Keep your signaling hand visible to the operator. If the operator cannot see you clearly, move, or use a relay signal person; do not assume the operator can see a silhouette.
  • Use the standard meanings: arm extended, palm down and moving horizontally = STOP; both arms extended, palms down, moving horizontally = EMERGENCY STOP; forearm vertical, forefinger up, small horizontal circle = HOIST; arm extended down, forefinger down, small circle = LOWER; thumb up/out = RAISE BOOM; thumb down/out = LOWER BOOM; arm extended and pointing = SWING; pushing motion with open hand = TRAVEL; clasped hands in front of body = DOG EVERYTHING.
  • Any person may give a stop signal. The operator must stop on a stop signal, regardless of who gives it.
  • Only one signal person directs the operator at a time. If control changes, the change must be clear to the operator.

Worked example

A signal person is 90 feet from the operator with the sun behind them. The load must be hoisted and swung. The signal person cannot see the operator clearly and the operator cannot see the signal person's hands. The correct action is to stop, reposition to a visible location, or switch to radio; hand signals are not reliable when visibility is poor. After repositioning, give HOIST first, wait for the load to clear, then give SWING.

Traps

Using a casual thumbs-up for HOIST; combining HOIST and SWING without agreement; continuing after losing sight of the load; treating EMERGENCY STOP and STOP as interchangeable; inventing a non-standard signal on the spot.