Tower Crane Operator - Exam Information

Table of Contents

Self-Assessment

This tool can be used to reflect on your own experience and knowledge in the trade compared with what is on the exam.

Exam Breakdown

Each Red Seal exam's questions are developed to assess the activities laid out in the Red Seal Occupational Standard. This trade's Red Seal exam has 100 questions Footnote *, which are distributed as follows:

Major Work Activity A - Performs common occupational skills - 9 questions
Task 1 Performs safety-related functions
4 questions
Task 2 Uses communication and mentoring techniques
5 questions
Major Work Activity B - Inspects and maintains crane - 13 questions
Task 3 Performs pre-operational checks and regular inspections
4 questions
Task 4 Performs continual checks
4 questions
Task 5 Performs minor crane maintenance
5 questions
Major Work Activity C - Performs crane set-up, hoisting calculations and lift planning - 20 questions
Task 6 Participates in tower crane assembly, disassembly and transportation
8 questions
Task 7 Participates in tower crane climbing and reconfigurations
4 questions
Task 8 Plans lifts
8 questions
Major Work Activity D - Performs rigging - 17 questions
Task 9 Inspects, maintains and stores rigging equipment
10 questions
Task 10 Follows rigging procedures
7 questions
Major Work Activity E - Operates crane - 23 questions
Task 11 Performs pre-lift (warm-up) activities
8 questions
Task 12 Operates tower cranes
6 questions
Task 13 Performs specialty tower crane operations
5 questions
Task 14 Shuts down and secures tower cranes
4 questions

Types of Exam Questions

All Red Seal exam questions are written in multiple-choice format. A multiple-choice question consists of question followed by four possible responses (A, B, C, D). Every question has exactly one correct answer and three incorrect options. They are not misleading or trick questions, but the incorrect options are not always obvious.

There are three types of questions that you will see on Red Seal Exams:

  • Knowledge and Recall
  • Procedural and Application
  • Critical Thinking

Knowledge and Recall

This type of question tests your ability to recall and understand definitions, facts and principles.

For this trade, between 45 and 55% of questions that are this type.

Example of a Knowledge and Recall Question:

What is the purpose of a slip ring?

  1. Prevents the turntable from slipping.
  2. Prevents loosening of turntable bolts.
  3. Allows the crane to slew freely without damaging the power supply.
  4. Allows height to be added to the crane without damage to the power supply.

Answer: C

Procedural and Application

This type of question tests your ability to apply your knowledge of procedures to a situation.

For this trade, between 25 and 35% of questions are this type.

Example of a Procedural and Application Question:

What is the procedure to mount the climbing collars to the floor when preparing for a bottom-climbing procedure?

  1. Level, bolt, then grout the collars.
  2. Grout, bolt, then level the collars.
  3. Level, grout, then bolt the collars.
  4. Bolt, grout, then level the collars.

Answer: A

Critical Thinking

This type of question tests  your ability to interpret data, solve problems and arrive at valid conclusions.

For this trade, between 15 and 25% of questions are this type.

Example of a Critical Thinking Question:

When lifting a heavy load at maximum radius, boom and tower deflection occurs. What is the result?

  1. The tower compresses and damages the turntable.
  2. Radius increases causing the load to swing out.
  3. A side load occurs and the boom fails.
  4. The crane tilts forward causing swing brakes to apply.

Answer: B

Math Formulas

The following formulas used in this trade may be needed to answer some questions on its Red Seal exam. They will also be provided with the exam sitting.

Constants

π = 3.14

Formulas

Formulas
Descriptions Full Abbreviated
Cube length × width × height × unit weight L × w × H × U.W.
Cylinder π × diameter 2 4 × length × unit weight π × D 2 4 × L × U.W.
Hollow ball π × diameter × diameter × thickness × unit weight π × D × D × T × U.W.
Load y z × weight y z × W
Pipe π × diameter × length × thickness × unit weight π × D × L × T × U.W.
Pipe π × mean diameter × length × thickness × unit weight π × M.D. × L × T × U.W.
Plate steel length × width × thickness × unit weight L × w × T × U.W.
Solid cylinder π × radius 2 × length π r 2 × L
Stress width number of slings × length height w # slings × L H
Tandem lift weight × diameter = weight × diameter W × D = W × D
Tension number of lines × safe load 2 × height # lines × S.L. 2 × H
Wedge width × length 2 × height × unit weight w × L 2 × H × U.W.

Acronyms

The following acronyms used in this trade may be on its Red Seal exam. They will also be provided with the exam sitting.

°C
degree Celsius
ANSI
American National Standards Institute
ASME
American Society of Mechanical Engineers
COG
centre of gravity
CSA
Canadian Standards Association
EIPS
extra improved plough steel
FLHA
field level hazard assessment
fpm
feet per minute
ft.
foot
ft²
square foot
ft³
cubic foot
HP
horsepower
ID
identification
in.
inch
ISO
International Organization for Standardization
IWRC
independent wire rope core
kg
kilogram
kg/m³
kilograms per cubic metre
kVA
kilovolt-ampere
kW
kilowatt
lb.
pound
lb./ft³
pounds per cubic foot
lb./m³
pounds per cubic metre
LMI
load moment indicator
m
metre
cubic metre
m/min
metres per minute
mm
millimetre
NDT
non-destructive testing
No.
number
OHS
Occupational Health and Safety
PPE
personal protective equipment
psi
pounds per square inch
PSLP
permissible single line pull
rpm
revolutions per minute
t
imperial ton
UV
ultraviolet
w/o
without
WLL
working load limit

Try more sample questions for this trade and check out the Exam Preparation Guide. It will give you practical insights on what goes into Red Seal exams, and how you can best prepare yourself to do well.

For more information about exam preparation materials contact your provincial/territorial apprenticeship office.