ALABAMA UTILITY CONTRACTOR EXAM
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED
ANSWERS) Q&A 2027|INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. What is the primary purpose of a utility contractor's
construction plans?
A. To determine employee wages
B. To show the location, dimensions, materials, and installation
requirements
C. To replace all safety procedures
D. To determine equipment fuel consumption
Answer: B. To show the location, dimensions, materials, and
installation requirements
Rationale: Construction plans communicate the design
requirements that crews must follow when installing utility
systems.
2. Before excavating for an underground utility, what should
be done first?
A. Begin digging with a backhoe
B. Remove all pavement
C. Determine the location of existing underground utilities
D. Fill the excavation with water
,Answer: C. Determine the location of existing underground
utilities
Rationale: Existing utilities must be located before excavation
to reduce the risk of utility strikes, injuries, service
interruptions, and property damage.
3. What is the main purpose of utility locating services?
A. To calculate payroll
B. To identify underground utility locations
C. To determine pipe pressure
D. To test concrete strength
Answer: B. To identify underground utility locations
Rationale: Utility locating helps contractors identify existing
underground facilities before excavation.
4. What does a benchmark provide during utility
construction?
A. A known elevation reference
B. A pipe pressure rating
C. A soil classification
D. An equipment capacity
Answer: A. A known elevation reference
,Rationale: Survey benchmarks provide established elevations
used to control grades and elevations during construction.
5. What instrument is commonly used to establish elevations
on a utility project?
A. Pipe wrench
B. Level
C. Welding torch
D. Concrete vibrator
Answer: B. Level
Rationale: Levels are used with surveying equipment to
establish and transfer elevations.
6. What is the purpose of a trench box?
A. To increase pipe flow
B. To protect workers from cave-ins
C. To compact asphalt
D. To transport pipe
Answer: B. To protect workers from cave-ins
Rationale: Trench protective systems such as trench boxes
protect workers from collapsing soil.
, 7. What is the greatest immediate hazard in an unprotected
trench?
A. Sunlight
B. Cave-in
C. Pipe color
D. Low fuel level
Answer: B. Cave-in
Rationale: Soil collapse can occur suddenly and can cause
serious injury or death.
8. What does trench sloping accomplish?
A. Increases pipe pressure
B. Reduces the likelihood of soil collapse
C. Eliminates the need for utility locating
D. Prevents all groundwater
Answer: B. Reduces the likelihood of soil collapse
Rationale: Sloping reduces the vertical loading and instability of
trench walls.
9. What is shoring designed to do?
A. Support trench walls
B. Increase electrical voltage
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED
ANSWERS) Q&A 2027|INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. What is the primary purpose of a utility contractor's
construction plans?
A. To determine employee wages
B. To show the location, dimensions, materials, and installation
requirements
C. To replace all safety procedures
D. To determine equipment fuel consumption
Answer: B. To show the location, dimensions, materials, and
installation requirements
Rationale: Construction plans communicate the design
requirements that crews must follow when installing utility
systems.
2. Before excavating for an underground utility, what should
be done first?
A. Begin digging with a backhoe
B. Remove all pavement
C. Determine the location of existing underground utilities
D. Fill the excavation with water
,Answer: C. Determine the location of existing underground
utilities
Rationale: Existing utilities must be located before excavation
to reduce the risk of utility strikes, injuries, service
interruptions, and property damage.
3. What is the main purpose of utility locating services?
A. To calculate payroll
B. To identify underground utility locations
C. To determine pipe pressure
D. To test concrete strength
Answer: B. To identify underground utility locations
Rationale: Utility locating helps contractors identify existing
underground facilities before excavation.
4. What does a benchmark provide during utility
construction?
A. A known elevation reference
B. A pipe pressure rating
C. A soil classification
D. An equipment capacity
Answer: A. A known elevation reference
,Rationale: Survey benchmarks provide established elevations
used to control grades and elevations during construction.
5. What instrument is commonly used to establish elevations
on a utility project?
A. Pipe wrench
B. Level
C. Welding torch
D. Concrete vibrator
Answer: B. Level
Rationale: Levels are used with surveying equipment to
establish and transfer elevations.
6. What is the purpose of a trench box?
A. To increase pipe flow
B. To protect workers from cave-ins
C. To compact asphalt
D. To transport pipe
Answer: B. To protect workers from cave-ins
Rationale: Trench protective systems such as trench boxes
protect workers from collapsing soil.
, 7. What is the greatest immediate hazard in an unprotected
trench?
A. Sunlight
B. Cave-in
C. Pipe color
D. Low fuel level
Answer: B. Cave-in
Rationale: Soil collapse can occur suddenly and can cause
serious injury or death.
8. What does trench sloping accomplish?
A. Increases pipe pressure
B. Reduces the likelihood of soil collapse
C. Eliminates the need for utility locating
D. Prevents all groundwater
Answer: B. Reduces the likelihood of soil collapse
Rationale: Sloping reduces the vertical loading and instability of
trench walls.
9. What is shoring designed to do?
A. Support trench walls
B. Increase electrical voltage
