Ironworker NCCER Exam Questions and
Answers 2027 – Complete Practice Set
with Correct Solutions
IRONWORKER NCCER EXAM.
1. What is the primary purpose of a personal fall-arrest system?
A. To increase worker productivity
B. To prevent a worker from contacting a lower level after a fall
C. To make climbing steel easier
D. To replace guardrails in every situation
Correct Answer: B. To prevent a worker from contacting a lower level after a fall
Rationale: A personal fall-arrest system is designed to stop a fall and limit the forces transmitted
to the worker. It includes components such as an appropriate anchorage, connecting device, and
body harness.
2. Which organization is primarily responsible for establishing and enforcing
workplace safety regulations in the United States?
A. ANSI
B. OSHA
C. AWS
D. ASTM
Correct Answer: B. OSHA
Rationale: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) establishes and
enforces workplace safety and health requirements. Ironworkers must follow applicable OSHA
requirements as well as employer and project-specific safety procedures.
,3. Before using a hand tool, an ironworker should first:
A. Paint the tool
B. Inspect it for defects or damage
C. Increase the force applied to it
D. Remove its safety features
Correct Answer: B. Inspect it for defects or damage
Rationale: Inspection before use helps identify cracked handles, damaged heads, worn
components, or other defects that could cause injury or equipment failure.
4. What is the safest way to determine whether a rigging sling is suitable for a
planned lift?
A. Estimate its capacity from its appearance
B. Check its identification and rated capacity
C. Use it if another worker used it previously
D. Select the longest sling available
Correct Answer: B. Check its identification and rated capacity
Rationale: Rigging equipment must have an appropriate rated capacity for the intended
configuration. The sling must also be inspected for damage before use.
5. What is the primary purpose of a tag line during a crane lift?
A. Increase the crane's capacity
B. Control and guide the suspended load
C. Increase the load's weight
D. Replace a signal person
Correct Answer: B. Control and guide the suspended load
Rationale: A tag line allows workers to help control rotation or movement of a suspended load
from a safer position. It does not increase crane capacity.
6. What should an ironworker do if a sling has severe cuts or broken wires?
,A. Use it for light loads only
B. Tie a knot in the damaged section
C. Remove it from service
D. Paint the damaged area
Correct Answer: C. Remove it from service
Rationale: Damaged rigging can fail unexpectedly. A sling showing unacceptable damage must
be removed from service according to the applicable inspection and employer procedures.
7. What does the term "working load limit" refer to?
A. The weight of the empty crane
B. The maximum allowable load for a piece of equipment or rigging configuration
C. The weight of the rigging crew
D. The manufacturer's shipping weight
Correct Answer: B. The maximum allowable load for a piece of equipment or rigging
configuration
Rationale: The working load limit indicates the maximum load that equipment is designed and
rated to safely handle under specified conditions.
8. Increasing the angle between the legs of a two-leg sling generally causes sling
tension to:
A. Increase
B. Decrease
C. Become zero
D. Remain exactly the same
Correct Answer: A. Increase
Rationale: As sling-leg angles become more horizontal, the tension in each sling leg increases.
This is an important consideration when planning lifts.
9. What is the purpose of a lift plan?
A. To determine employee wages
B. To establish how a lift will be safely performed
, C. To eliminate the need for inspections
D. To determine lunch schedules
Correct Answer: B. To establish how a lift will be safely performed
Rationale: A lift plan can address load weight, center of gravity, crane configuration, rigging,
capacities, clearances, communication, and other hazards associated with the lift.
10. What should be done before entering the swing radius of a crane?
A. Assume the operator can see you
B. Establish safe procedures and remain clear of the hazard zone
C. Walk underneath the boom
D. Touch the crane to get the operator's attention
Correct Answer: B. Establish safe procedures and remain clear of the hazard zone
Rationale: Crane swing-radius areas can expose workers to crushing and struck-by hazards.
Workers must follow the site's controlled-access procedures.
11. What is the main purpose of a crane load chart?
A. To identify employee qualifications
B. To determine allowable crane capacity under specific configurations
C. To calculate payroll
D. To identify welding electrodes
Correct Answer: B. To determine allowable crane capacity under specific configurations
Rationale: Crane capacity changes with factors such as boom length, radius, configuration, and
other conditions. The manufacturer's load chart provides the applicable capacity information.
12. The distance from the center of a crane's rotation to the center of the load is
commonly called:
A. Lift height
B. Load radius
C. Boom length
D. Hook height
Answers 2027 – Complete Practice Set
with Correct Solutions
IRONWORKER NCCER EXAM.
1. What is the primary purpose of a personal fall-arrest system?
A. To increase worker productivity
B. To prevent a worker from contacting a lower level after a fall
C. To make climbing steel easier
D. To replace guardrails in every situation
Correct Answer: B. To prevent a worker from contacting a lower level after a fall
Rationale: A personal fall-arrest system is designed to stop a fall and limit the forces transmitted
to the worker. It includes components such as an appropriate anchorage, connecting device, and
body harness.
2. Which organization is primarily responsible for establishing and enforcing
workplace safety regulations in the United States?
A. ANSI
B. OSHA
C. AWS
D. ASTM
Correct Answer: B. OSHA
Rationale: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) establishes and
enforces workplace safety and health requirements. Ironworkers must follow applicable OSHA
requirements as well as employer and project-specific safety procedures.
,3. Before using a hand tool, an ironworker should first:
A. Paint the tool
B. Inspect it for defects or damage
C. Increase the force applied to it
D. Remove its safety features
Correct Answer: B. Inspect it for defects or damage
Rationale: Inspection before use helps identify cracked handles, damaged heads, worn
components, or other defects that could cause injury or equipment failure.
4. What is the safest way to determine whether a rigging sling is suitable for a
planned lift?
A. Estimate its capacity from its appearance
B. Check its identification and rated capacity
C. Use it if another worker used it previously
D. Select the longest sling available
Correct Answer: B. Check its identification and rated capacity
Rationale: Rigging equipment must have an appropriate rated capacity for the intended
configuration. The sling must also be inspected for damage before use.
5. What is the primary purpose of a tag line during a crane lift?
A. Increase the crane's capacity
B. Control and guide the suspended load
C. Increase the load's weight
D. Replace a signal person
Correct Answer: B. Control and guide the suspended load
Rationale: A tag line allows workers to help control rotation or movement of a suspended load
from a safer position. It does not increase crane capacity.
6. What should an ironworker do if a sling has severe cuts or broken wires?
,A. Use it for light loads only
B. Tie a knot in the damaged section
C. Remove it from service
D. Paint the damaged area
Correct Answer: C. Remove it from service
Rationale: Damaged rigging can fail unexpectedly. A sling showing unacceptable damage must
be removed from service according to the applicable inspection and employer procedures.
7. What does the term "working load limit" refer to?
A. The weight of the empty crane
B. The maximum allowable load for a piece of equipment or rigging configuration
C. The weight of the rigging crew
D. The manufacturer's shipping weight
Correct Answer: B. The maximum allowable load for a piece of equipment or rigging
configuration
Rationale: The working load limit indicates the maximum load that equipment is designed and
rated to safely handle under specified conditions.
8. Increasing the angle between the legs of a two-leg sling generally causes sling
tension to:
A. Increase
B. Decrease
C. Become zero
D. Remain exactly the same
Correct Answer: A. Increase
Rationale: As sling-leg angles become more horizontal, the tension in each sling leg increases.
This is an important consideration when planning lifts.
9. What is the purpose of a lift plan?
A. To determine employee wages
B. To establish how a lift will be safely performed
, C. To eliminate the need for inspections
D. To determine lunch schedules
Correct Answer: B. To establish how a lift will be safely performed
Rationale: A lift plan can address load weight, center of gravity, crane configuration, rigging,
capacities, clearances, communication, and other hazards associated with the lift.
10. What should be done before entering the swing radius of a crane?
A. Assume the operator can see you
B. Establish safe procedures and remain clear of the hazard zone
C. Walk underneath the boom
D. Touch the crane to get the operator's attention
Correct Answer: B. Establish safe procedures and remain clear of the hazard zone
Rationale: Crane swing-radius areas can expose workers to crushing and struck-by hazards.
Workers must follow the site's controlled-access procedures.
11. What is the main purpose of a crane load chart?
A. To identify employee qualifications
B. To determine allowable crane capacity under specific configurations
C. To calculate payroll
D. To identify welding electrodes
Correct Answer: B. To determine allowable crane capacity under specific configurations
Rationale: Crane capacity changes with factors such as boom length, radius, configuration, and
other conditions. The manufacturer's load chart provides the applicable capacity information.
12. The distance from the center of a crane's rotation to the center of the load is
commonly called:
A. Lift height
B. Load radius
C. Boom length
D. Hook height
