Crane shift, monthly and annual inspections explained
A crane gets looked at before it is trusted, and the looking happens at three levels: every shift, every month and every year. The Core written exam turns that routine into reasoning questions. Who does the check, how deep is it, and what do you do when it turns up a defect? This page gives you the structure so you can answer from logic instead of memorized lists.
The Core study outline puts shift, monthly and annual inspections in the Technical Knowledge domain, which is about 23% of the exam. Inspection ideas also appear in Operations, because the operator is the person who finds a problem first.
Read the rule in your own copy. Our summary names OSHA 1926.1412 by section number and puts the ideas in our own words. Your crane's manual and the rule govern the details.
The three levels at a glance
| Level | Who does it | How deep | Paperwork |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shift | A competent person | Visual check of items likely to matter that day, before or during the shift | Findings reported and acted on |
| Monthly | A competent person | Fuller check of the same kinds of items, plus anything flagged earlier | Documented |
| Annual | A qualified person | Thorough inspection of the whole machine | Documented |
The names matter. A competent person can spot hazards and has the authority to stop work and fix them. A qualified person has the knowledge, training or experience to judge the work in depth. The OSHA definitions section, 1926.1401, defines both. A common wrong answer swaps the roles, so keep the pairing straight: shift and monthly go with competent, annual goes with qualified.
Try one question
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Operations
Which action creates side loading on a crane boom?
Choose an answer to begin
What a shift inspection is for
The shift inspection answers one question: is this crane safe to start work with today? It is visual and it is quick. It is not a teardown, and nobody expects you to take the boom apart.
Think in groups of things that can fail and hurt someone:
- Controls and operator aids. Do the controls respond properly? Do the load indicator, the level indicator and other aids work?
- Safety devices. Horn, alarms, and the devices that stop the hook from running into the boom tip.
- Wire rope and hook. Look at the rope sections you are likely to use that shift, and the hook and its latch. The wire rope inspection explainer covers what damage looks like.
- Leaks and fluid levels. Hydraulic lines, hoses and fittings, and the basics like oil and fuel.
- Tires, tracks and outriggers. Anything the crane stands or moves on.
- Walkaround. Structure, pins, guards, and loose items.
Exact check lists depend on the crane and come from the manufacturer's manual. For the exam, know the shape of the check and what the answer is when it fails.
What changes at monthly and annual
The monthly check repeats the idea at greater depth and adds one thing the exam loves: it is documented. Someone looks, and someone signs for what they found. Items flagged on earlier checks get a second look.
The annual inspection is the thorough one. A qualified person goes over the whole machine, including parts that a shift walkaround never reaches. Hidden and high-wear areas get the most attention, which is why the person who does it must be qualified, not just competent.
The rule also calls for inspections in other situations: after assembly, after a modification, after a repair or adjustment, and for equipment under severe service. You do not need the timing details to reason through a question. If something changed on the crane, someone checks it before it works.
When the inspection finds something
This is where most scenario questions end up. The logic has three steps:
- Is it a hazard? The competent person decides. Anything the rule or manufacturer lists as a removal condition is a hazard by definition.
- If it is a hazard, the crane or part does not lift. It stays out of service until repaired or replaced. You do not "work around" it with lighter loads, a lower boom or extra watching.
- Say it. Report the finding so the next operator does not start with the same problem.
Here is an invented example. At the start of the shift you find a hydraulic hose weeping at a fitting on the boom lift circuit. Wiping it dry and carrying on is the wrong answer. A leak in a load-holding circuit is a hazard the competent person has to judge before any lift, and a crane that cannot be trusted to hold stays down until the repair is made. The right order is: stop, report, and let the competent person decide.
Common ways candidates miss these questions
- Mixing up roles. Reading "annual" and picking a competent person.
- Treating inspection as optional when the job is urgent. The exam has no urgency exception.
- Choosing partial fixes. Lubricating, taping, light loads and "watch it" are plausible distractors for a defect that requires removal from service.
- Forgetting the triggers. A crane that was just assembled, repaired or modified has an inspection coming before it works.
Drill it
Take the free 10-question check and look at your Technical Knowledge score. If it is your lowest domain, spend a week on the three levels, the two roles and removal from service, then retest. Each answer in the check is explained, so a miss tells you which idea to review. To work through a full bank and timed sets, see the plans.
For references, the Core study guide maps each Technical Knowledge task to the OSHA section to open. Our practice questions are original and written to the published outline, not recalled from the exam.
Sources
- 29 CFR 1926 Subpart CC: Cranes and Derricks in Construction, OSHA: section 1926.1412 (inspections) and 1926.1401 (definitions), cited by number only.
- Domain weights and the inspection task: the Mobile Crane Operator Candidate Handbook, cover revision 01/25, as recorded in our Core study guide (checked 20 Oct 2026).
FAQ
Who performs a crane's shift inspection?
A competent person, someone who can identify hazards and has authority to correct them. In practice it is often the operator, if the employer has designated them as competent.
Who performs the annual inspection?
A qualified person, meaning someone with the knowledge, training or experience to judge the work in depth. The annual check is more thorough than the shift or monthly one.
What if I find a defect during a shift inspection?
Do not lift. The competent person decides whether it is a hazard, and a hazard keeps the crane or part out of service until it is repaired or replaced. Report it either way.
Do I need to memorize the full inspection checklist?
No. Learn the three levels, who does each, what gets documented and what happens when a check fails. The crane's manual holds the item-by-item list.
Which OSHA section covers crane inspections?
Section 1926.1412 covers inspections, and 1926.1413 covers wire rope inspection in particular. Read both in your own copy.
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