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Practice Exam 1 — Mixed Content

MA 2A/1C Hoisting License · Module 4, Session 2

Critical Numbers — Know These Cold

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Licensing & Regulatory Numbers

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  • •70% — Minimum passing score
  • •$75 — Initial application fee per restriction class (non-refundable)
  • •Renewal fee — confirm the current amount on mass.gov (non-refundable)
  • •Operating without a license — A violation of M.G.L. c.146 (MGL §53), subject to fines/penalties; the statute does not specify a separate dollar fine for the operator's own unlicensed operation
  • •$1,000–$3,000 — Fine for permitting an unlicensed person to operate (M.G.L. c.146 §54A; or imprisonment up to 3 months) — a per-violation fine, NOT a per-day penalty
  • •18 years old — Minimum age for hoisting license
  • •2 years — License validity period
  • •1 hour — Phone accident report deadline (call 508-820-1444)
  • •48 hours — Written accident report deadline
  • •72 hours — Dig Safe (811) advance notice before excavating

    • OSHA Excavation Numbers

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  • •4 feet — Egress required (ladder, stairway, ramp within 25 ft)
  • •5 feet — Protective system always required (no exceptions)
  • •25 feet — Max lateral travel to egress
  • •2 feet — Minimum spoil pile setback from trench edge
  • •1.5 tsf — Type A soil minimum strength (≥1.5 tsf)
  • •0.5 tsf — Type C soil maximum strength (<0.5 tsf)
  • •¾:1 — Type A slope (53°)
  • •1:1 — Type B slope (45°)
  • •1½:1 — Type C slope (34°)
  • •20 feet — Depth above which PE-designed system required
  • •19.5% — Oxygen threshold for hazardous atmosphere

    • Equipment & Hydraulic Numbers

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  • •280–350 bar (4,060–5,075 psi) — Typical excavator hydraulic pressure
  • •4:1 — Minimum hose burst-to-working-pressure safety factor
  • •10 feet — Minimum clearance from energized overhead lines (≤50 kV)
  • •20–30 mm — Track sag for mid-size excavators
  • •July 15, 2019 — ROPS standard cutoff (pre: SAE; post: ISO 3471:2008)
  • •SAE J386-1969 — Seat belt standard (required with ROPS)
  • •SAE J237 — Loader/dozer braking standard
  • •SAE J1307 — Hand signal standard (required by 230 CMR 6.00)
  • •ROC — Rated Operating Capacity; never exceed on loaders

    • Common 2A/1C Exam Traps

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    Top Trap Questions for 2A/1C Combo

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    Trap 1: Which license covers which machine?

  • •2A covers: excavators, track hoes, backhoes — AND everything below it (2B, 2C, 2D)
  • •Because 2A includes 2C, 2B, and 2D, a 2A holder may also run wheel/front-end loaders (2C), combination loader/backhoes / TLBs (2B), and compact machines incl. skid steers ≤10,000 lb GVW (2D)
  • •1C covers: hydraulic telescoping-boom hoisting equipment with NO wire-rope hoist line — e.g., boom trucks and articulating/telehandler boom cranes
  • •A 2A license DOES authorize a wheel loader for material handling (loaders are 2C, covered by 2A) — but it does NOT authorize 1C boom-truck/telehandler hydraulic-boom hoisting
  • •The 2A/1C combo is needed to operate both earth-moving/loading equipment (2A family) and hydraulic telescoping-boom hoisting equipment (1C)

    • Trap 2: Loader operating capacity vs. lifting capacity

  • •ROC (Rated Operating Capacity) = the load the loader can safely carry
  • •Tipping load = the load that would tip the machine
  • •ROC is typically 50% or 35% of tipping load
  • •Exceeding ROC dramatically increases tip-over risk

    • Trap 3: Stabilizers before backhoe work

  • •Stabilizers (outriggers) must ALWAYS be deployed before backhoe operation
  • •"Stabilizers optional on firm level ground" is WRONG — they are always required for backhoe work

    • Trap 4: Private property exemption

  • •Operating on private property does NOT exempt the operator from the MGL §53 license requirement
  • •The only relevant exemptions are agricultural use, industrial equipment on company property, and approved apprenticeship programs

    • Trap 5: Water and soil classification

  • •Any standing water in the trench = Type C — regardless of soil strength tests
  • •Even Type A soil becomes Type C if water is present

    • Exam Strategy

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    Question-Reading Framework

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    Step 1: Read the full question before looking at any option.

    Step 2: Identify the question type: number lookup, scenario, classification, or regulatory attribution.

    Step 3: Watch for qualifiers: "ALWAYS," "NEVER," "UNLESS," "OR," "AND."

    Step 4: Eliminate wrong answers first:

  • •Eliminate "continue operating" when a defect is described
  • •Eliminate "no action required" when a regulatory threshold is crossed
  • •Eliminate options that give authority to an unauthorized person

    • Step 5: Between two plausible answers, choose the more protective option.

    Time management: The exam is 30–40 questions in 60–90 minutes. Flag uncertain questions and return — don't spend more than 2 minutes on any one question the first pass.

    Exam Quick-Reference

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    Exam format: 30–40 multiple choice, 70% to pass
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    Failed exam retest: Check current OPSI retest rules — a failed applicant may request a hearing
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    Bring to exam: Government-issued photo ID
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    2A covers: Excavators, backhoes + all below: loaders (2C), TLBs (2B), skid steers (2D)
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    1C covers: Hydraulic telescoping-boom hoisting (boom trucks, telehandler cranes) — no wire rope
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    Stabilizers before backhoe: Always required — no exceptions
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    Water in trench = Type: C (always)
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    Loader ROC: Never exceed — tip-over risk
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    Private property exemption: Does NOT exist for construction work