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2A Hoisting License – 100+ Exam Questions with
Answers | Excavation, Trenching, Load Safety, OSHA &
CMR Rules | Massachusetts 2026
A 2A license allows the license holder to operate what?
......ANSWER......excavators, backhoes and loaders, front-end loaders, compact
hoisting machinery excluding classes 1, 3 & 4.
Fine for operating without a license ......ANSWER......$500-$3000 and or 3
months in jail
What law governs hoisting equipment? ......ANSWER......M.G.L. c. 146 section 53
What regulations govern hoisting equipment? ......ANSWER......520 CMR 6
What organization enforces 520 CMR 6 ......ANSWER......Division of Professional
Licensure, Office of Public Safety and Inspections.
What regulations govern trenching? ......ANSWER......520 CMR 14 - Jackie's Law
OSHA regulations ......ANSWER......OSHA 1910 & 1926
ANSI ......ANSWER......American National Standards Institute
ASME ......ANSWER......American Society of Mechanical Engineers
pg. 1
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Compact hoisting machinery ......ANSWER......hoisting machinery under 10,000
lbs
DOT ......ANSWER......Department of Transportation
Emergency Procedure ......ANSWER......Actions required to be taken when
imminent danger may occur
Property damage ......ANSWER......Damage to property exceeding $5000
Minimum age to obtain a 2A license ......ANSWER......18
SAE ......ANSWER......Society of Automotive Engineers
Hand signal rules for excavators ......ANSWER......SAE J1307 - 2002
Equipment that requires a license to operate ......ANSWER......10' vertical lift, 1/4
yd bucket capacity, 500 lb lift capacity
Continuing education credit hours are required for a 2A license
......ANSWER......4 hrs
Inactive status ......ANSWER......By request for 1 year for failure to obtain
required credit hours. Cannot operate under license.
pg. 2
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Maintenance, repair, and refueling can be performed only when
......ANSWER......When machine is inoperable and secure
OSHA required daily logs must include inspection of ......ANSWER......all parts
subject to wear
Inspection records must be kept ......ANSWER......with the hoisting machinery at
all times
Prior to starting the machinery the operator must ......ANSWER......make a
complete walk-around (circle check), making sure the equipment is free of
people and safe to operate.
With regards to distractions, the operator shall not ......ANSWER......engage in
any practice that will divert their attention.
With regards to operating machinery with a rotating superstructure
......ANSWER......erection of barricades or warning lines to prevent entry into the
swinging superstructure's radius.
With regards to signaling ......ANSWER......operators are shall only respond to
signal persons unless there is an emergency
Securing unattended machinery is the responsibility of ......ANSWER......the
operator prior to leaving the equipment
Is walking under an loaded bucket permitted ......ANSWER......No way
pg. 3
2A Hoisting License – 100+ Exam Questions with
Answers | Excavation, Trenching, Load Safety, OSHA &
CMR Rules | Massachusetts 2026
A 2A license allows the license holder to operate what?
......ANSWER......excavators, backhoes and loaders, front-end loaders, compact
hoisting machinery excluding classes 1, 3 & 4.
Fine for operating without a license ......ANSWER......$500-$3000 and or 3
months in jail
What law governs hoisting equipment? ......ANSWER......M.G.L. c. 146 section 53
What regulations govern hoisting equipment? ......ANSWER......520 CMR 6
What organization enforces 520 CMR 6 ......ANSWER......Division of Professional
Licensure, Office of Public Safety and Inspections.
What regulations govern trenching? ......ANSWER......520 CMR 14 - Jackie's Law
OSHA regulations ......ANSWER......OSHA 1910 & 1926
ANSI ......ANSWER......American National Standards Institute
ASME ......ANSWER......American Society of Mechanical Engineers
pg. 1
,2|Page
Compact hoisting machinery ......ANSWER......hoisting machinery under 10,000
lbs
DOT ......ANSWER......Department of Transportation
Emergency Procedure ......ANSWER......Actions required to be taken when
imminent danger may occur
Property damage ......ANSWER......Damage to property exceeding $5000
Minimum age to obtain a 2A license ......ANSWER......18
SAE ......ANSWER......Society of Automotive Engineers
Hand signal rules for excavators ......ANSWER......SAE J1307 - 2002
Equipment that requires a license to operate ......ANSWER......10' vertical lift, 1/4
yd bucket capacity, 500 lb lift capacity
Continuing education credit hours are required for a 2A license
......ANSWER......4 hrs
Inactive status ......ANSWER......By request for 1 year for failure to obtain
required credit hours. Cannot operate under license.
pg. 2
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Maintenance, repair, and refueling can be performed only when
......ANSWER......When machine is inoperable and secure
OSHA required daily logs must include inspection of ......ANSWER......all parts
subject to wear
Inspection records must be kept ......ANSWER......with the hoisting machinery at
all times
Prior to starting the machinery the operator must ......ANSWER......make a
complete walk-around (circle check), making sure the equipment is free of
people and safe to operate.
With regards to distractions, the operator shall not ......ANSWER......engage in
any practice that will divert their attention.
With regards to operating machinery with a rotating superstructure
......ANSWER......erection of barricades or warning lines to prevent entry into the
swinging superstructure's radius.
With regards to signaling ......ANSWER......operators are shall only respond to
signal persons unless there is an emergency
Securing unattended machinery is the responsibility of ......ANSWER......the
operator prior to leaving the equipment
Is walking under an loaded bucket permitted ......ANSWER......No way
pg. 3
