Which condition would indicate outriggers are not properly prepared on soft ground?

• A. Fully extended with level contact on pads
• B. On uneven surface with no pads
• C. Even contact with all outriggers
• D. Not over-extended relative to ground

Answer: (B)

On soft ground, the stability of the crane rests on having a level, padded contact for each outrigger. Pads spread the load and prevent the outrigger from sinking or punching through the surface, while level, even contact across all outriggers keeps the base stable. If the surface is uneven and there are no pads, you can’t guarantee that all outriggers will sit flat and share the load evenly; one may sink, another tilt, and the crane can become unstable or tip. This is exactly the unsafe condition described. The other scenarios describe proper preparation: outriggers with pads and level contact, or even contact on all outriggers, or staying within safe extension limits.