What is the recommended practice for placing stabilizer pads under the outriggers on soft or uneven ground?

Question: What is the recommended practice for placing stabilizer pads under the outriggers on soft or uneven ground?

Answer options:

• Use the smallest pad available to maximize ground pressure for stability.
• Place the pads directly under the outrigger feet without checking the ground condition. ✅ Use pads that are large enough to distribute the load over a greater area, preventing the outriggers from sinking.
• Stack multiple small pads to achieve the desired height, improving leverage.

Correct answer: Use pads that are large enough to distribute the load over a greater area, preventing the outriggers from sinking.

Explanation: Stabilizer pads increase the footprint of the outriggers, distributing the machine's weight over a larger area to prevent sinking on soft ground and maintain stability, a key practice taught in OPSWA HEO curriculum and IUOE 793.