Showerthought: The 'always check your rigging' mantra needs a bigger focus on the ground crew.

Had a near miss on a site in Phoenix when a new ground guy gave me the all clear, but a strap was still half on a pallet. In my view, we put too much trust in the signal and not enough on a mandatory visual from the cab before the lift. How do you guys handle that handoff?

2 comments

2 Comments

wesley_grant331mo ago

A visual check from the cab is non-negotiable, but the real trouble starts when you can't see. We were doing a night pour years ago, and the only light was from a couple of handheld work lights. The ground guy gave the signal, but from twenty feet up, I couldn't tell if a shackle was seated right in the dim glow. Had to shut the whole lift down until we got better light on it. Sometimes the procedure is fine, but the conditions make it useless.

beth_baker691mo ago

That's terrifying, a strap half on? Good lord. The trust in that signal is way too high sometimes. Our rule is the operator has to see the hook and the rigging with their own eyes before taking the weight. No exceptions, even if it makes the ground guy feel like you don't trust him. It's just the last check. Saved us more than once.