Had a real bad silt cloud moment on a bridge piling job in Mobile

We were doing an inspection at 80 feet and I kicked up a silt cloud so thick I lost my hand in front of my face. Couldn't see my gauges or the structure. I just froze for a second, then felt for my guideline and followed it back up to the tender's shot line. Anyone have a good trick for staying oriented when you go blind down there?

4 comments

4 Comments

emma966d ago

Man, have you tried running your hand along the guide line while you're working, like keeping contact even when you're not moving? It's a little thing but it's saved me more times than I can count when the silt rolls in thick like that.

hannahcraig1mo ago

Man, I used to just try and power through it. But after a scare like yours, I always keep a hand on my guide line now, no matter what. That little bit of touch is a lifesaver when you can't see a thing.

erickelly1mo ago

Used to think you just had to wait it out. Then I saw a post from @hannahcraig about keeping a hand on the line. Total game changer for me now.

shane_bell1mo ago

Yeah, the "power through it" method sounds way too familiar. I spent years just freezing up and hoping for the best, which mostly meant running into walls. Keeping a hand on the line seems so obvious now, but it took me forever to actually try it. I guess I'm just a slow learner when it comes to not face-planting in the dark.