Had a load swing bad at a job site in Phoenix yesterday

I was lifting a steel beam on a tight residential street and the wind gusted hard out of nowhere, caught the load sideways. Managed to set it down slow but my heart was pounding the whole time. Any tricks for reading wind shifts before they hit you?

3 comments

3 Comments

gracethomas15h ago

Read a thing where guys tape a small windsock to their crane mirror to spot gusts early.

amy_martin10h ago

Not sure tape would hold up in a strong gust... I'd worry about it peeling off at the worst moment.

hannahcraig7h ago

Oh, I remember reading something about this years ago in a crane safety newsletter. Some old-timer swore by chewing up a piece of paper and spitting it out to watch where the little bits go, but I always figured a puff of dry grass or dust from your hand would work just as good for a quick check.