How a near miss with my backhoe changed my tune on spotter signals

I used to think hand signals were just extra steps for big crews. Then I was working a tight lot and almost dug into a buried cable. My spotter caught it with a sharp wave that STOPPED me cold. That moment showed me those signals are CRUCIAL even on solo jobs. I'm a believer now and won't operate without clear signals first.

3 comments

3 Comments

blairm931d ago

That story really hits home. I used to brush off signals as just more safety talk too. Now I see they're the difference between a normal day and a disaster.

martin.wren1d ago

Last year's close call made me see it like @blairm93.

smith.elliot1d ago

Wait, it's not just about avoiding disaster though. Those signals are what let you do the job right every single day. Calling them just a safety net undersells how basic they are to good work.