Switched from hand signals to radio comms after a near miss on a job in Pittsburgh

I used to run crane signals the old way, full arm movements and whistles, for about 12 years. Thought it was fine until last spring when I had a 10-ton beam swinging near some workers and my spotter got distracted by a passing truck. He gave me a wrong hand signal and I nearly dropped the load on a guy's pickup. The next week I bought a two-way radio setup for 80 bucks and it changed everything. Now I just say "boom up" or "swing left" and the operator hears it clear even with wind or noise. I still keep the hand signals as backup if the batteries die. Have any of you had a close call that made you switch your communication method on site?

3 comments

3 Comments

gavin_mason312d ago

sam_harris68 you're right that it's scary. I thought hand signals were the gold standard too until a similar close call. My spotter waved me the wrong way on a windy day and I almost swung a beam into some scaffolding. Switched to radios that week and never looked back. It's just way more direct no guesswork involved. I still keep the hand signals for backup but the radio is my main now. @sam_harris68 if you're thinking about trying it just get a cheap set and test them out. It made my job feel a lot safer.

joel2802d ago

Thought hand signals were fine. That story changed my mind.

sam_harris682d ago

Wait, someone was using hand signals and it still went wrong? That's honestly terrifying, I thought that was the safest way.