That windy day at the Port of Seattle taught me a hard lesson about rigging

Last October I was lifting a 12 ton generator off a barge and a sudden gust caught the load sideways. The tagline guy couldn't hold it and the whole thing started swinging like a pendulum. Had to set it down hard on the deck and it cracked a mounting flange. Now I always double up taglines and use a heavier spreader beam any time wind is over 15 knots. Any of you guys change your lifting procedures after a close call on the water?

2 comments

2 Comments

ray_carr1mo ago

That windy day story hits close to home because I've noticed the same pattern in my own line of work. After I burned my hand on a pressure washer last summer, I started checking every hose fitting twice and keeping a fire extinguisher within arm's reach. Funny how one bad moment can make you rethink everything you thought you knew about safety.

joseph4551mo ago

Not sure I totally agree with comparing a pressure washer burn to a 12 ton load swinging on a crane, those are pretty different risk levels. In my experience, the lessons from a close call on the water are usually about the specific gear and conditions, not a general shift in mindset. But if checking your hoses twice makes you feel safer, then that's fine by me, we all have our own ways of dealing with a sketchy moment.