Switched from chain signals to manual hand signals for blind lifts last month

I used to rely on a spotter with a two-way radio for all my picks, but after a miscommunication on a job in Chicago where a load swung into a steel beam, I started using hand signals with a rope guide instead. It took about 2 weeks to get the new crew on the same page, but now we don't have radio static or dropped calls messing things up. Has anyone else made a similar change and found it safer for tight spaces?

3 comments

3 Comments

terry_lewis212mo ago

Man, I feel you @sageross - I've had radios crap out on me in the middle of a blind lift too, and that static is a nightmare when you're trying to keep a load steady. It's a solid point about spotters losing sight, but sometimes the old-school methods just work better in those tight spots where a cable or rope gives you a physical feel for the load.

sageross2mo ago

You're trading a clear radio channel for a spotter whose eyes might wander or who could lose line of sight in a tight spot. Radios are way more reliable when everyone wears a good headset and cuts the chatter.

carr.brooke1mo ago

2 weeks is pretty quick for a full crew retrain on rope guides. @terry_lewis21 you're right about the physical feel, that feedback through the line tells you way more than a voice can in a tight spot. I've found that once you get the rhythm down, the rope almost becomes an extension of your hand for those blind lifts.