Boom angle matters more than load charts in tight spaces

Been watching rookies on job sites here in Denver act like the load chart is the only thing that matters. Last month I watched a guy with a 50 ton Grove nearly tip because he was so focused on weight he forgot about boom angle on a sloped pad. I learned the hard way back in 2018 when I set a beam too far out and the whole rig groaned like it was gonna fold. Has anyone else had a close call because of ignoring angle vs just weight?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_skyler1mo ago

Jeez man that brings back some memories. I saw a guy on a job last summer try to boom all the way down with a load that was fine on paper but the slope was so bad his outriggers barely touched the ground. Whole crew just stood there waiting for the crash.

jade_grant951mo ago

Oh man, that's a rough story. I actually read a case study from a safety newsletter last year about a crane tipping in Texas for exactly those reasons. The load was well within limits but they had the boom nearly flat and the ground was soft. @the_skyler, you described it right, those outriggers barely gripping is a scary sight. It really drives home that the whole rig setup including the ground and the boom angle is just as important as what the chart says.