Warning: I used to think ground guides were optional on tight picks

For about 5 years I ran crawler cranes on small commercial sites in Phoenix and I never bothered with a ground guide for anything under 10 tons. Figured I had good enough sight lines from the cab and the radio calls were enough. Then last March I was setting HVAC units on a rooftop in Scottsdale and a worker wandered into my blind spot while I was swinging a 6,000 pound package. I caught him in my mirror at the last second and stopped, but it shook me up bad enough that I sat in the cab for 10 minutes after. The site safety guy came over and showed me a photo of a similar incident from 2022 where a guy lost his leg. Now I won't make a single pick without a spotter on the ground. Has anyone else had a close call that made you change a habit?

2 comments

2 Comments

ruby_lane1mo ago

...and that's exactly the kind of thing that sticks with you forever. I had a similar moment a few years back where I was backing a boom lift into a tight spot and didn't think I needed a spotter because I could see fine. Almost clipped a guy who was just standing there talking on his phone, totally out of my view until he moved. That feeling in your gut when you realize how close it was, man, it's hard to shake. I'm glad you had that mirror angle and got lucky, but it's crazy how one little shortcut can almost turn into a life ruiner. You're doing the right thing now, and honestly anyone who says they don't need a ground guide on any size pick hasn't had their close call yet.

the_derek1mo ago

Yeah but what gets me is why nobody says anything until after. That guy on his phone, was he a coworker or just some random who wandered into the work zone? Because if it's a coworker, they're just as guilty for not paying attention as you are for not having a spotter.