umab86•7d ago

Last pour went sideways when my pump operator started too fast

I was working a driveway in Des Moines last Tuesday and the pump guy just gunned it out of nowhere. The concrete hit the form like a fire hose and blew the whole corner out before I could even yell stop. Had to grab a bag of quickcrete and patch it on the fly while my finisher buddy held a board against the form. Has anyone else had to deal with a pump operator who just doesn't listen to hand signals?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_joseph7d ago

Old me would have said it's on the guy running the chute to keep control, but last summer I had a similar blowout on a patio pour here in Omaha and it completely changed my mind. The pump guy was a kid fresh out of training and he just mashed the lever when I gave him the go ahead, sent mud everywhere. Now I always double check the pump operator knows what a slow start means before we even hook up, saved me a couple headaches since.

hollym127d ago

Wait did I write this? Cause I had the same thing happen in Kansas City and swore it was the operator's fault till I talked to @the_joseph and realized I just needed to slow down and communicate better beforehand.