Changed my mind about climbing cranes after a visit to the Port of Savannah

I used to think climbing a crane was just part of the job, no big deal. But last month I walked through the Port of Savannah and watched a guy scale a 300-foot boom in 25 mph winds. He stopped halfway to adjust his harness and I could see him shaking from the ground. That made me realize how much we take for granted about safety gear and slow movements up there. I went back to my own rig and started double-checking every latch and step after that. Has anyone else had a moment that totally shifted how you approach the climb part of the day?

2 comments

2 Comments

nathan_torres3413d ago

Man, that's exactly it. I had a similar wake up call last summer when I was working a water tower job in Oklahoma. A guy I've worked with for years slipped on a wet rung about 150 feet up and just dangled there for a solid minute before he could get his feet back on the ladder. I was on the ground spotting and I felt sick to my stomach watching him. After that I started wearing my harness tighter and actually checking the lock on every single carabiner before I step off the platform. It's funny how you think you're invincible until you see someone else almost go down.

craig.reese14d ago

Watching a guy tremble 300 feet up will definitely make you rethink your morning coffee habit. That's the kind of thing that sticks with you.