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Got a wake-up call on my old rigging check method | Crane Operators - Guest Forum

Got a wake-up call on my old rigging check method

Used to just eyeball the slings and hooks, quick glance before the lift. That changed after a close call in Houston last year, a 5-ton load shifted because a shackle pin wasn't seated right. Now I do a full hands-on check, tug on everything, no exceptions. Anyone else have a specific step they added to their pre-lift routine after something went wrong?

3 comments

3 Comments

charles_price6mo ago

Ever had that moment where your stomach just drops? That Houston story is exactly why I started checking the damn paperwork against the gear myself. A second look costs nothing.

the_gray6mo ago

Checking it yourself is how mistakes slip through. You get focused on your own check and stop trusting the system. That paperwork exists for a reason, so everyone is on the same page. If you double check everything, you're basically saying you don't trust your team. That kills morale and makes people less careful because they think you'll catch it. Sometimes you have to trust the process and let people do their jobs.

fiona7375mo ago

I get what you're saying about trusting the team, but here's the thing nobody talks about - sometimes your gut feeling that something is off is actually your brain picking up on a tiny detail your eyes haven't caught yet. That Houston story hit me hard because I've had that same drop in my stomach, and it taught me that a quick second look isn't about distrusting anyone, it's about giving your instincts a chance to speak up. The paperwork and the process are great, but they can't replace that split second where you just know something doesn't look right even if you can't name it. I think the real trick is finding the balance between trusting your crew and trusting that little voice in your head that's saved my bacon more than once.