I finally saw a tower crane get hit by wind in Chicago and it changed my whole rigging plan

It was two years ago on that big high rise job near the river. We had a calm morning, but a lake wind came out of nowhere, gusting over 40 mph. I was watching from the ground as the tower crane cab started swinging, and the load on the hook, a big bundle of rebar, began to spin and drift. The operator up there had to fight it for a solid minute to get it under control and set it down safely. That was the day I stopped trusting the basic weather app. Now, for any pick over 5 tons, I check three different wind sources and add 50% more tag lines than I think I need. I also make my ground crew do a full wind drill before we even hook up. Has anyone else had a close call like that and changed their whole setup because of it?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_viola11d ago

Ever seen a load spin out like that? That's a solid wake-up call lol.

lily7011d ago

Oh man, that reminds me of my buddy last winter. He was hauling a trailer full of furniture on a slick road and took a turn too fast. The whole thing started fishtailing like crazy, he said it felt like slow motion. He managed to keep it on the road but he white-knuckled the wheel for the next fifty miles. Definitely changed how he drives with a load now.

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mila_campbell2511d ago

Watched a guy in a pickup lose a load of lumber on the interstate last year. It wasn't a wake-up call for him, it was just a mess for everyone else. He clearly never secured it right to begin with. That kind of thing usually means someone didn't do the basic work before they pulled out. Calling it a learning moment feels generous. More like the predictable result of cutting corners.

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