The weirdest thing I saw from the cab last Tuesday

I was on a job in Springfield, lifting some steel beams, and I see the new guy on the ground trying to guide me with one hand while holding his coffee in the other. He's giving me the 'up' signal, but he's doing it with his coffee hand, so it's this little limp-wristed wave. I radioed down, 'Hey, is that a signal or are you just saying hello to the beam?' He got so red. It matters because clear signals are everything, you know? Anyone else have a story about a confusing ground signal?

3 comments

3 Comments

gibson.elizabeth17d ago

Used to think guys on the ground were just being extra... until I watched a buddy get his foot pinned by a pipe because the signal was sloppy. That limp coffee wave is funny until it isn't. Now I shut everything down if the signals aren't crystal clear. It's not worth the risk.

grace_knight7017d ago

Yeah that "limp coffee wave" thing... you see it all the time. Good on you for shutting it down, man. That's how it should be.

kelly.nora8d agoTop Commenter

Totally get that. Saw a guy on a site once giving these lazy half-signals while moving a beam. Made everyone stop until he showed proper hand signals with clear stops and directions. No room for guesswork when heavy stuff is moving. Now if I see sloppy communication I call it out right away, same as you.