Hot take: I used to think rigging a load for a tight space was just about the crane

I had a job last month in downtown Portland where we had to set a big HVAC unit on a roof, but the only open spot was between two existing structures. My old way was to just trust the crane's chart and my own sight. This time, the wind picked up right as we started, and the load began to swing toward a glass wall. I had to stop everything. What convinced me was my spotter, Mike, who suggested we use tag lines on all four corners, not just two. We spent an extra 45 minutes re-rigging with the extra lines and a guy on each one. That simple change gave us way more control, and we placed it perfectly on the first try. The whole delay meant the lift, which should have taken an hour, took almost two. But avoiding a disaster was worth every minute. Has anyone else had a simple rigging change save a tricky lift?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_emery2mo ago

Tag lines are cheap insurance, right?

drew552mo ago

Nah, I see them more like a pricey gamble that rarely pays off.

drew_reed622mo ago

Cheap insurance" is a stretch.