Storm caught me mid-lift on a high rise in Seattle

I was lifting steel beams on a 12 story job last month. Suddenly wind picked up to 35 mph, load started swinging bad. Had to cut the lift fast. Set the beam down on the 8th floor deck instead of the roof. Took 45 minutes to secure it with taglines and get the crane stable. Anyone else ever had to abort a lift mid-air like that?

2 comments

2 Comments

john_hunt24d ago

Buddy of mine named Tony had this happen on a site in Portland last year. He was lifting HVAC units up to a 15 story roof when a gust caught the load sideways. Said the whole crane started groaning and he had to drop the unit on the 10th floor parking deck instead. Took him and the rigging crew almost an hour to get everything tied down with extra chains. He said that was the scariest 20 seconds of his career, watching that load swing like a pendulum in the wind.

bailey.xena4d agoTop Commenter

Tony dropped it on the 10th floor parking deck, but did it damage the concrete?