Switched from hand signals to radio comms on a job in Phoenix last month

For like 10 years I always used hand signals with my ground crew. Thought it was the only safe way and radios would just add chatter and confusion. Then we got this big tower crane job in Phoenix where the wind was kicking up dust something fierce. Couldn't see the guy on the ground half the time. Foreman handed me a headset and told me to try it. Now I'm wondering why I waited so long... the precision is way better when they can tell me exactly where the load is. Has anybody else made the switch and then had trouble going back to hand signals?

3 comments

3 Comments

sagejackson2d ago

Picked up a radio for the first time on a fire scene after 8 years of hand signals and yelling. The smoke was so thick we had guys stepping on each other's hoses. First call I made on the radio, some rookie keyed up and said "10-4 good buddy" like we were truckers. Had to bite my tongue so hard. But now I can't imagine going back. Nothing beats hearing "three feet left, two feet down" when you're blind in a blacked out room. Though I still catch myself waving my arms around like an idiot when the batteries die.

ryan_hart382d ago

You ever feel like radios are just the dumbest thing until you actually need 'em... I used to think yelling was fine, but hearing that kind of direction in zero visibility changed my mind real quick. Totally get where you're coming from @sagejackson, nothing beats that lifeline when you're crawling blind.

robin8962d ago

Fair point but 10-4 means "affirmative", not "good buddy".