Wind flags on tall loads keep getting ignored on my site in Houston

I keep seeing guys skip tying wind flags on long beams when we're lifting above 200 feet. Last Tuesday a steel beam started twisting bad because nobody could see it swinging from the ground. This is basic stuff, you know, the flag lets the spotter track movement before it becomes a problem. My foreman told me last month, "flag it or flag yourself down." I've watched at least three close calls in six months that could have been avoided with a simple piece of ribbon. Is everyone else seeing this slack or is it just our yard?

2 comments

2 Comments

fisher.mason17d ago

You sure those flags aren't just causing more problems than they're worth? Look, I've been around cranes long enough to see guys get so focused on watching a little ribbon that they miss the real action. That beam twisting might not have been the flag's fault, it could have been the rigging job or the wind itself. A flag flapping around in a 200 foot lift can actually give you a false sense of security, like you think you're tracking it but the ribbon's just bouncing in the breeze and not showing the actual load movement. Plus if you're working near power lines or anything like that, a loose piece of fabric whipping around could snag on something and cause a whole new kind of trouble. The foreman's just covering his own back, you know how that goes, they'd rather have you waste time tying ribbons than admit the lift plan might need adjusting.

harper_murphy17d ago

Did you ever try just using a bright colored high-vis glove on the tagline instead? That worked for me on a few lifts where the ribbon kept getting tangled up or giving false readings. You can keep your eyes on the load and still see the movement without extra stuff flapping around. The glove won't snag on anything either, and it's way less hassle than tying a flag onto a 200 foot line. Sometimes the simplest fix is the one the foreman won't think of because he's stuck on the rulebook.

-1