Rant: A simple load chart check turned into a four hour delay

Had to set a big AC unit on a roof in Phoenix last week, and the chart said my 80 ton crane was good for the radius. What I missed was the tiny note about needing the full counterweight setup, which we didn't have on the truck. Spent the first hour just figuring out why my numbers were off. Then it took three more hours for the shop to run the right counterweights out to us. All for a lift that took 20 minutes. Anyone else ever get tripped up by a footnote in the manual?

2 comments

2 Comments

parker5431d ago

That "tiny note" problem is real. It makes me wonder if crane charts should have a big warning box for the most common setup mistakes, like needing full counterweight. Highlight it in red or something so it's the first thing you check, not an afterthought.

gray_smith671d ago

Highlighting the common mistakes is a good idea, but the real issue is that the chart is only valid for one specific setup. If you need a different warning box for every possible config, the chart just becomes a mess of red ink. The footnote is the warning, you just have to train yourself to read every single line before you commit.