Heard a site safety guy say load limits are just suggestions and I had to walk away

Was on a job in Phoenix last Thursday and this safety coordinator tells me that crane load charts are 'more like guidelines for careful operators.' I told him that's how you bend a boom or drop a beam on someone's car. Has anyone else run into safety people who don't take the ratings seriously?

2 comments

2 Comments

tarajenkins13d ago

Oh jeez. That guy was asking for a lawsuit. Load limits aren't a vibe check, they're physics.

jessicajohnson12d ago

See my take is a little different. In my experience a lot of those posted load limits are way conservative for modern gear. They factor in old beat up trailers with no brakes and drivers who don't check their tires. Your mileage may vary obviously but I've seen guys run 20% over the sticker for years with no issues. Not saying you should throw caution to the wind but physics has a range not just one number.