Can we talk about how crane load charts ignore wind gusts under 20 mph?

I was reading through OSHA's crane safety handbook last night and found out that the standard load charts don't account for sudden wind gusts under 20 mph, which caught me off guard since I always assumed they factored in all weather conditions - has anyone else had a close call with a gust that wasn't on the chart?

3 comments

3 Comments

knight.dylan1mo ago

Honestly, is a 20 mph gust really that big a deal for most jobs?

the_harper1mo ago

Depends on the job honestly. When I was working on a roofing crew, a steady 20 mph gust would actually make it hard to keep your balance even with good boots. You'd be surprised how much that extra push of wind can mess with carrying materials up a ladder or handling a long piece of siding.

wadew511mo ago

@knight.dylan you ever tried to set a truss with a crane while a 20 mph gust hits it sideways... that load starts swinging like a pendulum and suddenly your tagline guys are fighting just to keep it steady. The charts not accounting for gusts under 20 mph feels like a gap because even a 15 mph gust can throw off a long boom or a wide load if the wind hits it just right. I've watched a beam twist on the hook in what felt like a mild breeze, and it made me wonder if the charts are built for ideal conditions more than real ones...