avery_ross•3mo ago

Just read that a tower crane can sway over three feet in high wind, found it in an old safety manual from the 90s

4 comments

4 Comments

violaramirez3mo ago

Losing their lunch" reminds me of a guy who got sick just watching from the ground.

phoenix2461mo ago

That thing about it being "annoying more than scary" is interesting, but I wonder how much the extra sway changes things for the machinery itself. Like, nobody talks about the wear and tear on the slewing ring or the jib when it's bending that much. Three feet of flex at the top might mean the whole tower is actually twisting and torquing way more than just swinging side to side. That old manual might have included specific wind speeds for a reason, maybe something like 20 mph is fine but 30 mph starts to actually fatigue the steel. Could be why some cranes get red-flagged long before the wind really picks up.

the_wendy3mo ago

Oh wow, that's a fun mental image. So you're telling me some guy up there is just trying to pour concrete while his whole office is gently rocking back and forth? No wonder they get hazard pay, I'd be clinging to the controls for dear life. Honestly, three feet sounds like a lot when you're that high up. I guess the manual from the 90s was just stating the obvious, that it's a sketchy job on a windy day. Makes you respect anyone who does that work without losing their lunch.

iris9273mo ago

Nah, @the_wendy, you get used to the sway pretty quick. It's more annoying than scary, like trying to work on a boat. The real pros just tune it out and focus on the pour.