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A rigger in Houston told me my hand signals were too fast

We were setting a big AC unit on a roof downtown, and after a lift, the rigger pulled me aside. He said, 'Finley, your signals are clear, but you're moving your hands like you're swatting flies. Slow it down.' I realized I was rushing the whole crew. Now I count to two in my head between each signal, and everything feels smoother. Has anyone else had to adjust their tempo for the team?
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3 Comments
daniel_gonzalez
Tell you what, my first time directing a crane for a tree removal, I was basically doing frantic semaphore. The poor operator looked like he was watching a tennis match. Had to learn real quick that slow is smooth, and smooth is fast (or at least it keeps the load from swinging into someone's house). That two-count trick is solid, it gives everyone's brain time to catch up to your hands.
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the_max
the_max8d ago
Man, that's a great point. I had to learn the same thing when I was new, because fast signals just make the operator second-guess everything. That two-count method is the best fix I've found, it turns panic into a real rhythm. What do you do to keep your own pace in check?
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nguyen.angela
Try directing a crane after three coffees.
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