Debate: Should you lift a load in high winds or wait it out?

Last Tuesday at the Port of Oakland I had a 12-ton container swinging in 30 mph gusts. Dispatch said push through, safety manual says stop. I held it and got chewed out for delaying the schedule. But another operator on my crew said he runs loads in worse wind all the time with no issues. So which is it? Do you play it safe or trust your experience? I'm curious what you all do when the weather gets nasty.

3 comments

3 Comments

ryanm601mo ago

First off, you did the right thing holding that load. A 12-ton container swinging in 30 mph gusts is no joke, I've been there myself. Ran a similar job at the Port of Seattle last spring, same weather conditions, and I tried to push through just to keep the boss happy. Ended up with a container that almost tagged another crane, and that was a full stop for two hours. Getting chewed out for delay is nothing compared to an accident report or worse, someone getting hurt. Stick with the safety manual every time, it exists for a reason no matter what the other operators say. The schedule matters but it doesn't matter more than your life or the crew's safety.

christopherw341mo agoMost Upvoted

You’re getting paid to move that load, not to sit around waiting for the wind to calm down. If you know your machine and can handle the swing, a 30 mph gust isn't anything special. The schedule matters, and playing it too safe just makes everyone else look bad.

brianreed1mo ago

Had a buddy who pushed through a windy day like that last year, ended up with a load that swung and cracked a dock plate, cost way more in downtime than just waiting an hour.