Rigging a lift in the rain at the Port of Seattle last Tuesday changed my whole approach

We had a 12-ton HVAC unit coming off a barge and the rain was coming down sideways. My tagline guy kept losing grip and the load was swinging more than I liked. Called it off after 20 minutes, cost the client $400 in standby fees. Now I keep a roll of that grip tape stuff in my cab for wet conditions. Any of you guys deal with rain differently or just wait it out?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_cameron22d ago

Man, I gotta say I think people make way too big a deal out of this. I've been running lifts for years and a little rain never stopped anything that needed doing. I get it, safety first and all that, but grip tape and special gloves? Come on. If your tagline guy can't keep a hold of a wet rope for twenty minutes without dropping it, maybe he's not the guy for the job. I've worked in worse conditions than some sideways drizzle and never felt the need to turn a $400 profit into a loss because of a little water. Feels like everyone's gotten soft and afraid of a little weather, you know?

daniel_walker1d ago

Doesn't this same attitude explain why nobody knows how to change a tire or start a fire anymore?

eric72322d agoMost Upvoted

And honestly the grip tape is a good call but I'd also look at those rubber coated rigging gloves, they make a world of difference when everything's slick. The key is having a dry bag stashed somewhere to keep your gloves and tape from getting soaked before you even start. Once you're already dealing with a wet load swinging around it's usually too late to be fumbling for gear.