The overarching theme was to reiterate the point that no matter the environment—hundreds of feet in the air or at ground level—operating heavy lifting equipment in the blind is dangerous… and I’m not talking about a kid heavy lifting a dumb bell.
I’m talking about professionals who need cameras for any application involving big, heavy, large, hazardous and / or critical loads, where an operator is working in the blind.
As I wrote, looking at the location of the crane or lift in isolation is not gathering enough intelligence by which to assess the requirement for crane cameras. Actually, it all depends on what the operator is trying to do and his or her ability to accomplish it.
What is interesting about LHI article is that it has healthy readership in marketplaces that are more familiar with electric overhead traveling (or EOT) cranes and hoists versus tower, mobile and truck cranes.
More than that, it specifically targets end users.
Think about it… that fits our ongoing educational program, which places end users at its center. OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) and other links in supply chains come later. After all, if decision makers at the point of use aren’t aware of the benefits of something, they won’t demand it of their suppliers.
The fixation with cameras as a tower crane product has led to an incorrect assumption that a monitor needs to be positioned in a cab.
In my first draft of the article I said this assumption was F’ed up, but my colleagues told me to edit it out. It was a bit too loaded, they suggested. Ok, but I stand by the comment. This is my podcast, after all.
You can imagine what they said when I wanted to include a sentence claiming there is a dying breed that still say the best way to operate a crane is to feel it shaking under their ass!
My editor’s red pen was out again… (I hope they’re not listening.)
Seriously though, a monitor is positioned where the operator is, and that doesn’t have to be in a box with windows.
They might be in a cab, yes.
But they could also be on a pedestal on a shop floor.
They may also be in a control room.