I used to think a quick visual check was enough for my rigging, but a close call in Spokane changed my mind

For years, I'd just give my slings and shackles a fast once-over before a lift, trusting my eyes. Everyone on my crew did the same. Then, on a hospital job in Spokane last fall, we were setting a big HVAC unit. As I took the weight, I heard a tiny 'ping' sound. I stopped everything. When we lowered it, we found a hairline crack in a shackle body you could barely see without a flashlight and a magnifying glass. That sound was the only warning. Now I carry a small inspection mirror and a bright light in my kit, and I physically feel every inch of the gear, looking for cracks or worn wires. It adds maybe five minutes to my setup, but that shackle could have failed. Does anyone else have a specific tool or method for their daily gear checks that goes beyond just looking?

4 comments

4 Comments

sean_torres7127d ago

Man, that's a wake-up call for sure.

riley_miller2527d agoTop Commenter

Ugh, seriously. My buddy had a moment like that last month. He saw his own kid copying how he zones out on his phone during dinner. Said it hit him like a ton of bricks. He just never realized how much he was missing until he saw his own bad habit mirrored back at him. Now he leaves his phone in another room when they eat. Says it's a small change but it totally changed the vibe.

reeseperez19d ago

Isn't that the truth? I did the same thing after my grandson called me out.

ivan_mason19d ago

You ever notice how we all walk around thinking we're totally fine until someone younger points out what's right in front of our faces? It's like we've got this blind spot for our own bad habits. My neighbor's kid started leaving his phone on the counter when they'd play catch after his daughter said he looked like a zombie scrolling through dinner. Makes you wonder how many little things we're missing while staring at a screen.