Photo courtesy of: http://www.stsosha.com

While the crane operator has an eagle’s view of the job site, unfortunately, there are blind spots in his line of site which can be very dangerous for him and those working around him. Just as a blind spot can be dangerous for both a truck driver and the traffic around him, the same is true of blind spots for crane operators. From far above the job site, the crane operator can see the entire area below, but he ironically cannot see many of the areas from which he must lift. This causes him to have to perform blind lifts on a regular basis. These blind lifts are not optimal for safety, or accuracy.

Fortunately, in the last ten years, using cameras on cranes has become more and more common. These cameras give the crane operator the ability to see where his eyes cannot. There are many benefits to such a device, with safety being at the top of those benefits. No longer is the crane operator flying blind or lifting blind. Whether he is sitting at the top of the world in a tower crane, or at the bottom of the site in a mobile crane, the blind spots are eliminated through the use of video cameras.

Aside from normal blind spots, another benefit of these video cameras on cranes is that they help in situations where poor lighting is an issue. When the operator must perform a lift which has a loading or unloading area in a dimly lit or shaded spot, it can be difficult to see the load. A camera located on the crane can give the operator “eyes” right on the load, where he can see exactly how to lift. This is great for darkened work areas where the crane operator would normally be unable to see.

These cameras can also help in situation where the angle of vision is awkward in concealed areas, and the crane operator cannot see well enough to perform the lift. These cameras will stay with the load at all times, giving the crane operator a constant view of that load. Whether the load is being moved to an area that is blocked from the crane operator’s site by other buildings, construction, or simply dim lighting, the camera makes it possible for the crane operator’s vision to travel with the load. The crane operator needs only to glance at a monitor in his cab to see where the load is at all times.

While safety is the first and most important benefit from using these cameras, it also saves a lot of time. A blind lift is not only dangerous, but they take up a great deal of time as the rigger and crane operator try to communicate whether or not the lift is being carried out correctly. As you can imagine, it is a very stressful and slow process for the crane operator. One small mistake, one tiny miscommunication and not only could millions of dollars in damages occur, but lives could be lost. All of this can be changed with the use of wireless cameras, a product that is well over due in the construction world.