Greg Lanese of HoistCam examines why a heavy equipment operator should have a camera while working in the blind.

The decision to utilize an operator aid on heavy equipment working in the blind is rife with questions. Why? Why should heavy equipment operators use a camera to help them see what they would not normally be able to see? Sounds like an innocent question. However, let’s define this before answering the question so there are no misunderstandings.

What is working in the blind in the context of operating heavy equipment?

Working in the blind essentially involves an evolution of heavy machinery in which the operators cannot see where they are going or what they are doing and are usually being guided, visually, by sound, or by voice (often by radio) to complete said evolution.
Some examples are:

• A tower crane operator lifting behind a tall building with the
  landing site not in the field of view.
• Excavators digging a deep pit.
• A locomotive pushing many railcars unable to see the tracks ahead.
• The installation of an AC unit on a tall building using a mobile
  crane.
• Moving steel coils or other heavy parts with a bridge crane around
  a factory floor.
• A pusher tug with several barges forward reducing visibility

The Primary Reason – Safety

Now that the term has been defined, let’s get back to the original question, why a camera aid for the operator? The primary reason by far is safety. The runners-up are the reduction of operator stress and a possible increase in productivity. Should be pretty straightforward, a no-brainer. But it’s only in the last few years that adoption has become more widespread. As technology advances and the next generation entering the workforce are more open to that new technology, the adoption of operator aids such as HoistCam are becoming the norm and not the exception.

The Simplest Example

The simplest example most can relate to would be a tractor-trailer backing up to a loading dock or narrow entrance. The only aid the operator traditionally had was the rearview mirrors. With the advent of backup cameras, this evolution has become dramatically easier and less stressful for the driver. So much so that backup cameras are now standard equipment on most vehicles.

Increased Productivity and More

Beyond the potential safety benefits camera systems offer an array of solutions to many other issues that often impact productivity. To that point, with visual aids, communications issues on the ground can be mitigated. It may be possible to overcome training inadequacies by visually removing confusion. Likewise, camera systems are not only a reinforcement to a signal person on the ground, but they also give the operator an extra degree of confidence that likely translates to more evolutions and greater productivity overall.

Assistance and Safety

The use of operator aids on heavy equipment working in the blind is becoming more common. As technology moves forward businesses, particularly in Europe, have recognized the benefits of having additional assistance to help avoid material damage, injury, or even fatalities when operating in the blind.

The way operators approach their work is being revolutionized by these innovations, therefore the question is no longer, why should heavy equipment operators use a camera to help them see what they would not normally be able to see? The question we should be asking is, what happens if you don’t have a camera system and something happens?