SouthSoundTree
Treehouser
Signals for rigging, pulling, driving/ backing...
For us,
whether crane cable, pull line, or rigging line: we are using what I believe to be the standard crane signal for cable up/ in or down/ out: horizontal upper arm, with vertical forearm, pointer finger extended and circling, up or down, respectively.
Stop: same arm position (upward), fist closed, slight shake.
Little more (like pull a little more, back up the truck a little more): add pointer and thumb pinching gesture.
Let it run: "yellow pages let your fingers do the walking (running)" gesture.
Crash land a limb (let tips hit, but control the butt end when butt rigging): Fist falling into open palm.
Snub off a piece: same as Stop up above.
Top or tree falling: Tap top of head and point direction that its heading.
For vehicles, we always use Passenger Side or Driver Side for the direction of the vehicle or trailer and call out things like '12 feet', '10 feet', 8', 6', 4', than using our hands spread apart to show the driver in the mirror the actual amount left, getting down to the pinching gesture. I hate when people say things like "keep coming, keep coming, keep coming, Stop, STOP, STOP!" I'd rather know if I should creep back or steadily back up, without having to worry about doing a panic stop or damage something.
What do you do?
For us,
whether crane cable, pull line, or rigging line: we are using what I believe to be the standard crane signal for cable up/ in or down/ out: horizontal upper arm, with vertical forearm, pointer finger extended and circling, up or down, respectively.
Stop: same arm position (upward), fist closed, slight shake.
Little more (like pull a little more, back up the truck a little more): add pointer and thumb pinching gesture.
Let it run: "yellow pages let your fingers do the walking (running)" gesture.
Crash land a limb (let tips hit, but control the butt end when butt rigging): Fist falling into open palm.
Snub off a piece: same as Stop up above.
Top or tree falling: Tap top of head and point direction that its heading.
For vehicles, we always use Passenger Side or Driver Side for the direction of the vehicle or trailer and call out things like '12 feet', '10 feet', 8', 6', 4', than using our hands spread apart to show the driver in the mirror the actual amount left, getting down to the pinching gesture. I hate when people say things like "keep coming, keep coming, keep coming, Stop, STOP, STOP!" I'd rather know if I should creep back or steadily back up, without having to worry about doing a panic stop or damage something.
What do you do?
. standard winch up and winch down crane signals apply to the chipper winch and to rigging. on rigging, "winch down" means let the piece run, and "winch up" means pre tension the line or lift the piece as it is cut. clenched fist held upright means stop, or snub the load in rigging. "traveling", like in basketball, means i need a rigging rope. kind of a fist pumping mimic of using a pole pruner for that tool and the same motion down low to indicate need chainsaw (looks like pulling a pull cord). "hang loose" means my saw needs fuel. pointing at my eyes and then something (the street, some one cutting, a target in the work zone, etc) means pay attention to that thing. thumbs up means everything is ok and i am ready to cut or run the rope, it also means it is ok to enter the lz after a cut is made. backing up vehicles is thumb or index pointing the direction of travel for turns, open palm held upright with palm facing left for go straight. pinching fingers and thumb for creep back, and holding hands apart to indicate distance to close for backing into trailers or tight spots. for those of us on the crew who have been working together for a long time, it sometimes amazes me what can be communicated with a few totally random hand gestures. on the flipside it really sucks working with someone who just cannot understand your signals, and/or doesnt look up often enough.
