Old foreman swore by hand signals over radios, now I get why

My foreman Jerry always said radios waste time because guys chatter too much, so he made us learn full ASL crane signals. Last week on a tight job in Charlotte with no radio signal in the basement, those hand signals saved us from dropping a 12-ton beam. Anyone else got a piece of advice that seemed dumb at first but saved your butt later?

2 comments

2 Comments

lopez.karen1mo ago

lol imagine telling a new guy "just learn sign language" and they think you're crazy. Jerry's a legend for that though. Hand signals are literally the original bluetooth, no battery required. That basement situation sounds like a total disaster waiting to happen with radios. Bet those new guys who laughed at Jerry now see the light. Old school stuff usually has a reason behind it, just gotta live through the wreck first.

claire_walker1mo ago

3 years ago at my old construction gig, we had a deaf foreman named Dave who used hand signals for crane ops. First week I thought it was pointless until the generator died mid-lift and all the radios went silent. Dave just tapped his hard hat twice and pointed - everyone knew exactly what to do. Never laughed at hand signals again after that. Jerry's basement setup sounds like a ticking time bomb though. You ever had a moment where the low tech option saved your hide?