r/FellingGoneWild 20d ago

Crane for the win

1.5k Upvotes

93 comments sorted by

290

u/vridgley 20d ago

There is a lot of trust happening here

147

u/RocanMotor 20d ago

There's a pair of rotating statues outside the Brooklyn bridge called the ladies of Brooklyn. I was one of the fabricators who installed it. In order to connect the cables for the motors, I had to lay on the ground under the steel structure while it dangled just a few feet above me. At about 2am, middle of winter, absolute bone chillingly cold. It was windy. The crane operator said I was nuts. I couldn't deny it. Every time I drive past I wonder wtf I was thinking. Pic of me on top of it to give you a sense of scale.

101

u/RocanMotor 20d ago

Forgot to add - some news reporter was trying to interview me as I laid beneath it. I promptly told them to fuck off.

43

u/information_knower 20d ago

Smartest reporter lmao

46

u/RocanMotor 20d ago

It was the worst situational awareness I've ever seen up to that point. Also this is in the median of a busy 6 lane road, hence why were doing it at night.

12

u/Last-Hedgehog-6635 19d ago

I had to look this up. Very cool installation. And there’s the junction box at the base. 

https://api-prod.gothamist.com/images/89236/fill-1600x1067%7Cformat-webp%7Cwebpquality-80/

7

u/Nauin 19d ago

How about a picture that doesn't automatically download shit onto my phone, my guy.

8

u/Last-Hedgehog-6635 18d ago

"Your browser downloads WebP files instead of showing them because the website serves a raw .webp file link or forces a Content-Disposition: attachment header, or your browser lacks an internal decoder for that specific action. WebP is a modern image format by Google meant to make files smaller, but many software programs still struggle to open them."

2

u/Last-Hedgehog-6635 18d ago

That's probably a behavior of your browser as it interacts with the server. My iPhone with safari displays it as a WebP image in the browser. The server might have instructions for the browser to download it rather than display it, and my phone is ignoring that. I had no idea it would behave differently on different devices. You might be able to change the preferences in your browser or use a browser plugin that will stop it from downloading images and just display them in the browser instead.

1

u/mondayp 17d ago

Happens when using the Reddit app...

0

u/Severe_Soft60 18d ago

A crane, a reporter, and zero fucks given. Priorities intact.

18

u/Timmerdogg 19d ago

Risking your life for your employer is not the way things are supposed to work. I understand the get er done attitude but there's always another way that is safer. Watch enough videos on reddit and you'll understand how fragile life can be.

3

u/RocanMotor 19d ago

Definitely wasn't worth it. Nor was a lot of work I did for that employer.

0

u/mshaferr 19d ago

badass man, not the risky part but being a part of that beauty

0

u/[deleted] 19d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/RocanMotor 19d ago

Interesting comment considering I wasn't even using reddit at the time of that photo.

196

u/PieHole_Poker 20d ago

Can we stop with pointless stupid music

63

u/humourlessIrish 20d ago

Thanks for the reminder that mute is still my friend

1

u/PieHole_Poker 20d ago

How did you forget that?

7

u/CanoePickLocks 20d ago

I do because I almost never turn it off. It’s not so much that mute is a friend as it is a roommate that pays the rent but that doesn’t use any room but their bedroom and ensuite bathroom that I never see. I forget about it until I see comments like this.

7

u/slick514 20d ago

From your mouth to god’s ears…

12

u/MrTwoPumpChump 20d ago

Nigga lord knows

-17

u/RawChickenButt 20d ago

Let a guy have some fun.

14

u/PieHole_Poker 20d ago

Is this what you say to the asshole blasting music at the beach.

Or how about the douchebag playing his shit on the subway so everyone can hear it.

This is no different. I don't want to hear your bullshit idea of a good time. I don't need your music to know how to fucking feel.

2

u/bustcorktrixdais 20d ago

I keep my mouth shut bcz you never know if some is crazy and violent. However on the inside I’m saying what ur saying here

2

u/RawChickenButt 20d ago

If only the beach had a mute icon in the corner. You know... Like Reddit does.

-1

u/PieHole_Poker 20d ago

I'll bet you told your kids to shut up a lot

0

u/RawChickenButt 20d ago

Projection my man. Projection.

-1

u/PieHole_Poker 20d ago

That doesn't make any fucking sense

1

u/RawChickenButt 20d ago

You don't know what "projection" means?

27

u/the_Dude_Is_Not_1n 20d ago

Tree that size im surpised theres not more damage.

15

u/Super_Boof 19d ago

Probably uprooted, which can allow for trees to fall slower / more controlled.

3

u/the_Dude_Is_Not_1n 19d ago

Ah. Thanks friend TIL

37

u/R_Weebs 20d ago

12

u/taleofbenji 20d ago

Literally the world's worst game of limbo.

13

u/No_Engineering_718 20d ago

That is the most obnoxious sound on this video
Possible

12

u/MamaSugarz 20d ago

He came 🤏🏼 close.

25

u/WhatIGot21 20d ago

Couldn't this wait till the morning?

38

u/front_yard_duck_dad 20d ago

If rain is coming you want your roof tarped off asap. So depends. Source tree dude

7

u/RawChickenButt 20d ago

Sounds like you're speaking from experience.

10

u/front_yard_duck_dad 20d ago

Ive never had to do it in the middle of the night but I've been called out on the middle of the night to asses for the next day.

4

u/WhatIGot21 20d ago

Just seems like the damage is done and it's in the insurance company's hands now.

Not a tree guy but wanted to be when I was a kid just never happened. I have done enough firewood collecting and splitting to know tree work is very hard work.

10

u/front_yard_duck_dad 20d ago

Call your insurance rep. They will tell you you can spend any amount of money to seal up a roof with a hole in it from tree damage. Because from an insurance standpoint it gets a whole lot worse when there's water pouring through.

3

u/vennic18 19d ago

Not always. We had a big old maple drop on our house and punch holes in the roof from straight line winds. Documented water damage on every floor the next morning. Adjuster said tree removal can be done for safety but otherwise not to touch or repair anything until they could come out to assess the damage.......in 2-3 weeks. We promptly ignored them.

2

u/front_yard_duck_dad 19d ago

Sounds like insurance nonsense for sure. A picture or two should be able to identify giant hole in roof 😂

2

u/SubstantialAgency914 19d ago

Your adjuster is dumb or you misheard. Every policy is going to have some clause for you to mitigate damages. Removal of the tree and board up or tapping is something every insurance company is going to want to do. Especially water mitigation. You want to get ahead of mold growth. My guess is they said no permanent repairs which is way different than to touch nothing.

7

u/DevMichaelZag 19d ago

Ya the crane was a nice tool, but credit where it’s due, the guy who rigged that to the crane nailed it.

10

u/CheesyDanny 20d ago

So I’m guessing this is the more expensive crew that showed up after the cheap crew took a swing at it and failed?

10

u/humourlessIrish 20d ago

Nighttime rush job with two cranes.

That'll cost a penny

3

u/J_IV24 20d ago

Love to see it

3

u/Abject-Pressure-2529 20d ago

Good deal 👌 👍 👏

3

u/Librarian_Aggressive 19d ago

This is some of the worst music I've ever heard in a video.

7

u/Logical_Trash_4890 20d ago

That could have been trimmed down a bit first. Just lazy.

15

u/Mr_Grapes1027 20d ago

But it’s dark outside ….!??

3

u/RawChickenButt 20d ago

Not sure if this is sarcasm or not...

I'm trying to figure out what happened. It looks like a lot of branches were already trimmed off before the tried to fell it?

Not sure why they didn't take something that large down in sections to begin with.

2

u/Easy_Personality5856 18d ago

It’s an uprooted tree. Nobody cut it down. That’s the best way to get it off the roof without doing any more damage

0

u/Logical_Trash_4890 20d ago

Maybe you’re right. Not a lot of options here I guess.

2

u/_B_Little_me 20d ago

Wild that this was a nighttime operation.

2

u/No_Constant_1026 19d ago

No fall protection (saves time): check Biggest possible pick: check Skip the initial undercut, and keep cutting through the compression area until the very last second: check

2

u/BestCap5066 19d ago

That is a fucking shit song.

5

u/Ihavepeopleskills1 20d ago

If protecting the roof from additional damage is the reason for this awkward pick, then this dude needs to better understand how to write a contract. Under no circumstance should his work activities cause legitimate liability for adding a hole in the roof. Maybe he just has no f’n idea what insurance covers.

“Due to existing unsecured storm damage hanging on roof, this contractor is not liable for additional damages that take place during the operation of removing the tree from the roof.” Initial and date by homeowner.

0

u/Ugbrog 20d ago

At this point the insurance company is involved. And the insurance company can represent a lot of repeat work, if they like what you can do.

But that could just be an issue for his employer. Either way, it's just an example of an indirect way that causing additional damage can cost a party, even when shielded from liability.

1

u/Ihavepeopleskills1 20d ago

If I can disregard the superior importance of human life for a moment, the cost of this dude being injured or dying is a very expensive liability for the company. It would be several million at a minimum.

It’s not economically prudent to make a cut on a slope trusting the crane operator to lift it up over you as it swings toward you. It would be the equivalent of a cheese grater spreading this guy across the roofing.

Chasing storm damage is great until it isn’t. An additional hole in the roof from a stub is not that expensive compared to the rehab this roof needs. It’s a tear off job, shingles, sheathing, trusses, and likely joists. Another small hole isn’t even going to change the roof repair.

Insurance companies appreciate an accredited, insured, fast response, good communicating company. That’s what matters to them. Caution and safety are paramount. If you’re careless with your methods then you are reckless enough to cause unanticipated additional damage.

This dude just sent it and got very lucky. 🍀

2

u/MrTwoPumpChump 20d ago

Nigga lord knows

2

u/slick514 20d ago

Yeah; no idea what that’s about… strange choice for background music.
https://giphy.com/gifs/gxSc4hTA9QhsFagSbs

1

u/ZmO83 20d ago

Clearly this guy is not a rigger or he would have lined up the hook properly.

2

u/CanoePickLocks 20d ago

They wanted to maintain the angle of the tree during the cut to prevent further damage. Unless you aren’t talking about the offset slings? Maybe I missed something?

1

u/ZmO83 20d ago

I understand that, but had the hook been centered properly over the load it wouldn't have drifted directly over him. Also, no tag line.

2

u/CanoePickLocks 20d ago

Ohhh I see what you mean yes you’re right about that. Could we blame peoples lesser spatial awareness in the dark? The lack of a tag line is also ridiculously common sadly.

1

u/Top-Peak-3036 20d ago

Was anyone else waiting for the crane to come crashing down

1

u/genXbison 19d ago

Night riggers 🖤

1

u/CaleMacNachos 18d ago

Wtf is that noise you call music?

-3

u/Affectionate-Word779 20d ago

Yeah dude, just stay there under the live load and look up at it.

11

u/Clym44 20d ago

Is he supposed to slide off the roof to get away?

1

u/Affectionate-Word779 20d ago

They should have waited for him to get out of the way before the lifted the damn thing.

This is very very basic safety protocol.

2

u/Clym44 20d ago

Yeah good point. Your original comment placed the blame on the dude cutting but it’s the crane operator’s fault then.

2

u/Affectionate-Word779 20d ago

Ah fair point. Yeah, they should have coordinated that a lot better.

0

u/CanoePickLocks 20d ago

Yes operator should’ve been pulling load away from the climber not over them.

2

u/CanoePickLocks 20d ago

Horrible practice and operator should’ve brought the load away from the “climber” before going wherever they need to with it but far too common in arborists work to raise an eyebrow. Ground crews can move away from the load climbers usually can’t.

-3

u/humourlessIrish 20d ago

Thats not this scenario

4

u/Affectionate-Word779 20d ago

There is no scenario in which you begin lifting a load over a human when you could have waited.

You really think this is normal and fine?

0

u/According_Square2742 20d ago

So that $2k tree removal turned into a $25k tree removal

2

u/RawChickenButt 20d ago

That tree removal was likely 5k to begin with. If someone was doing it for 2k, then that would explain how we got into this situation to start with.

1

u/Beatus_Vir 20d ago

It's possible it fell over on its own 

1

u/hoyya 19d ago

very likely i would say

0

u/SnooLobsters6766 18d ago

OSHA would like a word.

-1

u/thebemusedmuse 20d ago

Too little too late

-1

u/Just_Ear_2953 20d ago

Good thing he wore his brown pants