DUMMY AWARD - for breaking basic safety rules DUMMY AWARD: "Cowboy of Sorts"
"David Baw gets high on the job — 160 feet high."

"Towercrane operators at the SBC Center construction site rise to the challenge of working high above the ground."

Pay particular attention to the following paragraphs when you read the article. (continue reading to link below)

"Most operators use safety lines attached to the cranes to prevent a long fall, but Baw is considered a cowboy of sorts. Sometimes he traipses across the crane's jib without a safety line. But he sports an unblemished safety record in his more than 20 years on the job."

Another statement copied from the story...
"A few years ago, his high-wire routine got him tagged a "daredevil" in Charlotte, N.C., where he drew crowds of admirers standing in a nearby office building."

Now go read the story about a "Cowboy of Sorts" a "Daredevil"
* Footnote: Inaccurate information corrections

Editor comments: It only takes one fall to break an "unblemished safety record". That's when ALL bragging rights come to a sudden halt, immediately. "Cowboys" and "Daredevils" are not excluded.

Another statement in the article, supposedly made by one of the other operators, Derek Knight, also caught my attention...
"Sitting in this little box will do things to your head if you stay up here long enough," Knight said jokingly.
Yes sir, Mr. Knight, apparently, there is some strong, convincing evidence to support your statement, even though you may have said it "jokingly".

Ironically, only 2 days ago, on Wednesday (5/30/01), Juan Sanchez ,28, of Moncks Corner, South Carolina fell from a boom into the Wando River. Although he fell into water, he didn't survive. Rescue workers recovered his body the next day.

Gentlemen, what's under your towercrane, concrete, rebar sticking up, steel beams or...?

If you don't have wings and can fly, use that safety line, every time.

To be called a "Cowboy or Daredevil" may stroke your ego now, but what message will it convey to others when seen like this....

Icon: Fatal Here lies _______________
"Cowboy" — "Daredevil"

Died as a fool dieth,
thy lifeline was not tied.
This Dummy Award may be YOUR wake up call! Take heed!
As long as people continue doing dumb things as referenced above, CraneAccidents.com will be here to record the casualties.

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* Footnote: "Steel beams stuck 75 feet deep into the group [apparently "group" is a typo - it should be ground] anchor the crane,..."

Correction: About 6 or 7 feet into the ground is more likely to be the depth, not 75 feet.

Apparently there were some misunderstandings between the writer of the article and the operators of the cranes about the above and several other technical details, i.e., wind speeds, sway, and bend numbers. One of the experts posted the following on our CraneTalk.com bulletin board. "Tower jib's don't bend 15'. Depending on the length, let's say 213' would deflect approximately 7'."