Bob is such a good guy, thanks Bob for sending this in.

A very real threat,good point and nothing is wrote in stone.It can even happen on a clear day in the high country.

A smart mixer driver you don’t have to tell what you are doing, he already pressed the horn that he stops unloading before you make the decision. I remember me one time whit a lightning out of the bleu the driver was in his cab before I was. And normally I’m first lifting my boom up till the crew on the floor found a save place

My problem so far is that NO one EVER backs me up when I say the boom is going down. Ive been standing in Amsterdam with flashes all around me every 20 seconds and than I had enough and put the boom down. But the 3 tower cranes around me just kept driving and everybody looked at me like I was an asshole. After 15 minutes my dispatcher called me to ask why I refused to pump. He didn't back me up eighter.

And here in Norway its even crazier. First time I had a thunderstorm here (which is very rare by the way. It was just 1 in the last 3 years) I though maybe I should call one of my bosses to ask what they usualy do since I was used to the BS. HE HAD NEVER EVEN HEARED OF SOMEONE PUTTING HIS BOOM DOWN FOR A THUNDERSTORM!!!  JUST KEEP PUMPING IS WHAT THEY ALWAYS DO!!!

What the f*ck should I do??  Ok.. I know what I should do but how do I convince everyone that its the right thing to do??

Does anyone know how many people die or get seriously injured every year by lightning in pumps and cranes around the world? Maybe that number would help convincing everybody its dangerous...

Make it simple make the rm driver smart. Tell him it is his ass. No Concrete no pumping. And about tower cranes they are grounded

ive been at jobs where people are wanting to get the job done 2 get home, and ive been like nope boom is going down flat.

I always told the hose man he would lite up like a 100 watt lightbulb

Was called a pussy once till it hit a high tower 1/4 mi. away and started a fire. When everybody ran I stood up and ask if any real men were still here, lets get pumpin. I was talkin to myself! Wish I had pics.

Dipstick We have the same problem in Sweden. If a thunderstorm is coming and they pour with a crane and the craneoperator stop because the strong wind what do they do? Call a boompump if he reach! And boompumps should stop before the towercrane . We have a lower windlimit . I have been called many times when tha craneoperator has climbing down.... But I teach them and tell them what is right and tell them that I want do it again , and if they try then they will be teach the hard way! I take our pickup and drive to the buildingplace and talk with the Boss at that buildingplace.

I agree with Vasa. He pumps at the westcoast and i pump at the eastcoast of Sweden, but the the rules is the same in hole Sweden - no pumpers are allowed to stop the pump, not even if a thunderstruck hits out all the electrician cables in the pump. The boss on the buildingplace has ordered a pump to his buildingplace and he don´t care what happends between the first pumpstroke until the last. He don´t care if the pouring is 34 huor and the poor pumper don´t have someone to replace him the first 24 hour. Thunderstruck or no break and food for 24 hour for the pumper - the buildingboss don´t care - he had ordered a pump to pump and his word is the law. My pumpcompany is so small, so i keep quiet and do my job and hope the flash don´t hit me. during the time am i hungry wet and tired. Thats the way it is as a pumper in Sweden. Luckely it´s very seldom indeed i have those workingdays - but it happends. Edit; We don´t have more than maximum 8 - 10 very short thunderdays/year in Sweden. 

By the way, a craneoperator sits in a cabin wich functionate like a "Faradays cage" (read about it on the net) and he is totaly safe from a thunderstruck if he don´t touch any metal in his cabin. It will be the same thing if a pumpoperator sits in the truckcabin and continue to pump. So if it´s possible - get in to your cabin and raise your boom - it´s all the workers around you (and the pump) who get killed when the lightning hits the boom. You are safe in your cabin (Faradays cage) if you don´t touch any metal.  

The return of SANDERSON! The industry just is not the same with out him! Thanks for sharing Bob!