No one says you cant but its like the double ended hose you may get away with for a while but eventually a mistake will happen as we have seen and over you go, if its got oss then as long as there is no mechanical malfunction you should be safe, but what most are worried about is the older rigs without this technology and we leave our industry open to operator error and putting people at risk,we all make mistakes and none are perfect thats why extreme caution maybe a extra set of eyes may help when we have to shortrig a taped off no go zone something to help us as operators from making that mistake that could kill someone or even ourselves not to mention the destruction of expensive equipment that insurance may not be willing to pay for if it is our neglect that causes the accident, I am not against shortrigging I am for making it a safe practice for all, not just for those with new models of concrete pumps.Lets come up with a safe standard we all should use to make it safer thats all I am saying.

This is all ok but were relying more on electronics now, yes its better and an advancement on what we had but its like abs on a car - people now drive faster thinking its gonna stop them- it helps but wont stop you ending up in the mire. The buck stops with the operator and the way they go on. Plastic rigger pads are a good example- some now think that this is all you need to use no matter what the ground conditions.

Marko- nice shiny new one?- not many hours on this one!

Well the short rigging unfortunatley will happen regardless of who it is.  We need to make sure we have concrete pump operators that are properly trained running pumps NOT leverpuller monkeys..  Lets not rely on electronics to tell us how far to go, it is common sense if you are a trained OPERATOR wheter or not you have been doing this for thirty years or 1 with the proper training and mindset we can all do it safely. 

but we still have operator error there needs to be safety measures in place to help with these mishaps , and proper training is key to any concrete pump operations being a safe one.

its not just operators that need training, its site management as well , pumps are more dangerous than cranes yet when a crane comes on site they are treated like gods, which is how it should ,be concrete pumps should be on a par with cranes

the rules should be the same across the board for all sites

go on one site they will put metal plates under leggs full safety ect ,next site you can do what you like

short rigging is okay we have to do it on lots of jobs just have to be stronge enough to stand up to management or pull off of job , which i have done three times now

 There should be no such thing as 'shortrigging' pumps with swing type outriggers, new and old. Especially with older models with outriggers like a Schwing 42m & 31m. You can get away with not extending them on the non working side but having them fully swung out is a must. If that rig that went over would've had its left front outrigger swung out but not extended it would have stayed put. Had it been a pump with X stye outriggers it would also still be standing, unless of course the foot wasn't planted on the ground.

 Most accidents I have heard of involving a shortrigged pump that tipped over was because the operator "Forgot" that he was short on one side and was asked to move the boom somewhere he wasn't expecting to. I've came close to doing it my self enough times that I've adopted a little 'reminder' system...

 I always have a stack of at least 3 road cones, not just for traffic but also for marking off power lines and other hazards. Whenever I have to shortrig I place a cone on top of the outrigger that I'm not supposed to boom past on the working side. It's a reminder Not to swing past that point and simply taking the time to put the cone there makes your brain more aware of the situation, like this....     

Sometimes I'll put it up on the cab like this one...

thats somethin we all need to institute some kind of policy that reminds us where our safe zones are,as usual TT you do not disappoint

TT,your cone thing is one of the best ideas I have heard in a long time.I don't even carry cones,and after 24 years of fooling with these contraptions I should know better.So I guess that means a little road trip to the local box store for some bright orange reminders........

 BBCP adopted their 3 cone policy for power line awareness over 10 years ago. I haven't worked for BB for several years but I've carried 3 road cones ever since. One late afternoon (evening) I had set up short with a thirty six and almost did the typical brain dead pump flop! They asked me to boom to the other side of the street to catch some sono tubes that they forgot the day before. The boom was nearly half way over the cab when I walked around the other side and realized/remembered the outriggers were short rigged. I've been tossin a cone on the outrigger or up on the cab ever since!

 It works great for me, We all get tired and out of routine once in a while and thats all it takes! Just the simple act of going through the motions makes one more aware even on a subconcious level. Weather its power lines, short outriggers or whatever we may need to be reminded and aware of seeing the cones is a visual reminder and taking the time to put them where they're needed makes us much more aware of what's going on!

 Maybe some day this will be an industry standard?

 "Know your Safe Zone, Mark it with a Cone" 

TT oss ...........Final cost 9.87 X 2,or about 22 quinones.

TT,your right,it was over 10 years ago.Watched the remains of a brand spanking new 31m go over in the same typr situation.He was short rigged on the off side (not extended just down).He finished the pour and swung to other side to water wash and keerrtthhuunnk.The really sad part is there was enough room on the street to set up a 70m,no restrictions.

Operator got lazy and cut corners,no other way to put it.The cone principle is sound,getting everyone to use it is another story.I wonder just how many policies may change over this.

 Many I seen guys run those old 31s and never even bother extending the outriggers. Those same guys used to give me crap because I did extend them. 

 I showed up the 1st day at a new outfit and the thirt six I was going to run had primer red outriggers (new). Took for ever to finally get the scoop on why it had new red legs. Same deal, short on one side, forgot, then boomed over for some reason and flop, tweek, snap... new legs, new operator.

 I always liked the 3 cone policy but they (BB) only has them for power line awareness. I started doing it on shortrig jobs after a close call, one of those is enough. Maybe it'll catch on? Incorporating it into ones routine is the trick, remebering to grab your cones when you're done is the hard part. Cones are almost as cheap as grease! 

TT ur DA MAN I've never considered using my cones for that. I use them 4 high wires. I will implement it in my routine ASAP! THANKS!

Great idea on the cone,I have almost got caught short rigged scared the piss outa me!