http://video.concretepumping.com/videos/889/concrete-pump-operator-should-not-be-running-the-end-of-the-hose.

This is the first video i have ever seen an operator running the hose. Ok i have seen it on a line pump but not a boom.

I have done it in order to help...like on a saturday COD patio or get the customer's ass in gear if the trucks are lining up and they are being lazy. 

Only in ideal setup and mud is perfect. 

This guy is doing it wrong, though.  Best to set the boom, then leave it alone while you push the hose, then back away and move the boom.

Probable running at ebc . Maybe it was the last truck for the coffee break. Some times I do it the first yard to show a hose man whit rubber fetish how to do it.

jeeees...how long is that hose.........

I do it to sometimes. Like the way putz52 does it. Sometimes its easyer to do it your self. But only a short while. I used to do it a lot before i started pumping I was a finnisher.

AS long as pump is set up within 95% accuracy and confidence, unrestricted movement of all boom angles is allowed, is in line of sight, can be heard when operating and operator can pre-empt boom movement comfortably - AND SAFELY, you can do it yourself.

Its common for a pump to go out operator only for residential work here. ive run a 36metre on my own for the last 2 years, and it works well i know were and when i want the boom to move, no waiting for the boom to move and turning around to see the operator talkin to the readymix driver.

guys it is NEVER acceptable to do this there are so many things that can happen, you are not concrete finishers you are a concrete pump operator , not a laborer, eventually something will happen where your going to get hurt or hurt someone else your place is close to your pump where you can keep a close eye on outriggers,whats going in your hopper, the sounds of your pump,and so on,not saying it hasnt been done without anyone being hurt, but it is NEVER a safe practice !

yep.

never.

Funny this subject came up. I just was doing that yesterday. A friend of mine was way behind, losing the 14 down, with 12 on the way. I pumped out one truck so he could screed off and seal what was down already. Did some bull floating too. Got him caught up, got me a case a beer. WooHoo!!

So its better to stand 40 meters away from your hoseman so you can be looking in your hopper and stare at your outriggers?

Some of us have such a strange idea of safety...

Yes it is , can you see 40 meters ? I can. The safest place for a operator to be is by the pump, if you suck air or a foreign object gets on your grate, if your outrigger pad sinks your there , we have no business standing in slabs next to the finishers , I know as hard as it is for y'all youngsters to believer we once was tied to pumps with hardwires guarantee you less pumps went over then , not as many accidents either, not as many powerline accidents either cause your ass was tied to it you was the one that's was gonna have voltage shooting from your extremities, but that was a different day back then.

If you can't operate or see that far , you either need glasses or just can't operate , which is it dip ? I have ran 58s standing on the deck stretched, and still could see what I was doing and keep my eyes on my equipment, the only one who's conception of safety is screwed up is the ones that argue running the hose while operating a boom pump, when you get 21 safe years little dipper, call me or talk shit then, for now don't talk shit your showing off your inexperience and ignorance but on other hand go right ahead I'm loving the laughter

Agreed it may not SEEM safe, but as long as you can demonstrate and execute a safe method of pumping concrete which includes: machine in line of sight, adhere to a maintenance program, have a mechanically sound machine and display some 'common sense' - why would it be a problem?

union outlawed it in aust. a few years ago but it still doesn't stop bosses and owner operators doing it to cut costs and provide cheaper rates for cheaper and unsafe service.

Yes I can see 40m . As long as there is not a load of people blocking my view. But ok. It's good to stand a bit close to your machine but I've know several operators that always where looking everywhere while pumping exept to the hoseman. When I was a finnisher it was so f'ck'n irritating with a operator that doesn't pay atention. You maybe think you have full control but it's always much better when you can have eyecontact with the hoseman.  

But I am lucky, I have good ears so I can hear my machine from 40m distance. And I make sure I put my outriggers right and check them with startup and in between the loads.

But everyone should just do it his way ofcourse!!

5.4 PUMP OPERATOR/HOSE-HAND

who wrote that ? guys Im not gonna tell you what to do, but this is a very dangerous habit, of all the things that can go wrong even while your at full attention to your machine now we are running the end hose, Dip I understand about unattentive operators I had my own construction company doing metal bldg slabs ,driveways ,patios and such and it is a problem but  running your hose isnt the answer I wish I could tell you the answer but I dont have it I just know being your own hoseman isnt it.

Well JJ. To be honest. I only rarely take the hose in my hands for just a minute or so to for ex. show how it's done or sometimes the finnishers pay so little atention to the mixers that with every new truck I have to go around the building site to gather all of them. When I get tired of that than I just start pumping and take the hose myself. See how quick they come than :-)

But I don't think its right for an operator to handle the hose for a long time or maybe even a whole job. Some of my coleages do it if the customer is missing a man that is sick for exmpl. But I think that goes to far.

Im not condoning single man op (even though i do it sometimes) as good practice because it is hard and requires much concentration...and you must know your limitations; however there is an alot of talk here as to single man op being unsafe compared to two men but without any specific reason.

Apart from the work load i.e setting pump, holding hose, washing... What valid arguement do you put forward saying that its unsafe apart from a vague statement...

"I dont know, it just sounds unsafe"

what could go wrong with one man, that wouldn't go wrong with two? Some logical reasoning please.

I do it everyday! I go out by myself hold the hose operate the machine aswell .. The problem with this is , is that I dont have to wait for a hose man to turn up in the morning or get a phone call saying ill meet you on the job I slept in or just not turn up at all or piss and moan coz we gotta run a hose or do a second job or some other bullshit I cant be fuked hearing!

Its not unsafe to run the machine by yourself .. Simple if your unsure stop the pump and look! If your worried about your outriggers sinking you dont have enough timber or shouldnt be set up there at all! If your machine is well maintained and looked after properly you souldnt have a problem ! Horses for corses though

X2 on that statement!

Well said: If you think the setup is incorrect, you shouldn't be unfolding the boom anyhow.

 If I'm not stretched out and have my tip sec. vertical I've been known to run the hose. But only on slabs & when there's no obstructions. Whenever I get a whiner hose man or a handsignal hero I'll grab the hose just long enuff to show'em a 4" whip needs a bit of man handling.

 I guess Ive also been guilty of pouring out a footing before the crew even showed up cuz they were taking too damn long at taco bell!  

I don't get you guys. We get payed by the hour. And everyone is complaining about the bad times. So when there's no finnisher that cares to do his job... Find yourself a good place to sit, take a smoke or a coffee and enjoy making money!! The next job will wait, or a colleague can take it.

The biggest issue I see is SAFETY. We all know that sometimes the hose will get a small plug and then quickly unplug quicker than an operator can react to switch the pump off. So if an operator is operating the hose and this were to happen and knock him down or hurt him. Who is going to take care of the pump. Can a finisher operate the pump and clean it out the way it should be. I don't think so.

pink panther you got a point..months back my supervisor call me to continue the job because the operator accidentally slipped on the scaffold where he was standing.lucky i have no job that day,saved the job and the pump.

what if you slip on a rock and break your leg??

Too many what ifs , Concreters dont hold the hose here if you want someone to hold the hose you need to employ someone!

You tell em Drewie :) Still no arguement as to why they think its unsafe! If your scared of a plug, go 5" in all the way! Plus even if you do plug and land on your backside, at least you can blame the operator --> Yourself. Pretty hard to sue yourself although I think some shonky people can find a way.

Drew, how's the big 'real' elefant going (still cant work out how Putzmeister market the S valve as an Elefant - BLASPHEMY!)? Just keep cleaning up cement trucks and save on grease!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ac0I3XvhLxY&feature=youtube_gdata_player

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ac0I3XvhLxY&feature=youtube_gdata_player

If i had a slab like that i don't need a hoseman at all.and i don't like the idea of the pokers line conected to my boom.