I would very much like to see a viable, reliable proximity warning system on every boom in America. It is to everyones benefit. Why aren't they on there????????????????

ANSWER: The industry that creates these systems has yet to come up with a non adjustable, reliable, consistent product.

I understand why a mfg' would not have them as standard or optional equipment. The alarms have not reached that degree of technology........ yet.

The thing that I don't understand is why more individual owners, most especially owner operators, do not have this tool on there booms. An owner operator does not face the same legal issues that a mfg' does. His instillation would, for about the price of an average boom system, show his customers, as well as his insurance company, that he was "doing all he can" to protect the people with which he works.

I guess when it is made........ they will come to use it. This is important. Come on Lance, and any others that are working to this end, give us a product that will do the job. We need all the help we can get.

BOB you are almost right.  They are not perfect and I know of several companies that have them and the operators just turn them off!  Until they are fool proof and failsafe no one will sign on to them.   I  had a demo on a pump for six months and I would not use one.  Once there are powerlines of different voltage and conguent angles they become confused and it frustrates the operator so much they ignore them.

Solution to Powerlines on Jobsites.  Every association like the ACPA and Cranes and Forklifts etc should lobby congress and OSHA to make is a law that before any work can begin on any Construction Project the site must be made safe.  If this means routing lines then so be it.  In the event that lines cannot be moved then they should be marked clearly with high visability banners, etc.   The contractor should be made to take responsibility for the site.  How many times have we been on sites with lines and hear "oh they are going to take them down next week"  Bunk!  Talk to the power companys and except for a few instances every job can be made completely powerline safe and this includes the area around the site.  If the site has lines that cannot be moved then make the contractor responsible for site safety in regards to power lines.  For work at night he should have the lines illuminated.  If it is foggy, the contractor should have a system on site to warn of power lines.  Why should any lifting or boom industry have to pay for warning devices on construction projects.  Lets make the job SAFE from the first day for everyone!

Not opposed to alarm systems if they are working 100% of the time, fool proof and failsafe. However where do you stop?  There are so many safety issues in regards to pumps that if they were all implemented there would be no pumps.  What happened to common sense?  Lets see why don't we have our own employee to run the hose.  Then we can control him and make him wear safety glasses.  Why not our own employee to back in trucks safely?  We should also go to every job and install guard rails properly.  While there why not make sure there is fall protection on every wall.  Lets not forget we need our own employee to keep the trash out of the hopper.  The list goes on and on.  For one company to try to pressure an entire industry to buy their product is nonsense.  Go deep deep deep into the history of that product and ALL the different companies and people that have tried to market it.  There are other exciting ideas and products currently being developed which will make the alarm seem like an antique. 

BoomDock,

I have pretty much lived my life with 'open eyes' and, all things considered, have done OK. I have never been able to develop X-ray vision. This association you have alluded to must enjoy it's anonymity. I have yet to receive any literature or even email from them; or even heard of them. So even though my eyes are open they are not in sight. Perhaps you could post their website address here for all of us. I know I would enjoy checking it out.

This test that the un-named mfg' is going through interests me as well. Have they received criterion from their 'target' industry? Has the CPMA been queried as to requirements for acceptance by our industry?

Any information you can supply will be appreciated by all of us here at CP.COM.

Hey Doc,

I went to Google and did a search for "United Safety Inc." and what I found was fire extinguisher stuff.

Please post the web-site address for this testing company.

Thanks