Shoutout to the old timer who taught me about wind at the Port of Seattle

Back in '98, I was on a tower crane for a high rise job. Wind was picking up, but I thought I could handle it. This guy, Frank, maybe 60 years old, came over the radio. He didn't yell. Just said, 'Kid, look at the water in the harbor. See the whitecaps? That's your signal. Not the flag on the pole.' He pointed out how the gusts would roll in off the sound about five minutes apart. Told me to watch the riggers' jackets, not just the load. Said, 'Your crane will tell you, but you gotta listen.' He saved me from a bad swing that day. Anyone else have a mentor who gave you one simple tip that just stuck?

4 comments

4 Comments

sean_green442mo ago

I mean... it's good advice but come on. How many times does a flag lie? If the wind is that bad, the whole site should be shut down anyway. Sounds like a story that gets better every time it's told.

gray8751mo ago

Honestly, that's not just about safety. It's about learning to read the real world, not the signs we put up. A flag on a pole is a simple tool, but water and cloth moving in the wind show you the truth. Frank was teaching you to see the patterns for yourself, not just wait for a rule to tell you what to do. That kind of thinking keeps you sharp long after the specific job is done.

shane_park922mo ago

You ever get advice so good it makes your own ideas look dumb? sean_green44 has a point, but my gut's been wrong before.

logan_wells2mo ago

Been there, it's the worst.