With all the talk lately about rigging issues, I have decided to come clean.
My name is Steve, and I'm a rigger.
Oh, I don't do it any more, and have been clean now for lots of years. By clean, I mean, I haven't done it for pay. I do practice it within the confines of my own property, and closed garage.
But during the dark years, I must confess that I participated in some dark lifts and moves.
We lifted with rope. We used damaged slings. We used uncertified chains. We poorboy rigged sometimes, using what we had to get the job done. We used any technique and wild idea anyone came up with to get object X from point A to point B.
We were lucky. We didn't have any bad failures or injured personnel. That all happened with certified rigging, proper techniques, and new equipment.
I believe that anyone who really knows how to rig (if they are honest) will admit to at least once doing it all against the book rules, and having it come out alright. Now, you can't do that day in and day out without disastrous results. But, I think we can all admit to using copious amounts of wire, ski rope, porch swing chain, clothesline, horse tack, and various amounts of God knows what to satisfy our addiction to moving things. Then, quickly hiding or destroying the evidence, only to bask in the glory of the accomplishment.
It's a sick sick thing. For me, it was the thrill of the chase, flirting with disaster, showing off, and being able to do things no one else would mess with.
I'm glad it's over. But now, I have to go to all those damn meetings!
Steve