So I’m going to be hanging in about a month. Just a little background. I’ve cleaned windows for about 7 years I’m only 22. I’ve worked for a very professional company that has a very good rep. We do things right and don’t skip corners and get trained right. I know my boss will train me right and make sure everything is safe. But what are some good pro tips ,pointers for starting out hanging. I know hanging is safe and I’ve helped with it multiple times. But when its your life. Its different. I’m up for the challenge !!
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Do you have experience being a roof guy? When I started, I was the guy on the roof pushing the rig which was nice because you got to see it being done enough to familiarize yourself with it.
My best advice is this: Learn your rigging equipment and understand how everything works:
Understand exactly how all of the rigging equipment works, and if it were to fail you for some crazy reason, you know you are tied back to a roof anchor, therefore holding your weight.
Check your ropes as you throw them over. If there are any gouges or nicks that are beyond normal surface fray its time for new ropes.
Set all of the equipment up yourself and double check every connection on every drop.
If you think about it, you’re putting your life at risk when you hop in your car every day. The difference is that someone else’s mistake could cost you your life on the road. If you set all of your hanging equipment up, you are in total control (minus acts of God, in which case you could be in danger anywhere).
There is a lot more to it than that, and there are plenty more things your boss will show you, but if you are 100% certain that you can trust your equipment and trust your process, you will have peace of mind while you’re hanging.
Once you are comfortable with it, the key is not to get too cocky, and start to cut corners and not be thorough. That’s when mistakes happen.
I’ve been on the roof many times. Its just weird sometimes when you always have had someone be there and help… then your by yourself and you have to rely on knowing you set everything up perfect. My first hanging day is on Friday. 5 story building. Excited. !! Thanks for the tips.
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5 story building is perfect for a first drop! You’ll do great. We love to watch guys on their first drops, that priceless scared stless face before they go over, then see the relief as they realize they didn’t fall haha! You need to have someone take your picture when you go over at the top for your first drop. Its also fun to see peoples reactions through the window and on the ground, you’ll feel like a bada as you’re walking into the building. Then you’ll hear, “I could never do your job”, “Do you skydive or rock climb?”, and “I hope they pay you well”. I’ll stop now.
Well for me I was comfortable after the first drop. For me its if you know that the ropes are good the rig is good you got a good pusher or helper then no need to be scared. The other guy that hangs takes at least 5 mins before going over. Once he’s over he is good.
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I was a crew leader- about 21 yrs old.
We had a guy who start, and for some reason, decided he was going to write down everthing he thought was wrong with the guys.
(everyone loves a snitch):rolleyes:
I went to lunch or get smokes, cant remember…and come back to see this kid hanging from the third floor.
Apparently my co-workers brought him to the roof and gave him two options of getting down.
Seems he was less afraid of getting in the chair than he was of the guys.
Usually after the first couple drops the anxiety level drops quite a bit, but if they start on a smaller building they may be uncomfortable moving to a taller one later and go through the same process again. I think the scariest part for most guys is the anticipation of the first drop.
We have not had anyone quit after the first drop, but we don’t have a lot of guys hanging, it accounts for only about 20% of our work, so if they don’t want to hang we don’t make them.
I know exactly which building that is, pass it all the time on 75, looks like a nice straight forward building to clean.
When I was 20 years old working for another company which I guess was about 14 years ago, I did my first drop at Guardian Glass in Auburn Hills behind the Palace. I think it was 5 stories. The whole crew was laughing at me because my D-ring popped after I went over and I dropped 2 inches and reacted as though I were falling to my death.
woke up this morning to a shit dream about dropping a rig thru the roof of the building I mentioned.
But it was a little different. and only the beam was dropped.
and I was running down the stairs to see the damage… Where I could see the wheels burst through the ceiling.
( but it was only the beam that fell)
That sucked. And it was about 3 am, so I started to look around and saw that it had SNOWED outside!
That’s hilarious! Sounds like a hell of a night! I have a lot of messed up dreams about jobs I’ve done or am about to do. I can only imagine a rig falling through the roof. I always worry about our short MIO Rig that has 512 lbs of counterweight on those old thin roofs with the pea gravel.
I couldn’t believe when I walked past my door this morning and saw snow on the ground! I usually don’t bother to watch the weather report this time of year because it gives me anxiety haha! So I had no idea that was coming.
