[TowerTalk] man lifts

[jimlux]

N4NW wrote:
> Yes, but note that the idiot was trying to move the thing with the 
> boom extended!
> 
I used to use these things to hold up special effects equipment or lights.

Moving with the boom up isn't always idiotic. Lots of these have two 
basic "drive speed modes" (rabbit and turtle on the labels).  On the 
ones I've used, the "driving" mode is disabled in high speed mode, and 
on others, even low speed mode is disabled when the boom is in certain 
positions. It's not unusual to be in low speed mode and "creep" it 
around a bit to get the angle just right.  If you're in a big concrete 
parking lot, it's a bit *exciting* when the boom bounces around as you 
creep (especially if the driving control joystick is a bit too 
"bang-bang" and not nice proportional control), but I don't think it's 
inherently unsafe.

Like a chainsaw.. it's a tool.  You can do dangerous things with it. 
You can use good judgement, too.