first off we always lift the bents up as high as we could with all hands on board. This usually is only sawhorse and a small timber off the ground. At this height when the main lift starts the short 8' pike poles can follow right away with varying lengths of pikes following in behind to cath the bent should something fail, like a broken sling, or whatever. We end up with 16 foot pikes that are secured well into the timber, and at the full height of the lift the handles of these pikes are driven into the ground to hold things until the all clear sounds and ropes are secured. The ropes that you see going back to the saw horses will follow the lift up and will hold the bent securely at the top of the lift, also they are for security should the bent go too far. Ropes also follow from the opposite direction to also hold tightly in opposing directions.
The gin pole itself is set into a special shallow hole about 16" deep, this is sufficient to keepthe bottom of the gin from moving. once the weight of the lift starts no way will the gin move in any direction,
Lifting the gin pole up is a manouver in its self. This gin isn't real heavy but it is surprising the amount of effort it requires to get it in the air. What we did not being able to use modern machinery was to block up the gin as high as we could, and then with ropes and man power on lines and lifters and pikes at the top end we physically hoisted the top end upwards, once the pikes could be used with efficiency it was no contest, but up to that point it was difficult. You had to be careful though that it didn't hesitate and come back down once it raised above the lifters level. Everyone had to work together and be briefed on what to expect, and what is expected of them.
One of the dangers was that someone with a pike would stumble on the lift,and let the metal spiked end of the pike fall remembering that someone below not looking upwards could receive a serious blow to their head. We did have some close calls but no injuries. We also were required to work without any type of safety equipment.
I was continuously trying to visualize what dangers could happen and then do a safety lecture previous to the day's events. It sure wasn't easy, and if someone was seriously injured I really had no idea what might take place, other than first aid was usually very close at hand and instant communications with security and other personnel on tap.
Jim:
I like your gin pole I's sure that it would work well, My father used a gin of a different type when he was building the fort at UCV it was stationed in the centre and moved around to all four sides to hoist the timbers as the walls rose up
