PSA: An apprentice's catch made me rethink my bolt checks

I always gave bolts a quick look and called it good. When a new guy asked about one I missed, I saw how lazy that was. What's your go-to method for spotting loose connections on site?

3 comments

3 Comments

carr.amy2d ago

Friend of mine had a close call last year that still makes him cringe. He was doing his usual walk around, giving each joint a visual once over. One bracket looked fine from his angle, but a kid on his crew actually got down and looked up from underneath. Found two bolts you could spin with your fingers just hanging there. Makes you wonder how many things we only see from one comfortable spot, right? Now he uses a small paint marker to put a tiny line across the bolt and onto the metal. If the line breaks, you know it moved. What do you use to mark yours?

simonmorgan2d ago

Honestly I was always in the "if it looks tight it's tight" camp. That story about the kid finding the finger-tight bolts is a huge wake up call. It's so easy to just glance from where you're standing. Now I keep a paint marker in my kit too, same method with the line across the bolt and bracket. Makes the check way faster and you're not second guessing yourself.

skylerb281d ago

Y'all ever just wiggle a bolt with your hand and call it good? I used to just give it a glance from 5 feet away and hope for the best, my old method was basically just wishful thinking.