Safety Spotlight

By Maggie MacHale Safety Tech

Tower crane construction, which often involves blind lifts, high-noise environments and long-distance communication challenges, and industrial manufacturing, using overhead and gantry cranes in extremely noisy environments, are especially at risk of communication errors.

One accident, mistake or lifting incident can easily shut down an entire jobsite, leading to costly downtime, project delays, OSHA investigations, litigation exposure, insurance increases and even reputational damage.

Safety technology systems and proper communication standards can help reduce these risks and keep projects on track.

“ The construction market is constantly looking for ways to improve site safety and reduce risk,” said Broc Marquis, owner of Bigelow Safety, a North American distributor of The Buddie System( TBS).“ In lifting operations, even a small communication failure can have serious consequences, so it’ s important to focus on preventing incidents before they happen. Adding another layer of protection by providing a simple and immediate emergency alert between the rigger and crane operator can make a meaningful difference on the jobsite.”

The Buddie System

Designed to address miscommunication and reduce the risk of injuries and fatalities, the Buddie System( TBS) is a new wireless safety alert device for crane operators and riggers that enables rapid alarm activation in

the event of an emergency.

It features a lanyard device, worn by the rigger, and a crane-mounted alert device with an adjustable alarm volume. In case of emergency, the lanyard is pulled for instant alarm activation of the crane-mounted device. Each alarm can pair with up to 10 lanyards, visible on an LCD display, and the system is able to communicate over distances up to 0.62 miles( 1 kilometer). Multiple alarm systems can be used on a jobsite, and the system offers a quick pair feature that allows the lanyards to easily move from one crane to another.

Each lanyard is made to be quickly and easily changed and features low-power consumption for all-day use, durable construction and water and dust proofing to IP54 standards in a compact and lightweight design.

The crane-mounted alarm provides flexible mounting for a range of surfaces, ultra-low alarm signal latency, low battery alerts and an easy charging cable.

This type of setup can provide mobile cranes and crane rental companies with a standardized system that can be implemented across multiple cranes or locations.

It offers a fleet-wide deployment option for rental companies, protecting workers and investments.

TBS is intended for a range of segments, including high-rise, industrial, data center and bridge construction, as well as infrastructure and energy projects, sectors that reflect both the growing demands of the crane industry and the risks that come with increasingly complex lifts.

“ The prevention of an accident is priceless,” added Marquis.“ When you look at the potential impact of a lifting incident— injuries, downtime, investigations and project delays— improving communication and reducing risk becomes a priority for everyone involved. The Buddie System was designed to support safer lifting environments by giving crews a fast and reliable way to signal an emergency situation.”

In crane operations, small mistakes can carry major consequences. With more demanding jobsites and tighter regulations, the industry is placing greater emphasis on tools that improve communication and situational awareness. As adoption increases, safety technology is becoming less about innovation for its own sake and more about reducing preventable incidents.

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June 2026 • www. cranehotline. com