Extras · 1 of 4

A typical day

On a high-rise, you climb the tower before 7 and do a full inspection of the crane. Then it is a shift of radio calls: the rigger hooks a bundle of rebar, a form or a concrete bucket, you swing it up and set it down within centimetres, over and over, while watching wind, radius and load weight. Lunch happens in the cab. On a mobile crane, the day starts with driving to site and setting the outriggers, then a lift plan and a few big, careful picks.