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And no, it's not particularly dangerous. I've been on job sites where heavy equipment was lifted over rooftops. As long as a certified operator is running the equipment, it's safe enough.

I've seen pictures of a suburban home with it's attic sliced clean through to the eves and a crane boom still laid out nearly horizontal. the crane itself was standing on two outriggers with the base plate near 70° out of plumb. I assume the operator was a pro but you need more counterweights when you lift over the side, oops!

I also saw a real life mobile hydraulic crane laying on it's side with the boom helplessly laying out horizontal. It was a brand spanking new model and was rolled out for a promotional photo shoot with the CEO and the Chief Engineer in attendance. The professional operator just extended the boom out with a modest load and forgot to set his outriggers. I know the operator was a pro because he worked for the company that built the machine. The "accident" happened in the company parking lot (SE Pennsylvania). They had to bring in another crane to stand it back up again!

Then of course there was the crane disaster with the 15,000 ton mobile crane lifting sections of the movable roof for Miller Park Stadium in Milwaukee. Big Blue collapsed with a load of 450 tons on the hook. Three people were killed, several injured and millions of dollars in damage and lost time. The "accident" was blamed on side wind loading. The entire job was staffed by a steel erection firm and it still managed to collapse.

The best advice is to have a care where you stand when there is high steeel flying overhead.

Regards,
GtG

Interesting.
I own and drive large feller/bunchers. On TV they always show them cutting little trees on flat ground. I laugh when I see it. My buncher is the biggest one Cat makes the cutting head alone weighs over 4K lbs. I work trees up to 34” on the stump on steep ground. The tracks follow the contours of the ground but I have to keep the cab level as I cut and grab the tree then maintain level as I pivot the cab and put the tree in a pile. No I do not use the automatic leveler It doesn't work that well and just screws things up. It is a bit like flying a chopper. I constantly adjust and control 9 different axises at the same time with a button under each finger and thumb, a joy stick in each hand and peddles under my feet. All of that with a 30K lb tree on the end of the boom and the leverage of the weight of the tall fir and pine trees that sticks up in the air 200'. Oh what fun it is to run a big buncher.