you can say that again
at my old shop's old location they had pressure washed machines for years
then one day the NYSDEP (New York State Dept of Environmental Protection) came in, tested the sewer and soil around the shop
i think it was in the area of $50,000 for fines and cleanup
from what i hear that's not a bad price lol

also i wouldn't ever pick the counterweight by the OHG
if can see picking the counterweight with the OHG still attached but the OHG could buckle under that kind of stress
plus you may weaken it (welds) by stressing it

i would think that if the counterweight was picked with the OHG still attached to it, it wouldnt throw the center of gravity off that much to make the load unmanageable (or you could steady it while some1 else worked the lift)

remember that the OHG is a one shot deal
if something hits, bends, or stresses it, it may not protect the operator if something falls on it (it may act more like a mouse trap in that situation)
after an OHG has done its job (in an accident) or if its damaged its supposed to be replaced with a new one