SAN DIEGO -- A typical work day turned hairy for two window washers in Carmel Valley Tuesday morning. One end of a scaffolding dropped, leaving both mean hanging off the side of a building eight stories up for more than 40 minutes. Battalion Chief Mike Finnerty of the San Diego Fire Department said, "The cable just kept extending while the other one didn't, and basically dropped the platform out from underneath one of the window washers who ended up dangling on his safety cable." One of the washers dangled in the air for more than 40 minutes. Thankfully, he was wearing his safety harness. "It's a full-body safety harness that encompasses the legs, the waist and the chest," said Finnerty. The other washer was able to hold on to the other side of the scaffolding that didn't drop. "They were completely safe the entire time. It was just a matter of them now needing to be rescued because of the failure of the scaffolding," said Finnerty. Firefighters used ropes to pull both men up and over the edge of the roof.Neither washer was hurt. "The main thing is our employees are safe. Nobody got injured on the ground," said Steve Harvey of Lot Management. Both men were able to walk away, quickly telling cameras as they left that one of the machines that winds the cables on the scaffolding stopped working. Lot Management said they would investigate before sending their men back up. Video also here.
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