Safety Alert - BMU's - Suspended Scaffold Cradles

Failed bolt connecting the winch and the cradle.

BUILDING MAINTENANCE UNITS AND SUSPENDED SCAFFOLD CRADLES - Safety Alert | 06/11/2015 - This safety alert reminds owners and users of building maintenance units (BMUs) and suspended scaffolds of the need for ongoing inspection of critical components.

BACKGROUND: Two workers were seriously injured in October 2015 when the BMU cradle they were working in fell 10 storeys onto an awning below.

Initial investigations indicate the cause of the collapse was a failure of the connection between the winch and the cradle. This connection used a single bolt, loaded primarily in tension, at each of the two winches. It is believed one of these bolts failed, causing a sudden transfer of load to the bolt at the other end which then also failed.

The bolts are hidden within the connection and cannot be inspected without the connection being disassembled. Inspections revealed that both bolts show signs of significant fatigue cracking which would have weakened the bolts, resulting eventually in the sudden failure without obvious external warning signs.

In a similar incident in 2009 the failure of a simpler connection on a suspended scaffold cradle was also due to undetected fatigue cracks. It resulted in the death of one worker and serious injury to another.

Suspended scaffold connection bracket failure showing fatigue cracks.

ACTION REQUIRED

BMU and suspended scaffold cradle owners must:

• identify critical components in BMUs or scaffold cradles – eg where failure of a component would risk the safety of anyone in the vicinity of the BMU or suspended scaffold
• assess whether the current inspection and maintenance program adequately deals with these critical components, especially any components that need disassembly to inspect
• upgrade the inspection and maintenance program if necessary
• include non-destructive testing or regular replacement of components as part of the program where visual inspection alone is not adequate to detect potential developing defects, such as fatigue cracks
• carry out a major inspection on any BMU that is over 10 years old and has not yet had a major inspection
• carry out a major inspection on any BMU that has had a major inspection:

but is overdue for its next recommended major inspection, or
five years after the last major inspection where no recommendation was given.

Preliminary findings of window cleaners’ fall in October released: A Sydney window cleaner was injured after falling approximately four floors onto a balcony while cleaning windows on a hotel at Gloucester Street in The Rocks. The window cleaner, who was using rope-style window cleaning equipment, is reported to have suffered leg injuries in the fall.

SafeWork NSW is investigating the incident which comes as they release the preliminary findings of their investigation into an incident where two men fell approximately 10 storeys from a Sydney CBD building on Tuesday, 20 October. The men, who were harnessed, were cleaning windows on a 12 storey building on the corner of Pitt and Bridge Street in the city when the window cleaning cradle that they were working in suddenly fell to the awning below.

SafeWork NSW commenced an investigation into the incident which included sending the window cleaning cradle, known as a building maintenance unit, to SafeWork NSW’s TestSafe facility at Londonderry for testing and analysis.

The initial findings of the investigation indicate that the cause of the collapse was a failure of the connection between the winch and the cradle. The connection used a single bolt, loaded primarily in tension, at each of the two winches. It is believed one of the bolts failed, causing a sudden transfer of the load to the bolt at the other end, which then also failed. The bolts, which are hidden within the connection, cannot be inspected without the connection being disassembled.

Inspections revealed that both bolts showed signs of significant fatigue-related cracking which would have weakened them, resulting eventually in the sudden failure which occurred without warning.

In response to the findings, SafeWork NSW will undertake an awareness program and verification activities in early 2016 on buildings where Building Maintenance Units and Industrial Rope Access are used. SafeWork NSW Executive Director, Peter Dunphy urged all owners and users of building maintenance units and suspended scaffolds to inspect their equipment in the lead up to the verification visits.

“Operators should undertake regular inspections of building maintenance units and suspended scaffolds so that defects such as fatigue cracks are identified,” Mr Dunphy said. “They should also consider whether their current inspection and maintenance programs are adequate to prevent equipment failure in the future.

“A similar incident occurred in 2009 due to undetected fatigue cracks on a suspended scaffold which resulted in the death of one worker and serious injuries to another. “Fortunately, although the workers were seriously injured, they both survived, but the result could have been very different.”

SafeWork NSW has published a safety alert with guidance for owners and users of building maintenance units and suspended scaffolds on how to prevent similar incidents. Operators seeking further information on building maintenance units should refer to the Australian Standard.

Sydney Window Cleaners Will Survive

David Wilson, 56, and Colombian native Edwin Acero-Dastellanos, (pictured) 35, plunged to street level yesterday as they cleaned windows high atop the Australian Stock Exchange building on Pitt Street.

‘They’re not fine but they’ll be OK’ owner of window cleaning business claims of fallen workers: The owner of the window cleaning company two men were working for when they plummeted 12 storeys in the Sydney CBD yesterday said they “will be OK” as they recover in St Vincent’s Hospital.

Ultra Clean Services manager Nick offered a “no comment” over the incident which remains under investigation. “They’re in intensive care,” he said. “They’re not fine but they’ll be OK ... they’re in a stable condition.”

David Wilson, 56, and Colombian native Edwin Acero-Dastellanos, 35, plunged to street level yesterday as they cleaned windows high atop the Australian Stock Exchange building on Pitt Street.

The anchor points of the metal cage the men were in and which gave way.

It is believed a cable holding the metal cage they were working in snapped — sending the pair into a terrifying near free-fall. They suffered extensive injuries and were rushed to St Vincent’s yesterday in a serious but stable condition.

Prior to his miracle survival, Mr Acero-Dastellanos had proudly shared photos of himself up in the clouds above the Harbour City, one he has made home with his young family. In a photo he shared with friends in 2012, Mr Acero-Dastellanos can be seen enjoying the spectacular view over Sydney as he cleaned windows along one of her main streets.

Colombian native Edwin Acero-Dastellanos clearly has a head for heights but was lucky to survive yesterday after he plunged towards the ground when the window cleaning cage he was using gave way.

The thrillseeker loves heights and has also shared photos of himself hang gliding. The lucky window cleaner is also a joyous young father who boasted in 2012 about how his baby daughter had learned to crawl.

The injured window cleaners were taken to St Vincents Hospital and are in a stable but serious condition. A fire Rescue NSW spokesman said both men were conscious and responsive when they were rescued. The accident happened during lunchtime peak-hour, with large crowd gathered in the area. Police had to close Pitt Street as a precautionary measure. 

Sydney Window Cleaners Scaffold Cable Snap Horror

One of the window cleaners is attended to by paramedics as he lays on the roof of a ute.

Morning horror: Window cleaners fall from tower block (Sydney): Two window cleaners were lucky to survive a 12-storey plunge from a high-rise building yesterday after the cable on the metal cage they were working in snapped. Bystanders rushed to help the badly injured men, one aged in his mid-20s and the other in his 50s, who had been cleaning windows on the Australian Stock Exchange in the Sydney CBD.

One of two injured male window cleaners is rescued by emergency services from the scene.

After a dramatic rescue they were taken to St Vincent’s Hospital with leg, back and internal ­injuries. Both were described as “serious but stable”. Witnesses said the pair plummeted from near the top of the 55m-high ASX building at the corner of Pitt and Bridge Sts, with one of the men crashing onto an awning with the cage on top of him while the other was left dangling by his harness from the awning.

The other window cleaner, out of view, is attended to by paramedics as he lies on the awning above the street.

A plumber who wanted to be known only as Matthew said: “I saw a guy hanging close to the ground from his harness, then someone drove a ute (utility vehicle) under the awning to help get him down. “A lot of people tried to help him. They were touching his feet to see if he was OK.”

It is understood that the window cleaners’ platform collapsed, sending them plummeting onto an awning.

One of the cleaners was moved on top of the ute so that he could be stabilised before rescuers arrived, and a ladder was used to reach the older man on the awning. The older man was ­retrieved by a Fire and Rescue NSW cherry picker and stretchered to an ambulance.

Emergency rescue officers remove one of two injured male window cleaners.

Mathew Halpin, who was conducting fire safety maintenance on a nearby building, said there was a huge bang when the men landed. “About an hour before that I saw them cleaning the windows,” he said. “They were about three-quarters of the way up the building.”

Con Triantafillou, who works across the road, said: “We all looked out the window, the cable had snapped and we saw the whole scaffold with two guys plunge straight down. We heard the thump.” The younger man who was dangling by his harness is understood to have back and internal injuries and the older man lower leg injuries.

Members of the public hold ropes to secure the cage that two window workers fell from while emergency services rescue the men.

Another witness said both men were moving after the ­accident but there was a lot of blood on the cage. “If the harness wasn’t there he probably would have died,” he said. “The tough thing was because they were so high up nobody could really help.” 

Police speak to members of the public as they watch the window cleaners being rescued.

NSW Ambulance acting superintendent Brad Goodwin said: “Both men were conscious and responsive when ambulance and emergency services arrived. “They fell from close to the top of the building ... they are very lucky (not to have been killed).” A representative of the cleaning company said he understood both men were “stable” but did not comment further.

$13.1375 Million To Window Cleaning Survivor

Alcides Moreno: Alcides, a window washer, was working when a malfunction caused the platform to send him and his brother Edgar down 47 stories.

'Antin Ehrlich & Epstein' Helps in Getting Amount of $13.1375 Million to Survivor Who Fell from Roof of Building (New York, NY): The lawyers of 'Antin Ehrlich & Epstein' have helped the survivor to get a claim of $13.1375 Million from the owner of the building. The worker fell from the 47th floor of the building due to the negligence in safety.

Antin Ehrlich &Epstein, a well-known law firm for accident and injury attorneys has helped a survivor who fell from the roof to get the amount of $13.1375 Million. The settlement was done by one of the NYC personal injury lawyers at Antin. Sources have confirmed that the survivor is the window washer. He was cleaning the widow of a 47 story building. Due to negligence in safety by the building owners and the scaffolding company for the worker, the survivor fell from the 47th floor of the building. Though, doctors were able to save the life of the window washer.

Speaking to the media, one of the lawyers of the law firm said, "This case was really important for us. We wanted that the survivor should get justice. Every life is precious. We had the complete evidence that the person fell from the building because of safety negligence."

The lawyers of 'Antin Ehrlich & Epstein' argued about the safety measures in the court and asked to settle the situation if the owner of the building pays the amount of $13.1375 Million to the survivor. The case was settled in New York. Also here.

Scaffold Collapses

3 workers rescued after scaffolding collapses outside Duval County Jail.

3 workers rescued after scaffolding collapses outside Duval County Jail (Jacksonville, Fla.): Three workers were rescued Thursday afternoon after the scaffolding they were standing on outside the Duval County Jail collapsed. One of the men was rescued by a co-worker. Jacksonville Fire-Rescue then conducted what they called a high-angle rescue, using ladder trucks and a commercial bucket truck.

"They'll do whatever it takes to get them down," said Randy Wyse, president of the Jacksonville Association of Firefighters. Less than 30 minutes after the initial call, the two other men, contractors cleaning & resealing the windows, were safely on the ground. "Fortunately, all three of the individuals were harnesses with their safety harnesses, which probably saved their lives," said JSO spokeswoman Melissa Bujeda.

Channel 4 chief meteorologist John Gaughan said there were gusts of wind in the area from a brief thunderstorm passing at the time, but the highest was measured about 30 mph. "More weather is supposed to be coming in. We're trying to determine how to secure the scaffold," Bujeda said.

Mozambique: At Least Five Dead in Scaffolding Collapse (Maputo) — At least five building workers died, and a further six were injured in a scaffolding collapse at a building site in downtown Maputo on Tuesday afternoon.

The building where the collapse occurred is owned by the JAT group, and is intended to house the future offices of the National Social Security Institute (INSS). It is 17 storeys high, and most of those who fell to the ground were working at a height of over 30 metres.

When the spokesperson for the fire brigade, David Cumbane, spoke to AIM in the early evening he could confirm three deaths - but at the stage the firemen and other rescue workers were still removing the dead and injured from the debris.

Before the fire brigade arrived, it was the construction workers themselves who began the rescue operations, trying to save the lives of their colleagues trapped under the scaffolding. AIM noted that some of the building workers lacked basic protective clothing. They had no helmets, goggles or boots, which should be routinely supplied by any contractor on a building site.

One worker, speaking to AIM on conditions of anonymity, said that the scaffolding collapsed because of a defect in assembling it. He claimed it was not the first time that an accident of this sort had happened. “The same thing happened last year”, he said, “but that time we were lucky because nobody died”. This worker complained to reporters of the lack of safety equipment on the site.

“There's no safety gear”, he protested. “We're working under inhuman conditions. They treat us as if we were slaves. There are even people on the site working in flip-flops”.

Recent Scaffold Collapses

Two workers have died following a scaffolding collapse at a construction site in Toronto's west end.

2 dead after scaffolding collapse (Toronto): Two men have died after a scaffolding collapse at a construction site in Toronto’s west end, police say. It happened just after 11 a.m. in the Bloor Street West and Keele Street area. One of the men who died was 51-years-old, according to a colleague and friend on the scene. He had a granddaughter born last week. Paramedics said another man in his 30s was rushed to St. Michael’s Hospital without vital signs, where he later died. A metal and wooden platform collapsed from about six storeys high, one worker at the scene said. It is believed a hydraulic lift may have failed, sending the platform to the ground. The Ministry of Labour has been called to the scene to investigate.

Scaffolding collapse in downtown Raleigh. It could take three to six months for Labor Department investigators to determine what caused the collapse.

A vigil was held Friday at noon at Shaw University's Thomas J. Boyd Chapel to remember the three men who lost their lives in a tragic scaffolding accident in Raleigh on Monday. The scaffolding collapsed shortly before 11 a.m. Monday at the construction site of the Charter Square project on Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh. Anderson Almeida and Jose Erasmo Hernandez of Durham died in the accident, as well as Jose Luis Lopez-Ramirez of Clinton.

Two of the men killed in the accident worked for Concord-based Juba Aluminum Products, which specializes in building exteriors, curtainwalls, storefronts and aluminum panels. The company has not said what role it played in the Charter Square project other than that the men worked on its Jannawall team. According to a U.S. Department of Labor database, Juba Aluminum has been cited for four separate "serious" violations since 1988. The North Carolina Department of Labor said the third man who was killed Monday worked for KEA Contracting, Inc. Elmer Guevara, who was injured in the incident, was employed by Associated Scaffolding Equipment.

Rescuers clear the rubble of a scaffolding that collapsed in the central province of Ha Tinh on March 25, killing 13 and injuring 28.

13 confirmed dead, 28 injured in Vietnam scaffolding collapse as rescue mission ends: Authorities in the central province of Ha Tinh have confirmed that 13 people died and 28 others were injured in a scaffolding collapse on Wednesday, as rescuers finished clearing the massive rubble of the worst construction accident since 2007. In a report to the government, the province’s labor department said the accident at the construction site of a steel plant-port complex invested by Taiwanese-owned Formosa Plastics Group could be caused by some problem in a hydraulic system.

It is still unclear how and by whom the system was operated in the scaffolding, which was part of the construction of a breakwater to protect the port. The province’s authorities are working with government agencies to further investigate the cause of the collapse. Contractor Samsung C&T, a subsidiary of the South Korea's Samsung, in a statement issued on Thursday pledged to take responsibility for the accident, provide support to the victims, and assist authorities during the investigation. 

Early signs ignored: Around 50 workers were working on the scaffolding which was 25 meters high, 40 meters long and 35 meters wide, when it tumbled down on Wednesday night. Some survivors told local media that about 30 minutes before the collapse, the scaffolding shook strongly. Many of them ran away, but a few minutes later their foreign supervisor ordered them to come back to continue working. The most recent catastrophe at this scale took place on September 26, 2007, when two spans of a bridge which was being built in the Mekong Delta collapsed, killing 55 workers and injured 80 others.

Work on Can Tho Bridge, which connects Can Tho City and Vinh Long Province, was completed in 2010. Formosa launched work on the complex in Vung Ang Economic Zone in July 2008 with the initial investment of nearly $10 billion. As of December last year, the project has recruited around 40,000 laborers, nearly 5,700 of whom are Chinese. Early this month the government inspectorate found that managers at the Vung Ang Economic Zone went beyond their authority and broke quite a few rules when offering too many incentives to Formosa. Among the violations, according to the inspectorate, the Formosa complex was illegally licensed for a 70-year period, even though Vietnam's investment law states that a foreign-invested project must not last more than 50 years. 

Worker advocate calls for tougher scaffolding regulations.

Worker advocate calls for tougher scaffolding regulations: As a state and federal investigation continues into the collapse of scaffolding at a downtown Raleigh high-rise Monday that killed three construction workers, crews on Thursday removed the rest of the scaffolding from the side of the building. Jose Erasmo Hernandez, 41, Anderson Almeida, 33, both of Durham, and Jose Luis Lopez-Ramirez, 33, of Clinton, died in the accident at the 11-story Charter Square project on Fayetteville Street. Elmer Guevara, 53, was seriously injured and remains hospitalized at WakeMed.

The accident involved equipment known as a mast climber scaffold, which moves up and down a building's facade to take workers to different floors. Mike Hampton, chief operating officer for general contractor Choate Construction Co., has said subcontractor Associated Scaffolding was in the process of dismantling the scaffold when one of the tracks snapped off and fell into a twisted heap on the ground below.

Veteran scaffold builder Tom Hallman said he was on a job site in West Virginia six years ago where a co-worker died. "It's not good. They shut the job down. It's like the area around here. You just kind of feel it in the air. It's sad, it's very sad," said Hallman, who is now an online advocate for more than 10,000 people in his industry. He says the danger lies with antiquated federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration rules that apply the same safety guidelines to all types of scaffolding equally. "I hate to say it, but most OSHA rules, they say in business, are written in blood, and here we go. There's need for a change," he said.

Hallman said mast climbers call for higher safety measures, such as "lifelines" that tether workers to a building and not just the platforms on which they stand. "When you're tearing them down, when you demo them, when you get to that certain point that you have lifelines dropped (from the platform), if something fails, you've got that fail-safe," he said. Authorities said it could take months to determine the cause of the accident and determine whether any workplace safety violations occurred.

How do I find out about employer responsibilities and worker rights? Workers have a right to a safe workplace. The law requires employers to provide their employees with working conditions that are free of known dangers. The OSHA law also prohibits employers from retaliating against employees for exercising their rights under the law (including the right to raise a health and safety concern or report an injury). For more information see www.whistleblowers.gov or worker rights.

5 Texas Window Cleaners Injured In Scaffold Collapse

Police tape surrounds a scaffold that three men were on Wednesday afternoon while cleaning windows of the Webb County Courthouse. 

Five fall several feet at Webb County Justice Center (LAREDO, TEXAS) - One person is still in a Laredo hospital after a scaffolding accident at the justice center that injured five people. It happened at about four in the afternoon on Wednesday. We're told four workers were cleaning windows on the third floor, when they fell and hit the pavement injuring a fifth person on the ground. They were all taken to the hospital with injuries ranging from a dislocated shoulder to a broken wrist.

Webb County investigators are trying to find out exactly what happened. "We're trying to get eyewitnesses to see exactly what happened. As you know, when something like this happens there's different stories so we're just trying to find out exactly what happened", said Sanchez. The Webb County judge's office county judge issued a statement this evening saying of the victims "Our thoughts and prayers are with them and their families."

Men injured in scaffolding incident at courthouse released from hospitals: The five men who were injured Wednesday in a scaffolding incident at the Webb County Courthouse have been discharged from local hospitals. At least one had broken ribs and another a dislocated shoulder. At about 4 p.m. Wednesday, two men fell from a scaffold while cleaning windows on the third floor of the courthouse while another who was on the scaffold clung to the edge of a window. Two men on the ground tried to catch the man who clung to the window, but all ended up getting injured.

Webb County's risk management department is conducting an investigation into the incident. Tano Tijerina, Webb County judge, issued the following statement Thursday: "Yesterday was a defining day for us as a Webb County family. I am truly grateful that all of the men injured are going to fully recover. What could have been cause for chaos was actually an instrumental moment.

"Our Webb County family came together as one; the Constables Office, Sheriff's Office, our Webb County employees and Laredo Police Department rallied together to help our injured employees. Most importantly, there was compassion, and the sense that others came first. This is what our Webb County family is about.

"Thank you to the courthouse staff for their heartfelt response during this unfortunate accident. Thank you to the Laredo Fire and EMS, the Sheriff's Office, Constables Office, Webb County employees, the Laredo Police Department, and those who called in expressing their concerns and well wishes for the injured. "What a great example of working in tandem. I am proud to work for you and with you. We are a family. Our prayers during this time of healing continue to be with our employees."

Window Washing Scaffolding Sends Broken Glass Raining Down

An unoccupied window washing scaffolding began swinging uncontrollably atop an East Village condominium high-rise Monday, smashing through a window before crews were able to secure it.

Window Washing System Swings Off High-Rise Roof: Firefighters worked quickly Monday to remove scaffolding hanging ominously from a downtown high-rise building. A window washing system arm came crashing down at about 3:45 p.m. atop the Mark Condos in the 800 block of Market Street, according to San Diego Fire officials. The equipment shattered a window below, leaving the arm dangling above the main downtown thoroughfare. Police closed down the street in front of the condos in case the scaffolding tumbled onto people or cars below. Firefighters removed the system before it could fall. No one was injured or trapped in the incident.

Broken scaffolding dangles from high-rise (San Diego) – Scaffolding used to wash windows on an East Village high-rise swung uncontrollably before crashing into the building Monday afternoon, leaving the scaffolding dangling above the street, authorities said. San Diego Fire Rescue Department crews were investigating what caused the scaffolding to crash into several apartment windows at the Mark Condos on Market Street and 8th Avenue in East Village at 3:45 p.m.

No one was on the scaffolding at the time of accident, and the operators of the platform told authorities gusty winds apparently had caused the accident, SDFRD Capt. Joe Amador said. Glass from the window crashed onto the street below causing authorities to block Market Street between 8th and 9th Avenues until 6 p.m.  Some residents were evacuated from the apartment complex while fire crews attempted to remove the damaged scaffolding, Amador said. Police closed a block of the street in front of the building for about two hours while workers removed the scaffolding and cleaned up the broken glass.

Window Cleaning Rig Drops On Worker

A worker was injured when equipment fell from window-washing apparatus on the Hancock Building.

Worker Hurt By Gear Falling From Hancock Building Window Washing Apparatus (Boston) – A worker was injured outside the Hancock Building Saturday morning when a piece of scaffolding equipment fell and hit him. The 62-year-old supervisor for Boston Properties suffered shoulder and arm injuries after equipment fell from the window-washing apparatus when one end let go and tipped. The apparatus was suspended about 15-foot off the ground on Clarendon Street when the equipment fell. The man was taken to Brigham and Women’s Hospital with what was described as non-life-threatening injuries, according to Boston EMS.

The John Hancock Tower, officially named Hancock Place and colloquially known as The Hancock, is a 60-story, 790 ft (240 m) skyscraper in Boston.

A window-washing rig on the John Hancock Tower injured a worker on the ground Saturday morning, after one side of it suddenly dropped, the Boston Globe reports. Boston Fire Department spokesman Steve MacDonald told Boston.com the unidentified man was working on scaffolding from an L-shaped staging area on the ground, when an attached window-washing platform, extended about 15 feet in the air, fell over, hitting the worker. He did not suffer life-threatening injuries and was taken to Brigham and Women’s Hospital. The incident occurred around 10:17 a.m. “It weighed a good deal,” MacDonald said. MacDonald said he did not know the cause of the accident and could not identify the company or the worker.

A window-washing rig on the John Hancock Tower hanging about 20 feet high struck a worker on the ground this morning after one side of it suddenly dropped, according to the Boston Fire Department. Boston Fire Department spokesman Steve MacDonald said the worker, who suffered non life threatening injuries when the incident occurred at 10:17, works for the window-washing company. Boston EMS confirmed that he was transferred by ambulance to Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He did not know whether anyone was in the rig at the time.

“[The rig] is parallel with the building and one end shifts, so it was almost at a 45 degree angle,” MacDonald said. MacDonald said he did not know if the worker on the ground was adjusting the rig’s position when it dropped or the specific cause for the accident, and he could not identify the company or the worker. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the incident.

Scaffold Rescue In Memphis

Two men escaped serious injury Tuesday morning when their scaffolding failed.

Crews rescue men dangling from downtown building: MEMPHIS, TN -  Emergency crews were called to the Sterick Building downtown where a few men were seen dangling from the building. The men were rescued just after 9 a.m. on Tuesday. Witnesses tell WMC Action News 5 that the men are window washers. The Sterick Building is located at the intersection at North Third Avenue and Court Avenue. WMC Action News 5's Nick Kenney is at the scene where the men were rescued. He will explain what happened and how they were brought to safety on the news at 5 p.m.

Two men escape injury as scaffold fails near top of Downtown Memphis building: Two men escaped serious injury Tuesday morning when their scaffolding failed, leaving at least one of them dangling more than 28 stories above Downtown MEMPHIS, TN. Both men were part of a crew from the Structural Waterproofing and Restoration company, charged with preventing further deterioration of the long-vacant Sterick Building at Third and Madison.

As the men used a motor-driven scaffold to scale the 29-story building a little after 8:30 a.m., one motor malfunctioned. While that motor stopped around the 26th floor, the second one kept climbing to the 28th. That left the scaffold in a precarious position, hanging diagonally, Memphis Fire Department spokesman Lt. Wayne Cooke said.

One of the workers toppled off the lower side of the scaffold, but was saved by his safety harness. Although he dangled off the scaffold for several minutes, the man and his colleague both managed to break open a window in the building and clamber back inside. “One motor got stuck in the down position and basically one side kept going and the other stopped,” said Mike Kennedy, Structural owner. “This rig is safer than most rigs. All the safety mechanisms worked, and nobody was hurt.”

As the men worked to save themselves, an MFD special operations team trained in such rescues was slowly making its way up the building’s stairwell. Nine firefighters carrying rope and other mechanical gear in bags weighing up to 100 pounds climbed all 29 stories before determining that the men were safely inside. “We hiked it all the way up,” MFD Battalion Chief Ronny Beasley said, “and when we got to the top, they told us the service elevator was working.”

The drama played out as several Downtown workers watched in amazement. “I looked back and saw glass shatter. The scaffolding broke,” said Kimberly Thompson, a nearby parking-lot attendant who said she watches the men work every day. “The harness saved him. That’s what saved his life.” Greg Tate, a security guard at a nearby hotel, guessed that the man dangled for at least 10 minutes before working his way back inside. “I saw the guy hanging off the edge,” Tate said. “They’ve very fortunate people.”

Perhaps surprisingly, each witness said the man remained calm as he dangled over Third. “No, no, he wasn’t yelling. I would’ve been,” said Frederic Merritt, who works in a barber shop directly across from the Sterick Building. “I joke when those guys all the time, ‘You don’t get paid enough.’”