Scaffold Malfunctions In New York & Philadelphia

The FDNY said the two workers are window washers and their scaffold experienced a mechanical malfunction. The scaffolding is on the 17th floor and was tilting down. Rescue workers lowered down ropes and the two workers were secured.

First Responders Rescue Window Washers From Stuck Rig in Lower Manhattan: Two window washers who were stuck inside a scaffold dangling 15 stories above Lower Manhattan were rescued Tuesday morning by firefighters including one who rappelled down to them.

There were no indications of any injuries. The workers were wearing harnesses and additional gear was lowered to them by firefighters responding to the scene. The scaffold was hanging about 15 stories above the ground for approximately 20 minutes when the workers were brought in through a window at 33 Maiden Lane and Nassau Street. 

Broken glass fell from 1818 Market Street around lunchtime on Monday after a snapped wire broke windows in the building.

Snapped cable shatters glass in Center City high rise, closes Market Street sidewalk: Two blocks of sidewalk along Market Street were closed to foot traffic around noon on Monday after a cable on a window washer's scaffold broke and shattered windows in a Center City high rise building.

Glass fell to the ground in Center City Philadelphia after a cable broke on a high-rise scaffolding. It happened around 11 a.m. Monday at the Beneficial Bank building at 19th and Market streets. Officials tell us a gust of wind caught a power cord locking device and flung it into a 12th floor window. The glass shattered, sending most of the debris into an unoccupied office area. But a chunk of that glass did fall onto the roadway below.

Firefighters and police quickly converged on the scene and closed off that stretch of Market Street until the locking device was secured and the shattered glass was removed from the roadway. Of course, this is not the first time we've reported on debris falling from buildings in Philadelphia. Back in 2014, a 25 foot column came crashing down from the side of a parking garage at 19th and JFK Boulevard. And in 2009, debris tumbled from a building at 16th and Chestnut. No one was injured in either case, and fortunately the same can be said regarding Monday's incident.

Window Cleaner Survives 40-Foot Fall

Window cleaner survives 40-foot fall: A window cleaner miraculously survived a 40-foot fall down an airshaft between two Lower Manhattan buildings today but was in serious condition after the harrowing accident, fire officials said. The unidentified worker plummeted to the basement level of a small space between 253 Broadway and an adjoining building at 9 Murray Street, just before 2:15 p.m., cops said. An anonymous witness called 911 immediately after the accident and asked for help at the 14-story Home Life Building but there was a language barrier and the witness hung up, sources said.

A second caller translated for one of the victim’s co-workers, saying the victim was unconscious and trapped in a small space, but that caller also hung up before emergency workers arrived, sources said. When 911 operators tried calling the witness back, they were routed directly to voicemail, according to call logs. By the time Emergency Services reached the victim a few minutes later the victim had regained consciousness, police said. The worker was taken to Belleview Hospital and listed in serious condition. Officials on the scene said they believed the victim was wearing a harness when he fell four stories but they were not sure whether it was fastened or clipped into anything.

My worst New York fear realized: a window cleaner fell 40-feet down an air-shaft between 253 Broadway and an adjoining building at 9 Murray Street, just before 2:15 p.m. today. He has survived (miraculously) although he remains in serious condition after the harrowing accident.

This is not the same accident that occurred a few short days a go. Link here.