By MES Dispatch staff
The Briefing:
• Two construction workers were left dangling outside an eight-story high-rise in Sacramento, Calif., after scaffolding supporting them partially collapsed Wednesday morning.
• Sacramento Fire Department crews responded to the mass-timber building on 15th and Q streets around 9:14 a.m. and executed a rope rescue from above the workers.
• One worker was suspended by a safety harness and the other remained on the tilted platform as firefighters secured both and lowered them to the ground safely.
• Officials said neither worker was injured; the incident is expected to be reviewed by the California Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
SACRAMENTO, CALIF. — Firefighters with the Sacramento Fire Department rescued two construction workers Wednesday after scaffolding on an eight-story midtown high-rise partially failed and left them stranded outside the building under construction.
Deputy officials said crews responded around 9:14 a.m. to the structure at 1430 Q Street after calls reported workers stranded on the scaffolding, which had tilted roughly 45 degrees due to a suspected motor or braking system failure.
One worker was suspended by a safety harness attached to the building and the other remained on the collapsed section as special rescue teams accessed the roof and descended to secure both men with rope-and-harness systems.
Fire Chief Chris Costamagna confirmed both workers were brought safely to the ground a little more than an hour after the initial call, and neither required treatment for injuries.
Sacramento Fire Department personnel worked with the Sacramento Municipal Utility District to de-energize power lines near the site before completing the rescue. The incident is expected to be reviewed by Cal-OSHA, officials said.