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AUSTIN (KXAN) – Workers were rescued after a “scaffolding malfunction” at a construction site in downtown Austin “left two people hanging on ropes.”
Austin Fire says there were no injuries; the two workers just seemed stuck and “couldn’t get out of the situation.” The Austin Fire Department rescued workers using a “team-based pick-off” technique, the third option that rescue teams used to bring workers down safely.
The agency first tweeted about the incident at 10:23 a.m., saying it was in the 1200 N. Interstate 35 Service Road area on the south side, east of the freeway near East 12th Street.
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A “scaffolding fault” on a construction site left 2 people “hanging on ropes” near I-35 and East 12 Street, ATCEMS announced on Thursday. (KXAN Photo / Ed Zavala)![A]()
A “scaffolding fault” on a construction site left 2 people “hanging on ropes” near I-35 and East 12 Street, ATCEMS announced on Thursday. (KXAN Photo / Ed Zavala)
A “scaffolding fault” on a construction site left 2 people “hanging on ropes” near I-35 and East 12 Street, ATCEMS announced on Thursday. (KXAN Photo / Ed Zavala)
A “scaffolding fault” on a construction site left 2 people “hanging on ropes” near I-35 and East 12 Street, ATCEMS announced on Thursday. (KXAN Photo / Ed Zavala)ATCEMS, after consulting an “experimental expert” on site, said that the equipment was not responding. A guide wire that helps raise and lower the scaffolding has caught in the mechanism causing it to stop responding and stuck the two workers.
A technician tried to fix the problem with the machine using AFD personnel and workers, but when that didn’t work, the only option left for the rescuers was to tie the workers to themselves and slowly get to the ground with a rope in very windy weather Day.
AfD deputy chief Brandon Wade said the department has a specialized team to deal with such situations.
“Our special operations department trains in a variety of exercises every day,” said Wade. “You have 16 different disciplines, and height rescue is one of them. The whole training pays off on days like this. “
The first worker was rescued shortly after 12:30 p.m. on Thursday. The second worker rescue was completed shortly before 1 p.m.
Scaffolding company Bilt Rite Scaffold said it was “extremely grateful” to the AFD crews who helped the workers to safety. The company thanks you for “your bravery, speed and professionalism”.
Bilt Rite also explained how some of the scaffolding safety mechanisms work.
“Scaffolding lifts have redundant internal safety mechanisms that prevent uncontrolled or rapid lowering of such platform scaffolding. In the present case, it appears that this security mechanism (s) worked as intended. We expect to know more when a full and thorough review of all components is completed, ”the company wrote in an email.
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https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/atcems-scaffolding-malfunction-leaves-people-hanging-from-ropes-in-downtown-austin/
