Two workers have been rescued after getting stranded on scaffolding that was hanging off of a New York City’s high-rise building’s 78th floor.
The New York City Fire Department said in a press conference that they received a report of workers in need of help just before 10 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 28, in the Columbus Circle area.
When firefighters got to the scene, they found the scaffolding “wasn’t attached” and had been “swinging around and smacking into the building,” raining glass “all over the street,” FDNY Deputy Chief Michael Trahan said.
It was another day of work for two window washers in Midtown. Until their scaffolding started twisting and turning out of control,78 floors above ground. According to the FDNY, the workers wore harnesses but were not secured to the safety lines.
Brian Forman is the doorman of the building across from 25 Columbus Circle. Firefighters arrived at around 9:45 a.m. to rescue the window washers.
“The wind took the scaffolding and started spinning and started breaking the glass. And I first we thought it was ice falling from the building,” said Forman.
But it wasn’t ice. Chunks of broken glass were flying down 58 Street between Eight and Ninth Avenues as the platform kept on slamming back and forth into an apartment window.
“When the units pulled up, the scaffolding was smacking the building glass all over the streets. Pedestrians walking by,” said FDNY Deputy Chief Michael Traha.
Just a very dangerous scenario all around.
Firefighters were yelling at the workers to remain down as they kept on standing up on the scaffolding while it continued to swing In every direction of the wind.
“We’re operating essentially on the edge of a 78-story building, so it was very difficult to us, but I couldn’t believe what I was seeing, that they weren’t tied off,” said FDNY Lieutenant Chief Nick Schneider.
Fortunately, The two workers made it out safe and sound and were taken to the hospital in stable condition.
The Department of Buildings came to inspect the building following this incident.
