A construction hoist carrying five people to work on a building site in Sundbyberg on the north side of Stockholm in Sweden fell to the ground earlier today, seriously injuring the occupants.
The 20 metre Alimak Scando 650 hoist was attached to a new residential block being built, we understand by a local contractor and developer Andersson Company. The chief executive Patrik Toresäter said: “According to information we have received there has been an accident on one of our sites and I am on my way there now. I don't have any more information than that right now.”
The emergency services stated that the injuries appear serious, and that the police have now started a preliminary investigation into any potential work place violations, while a full technical investigation is also due to get started.
UPDATE
A photo received this afternoon appears to show that the mast has given way or become detached, causing the mast and hoist car to crash to the ground from around 20 metres
.
We also have an update on the state of the five injured people. Three of them are seriously injured to the point that they are life threatening, while two are suffering from less serious injuries.
We have now confirmed that the hoist in the incident was made by Alimak. Its chief executive Ole Kristian Jødahl has issued the following statement:
"This is a deeply tragic event and difficult to grasp. Our thoughts are first and foremost with the people involved and their families. We are cooperating fully with the relevant authorities in the ongoing investigation to determine what caused the accident"
"The hoist used in the accident is an Alimak Scando 650, a standard lift used on construction sites to transport passengers and materials at height. It has been manufactured in thousands and is used on construction sites every day all over the world.
Upon installation of the hoist, a safety protocol is provided with clear instructions. The protocol also includes daily safety checks to ensure the lift is working as intended before it is put into service."
“We are saddened by this incident. In the 20 years that this model has been in use, we have never experienced anything like this. Alimak has put a team of experts at the disposal of the investigation to determine the course of events and find the cause of the accident".
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