12.11.2005

Crane used to rescue injured man

A crane was called in to help firefighters rescue an injured man, at Runcorn's Ineos Chlor EVC chemical plant, after he slipped and fell backwards injuring his back. He was on a walkway some 10 metres up

Given the limited access to the area which is hemmed in by pipework, firefighters decided to use a crane with a suspended work cage, rather than an aerial lift. Firemen and paramedics, first of all strapped him to a spinal board, then with to firemen in the platform the board was placed onto the platforms guardrails. With the firemen holding each end of the board in place, the crane gently lowered the basket to the ground allowing the injured man to be taken to Hospital.
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The injured man is rescued by crane and basket

The rescue took a total of 90 minutes to carry out. The fitter was one of 200 Alstom Power Limited contractors commissioning a new boiler plant for Ineos at the Weston Point site. The man, in his mid 30s, was discharged from hospital after being examined.