17.07.2015

Suspended platform failure

The support cables on one side of a suspended platform gave way yesterday on a job in Jacksonville, Florida, leaving three men dangling from their harnesses.

The three were working on repair and maintenance work on the Duval County jail, when the platform collapsed. One of the three was able to get out and fetched a boom lift to rescue the others, however the emergency services were soon on the scene and completed the rescue of the two men. Thankfully none of them were hurt.
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The stricken platform

Police investigating the incident say that high winds and a heavy thunderstorm may have played a role, but it is hard to see quite how as both platform jibs/support arms were undamaged. The failure occurred in the winch or the cable. The men are all employees of McCurdy-Walden a local roof replacement and repair company contractor.

OSHA is now investigating, a representative said: "We will look to what could have led to this, what was the direct cause of this swing-stage scaffold going down. Including how it was set up and what maintenance was carried out on the motors. The three men were all following the OSHA standards, wearing their harnesses and they get to go home and see their families today".
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The rescue is almost complete