27.10.2008

Window cleaners rescued

Two window cleaners had to be rescued in Rotterdam this morning after one of the cables broke on their suspended platform.
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The hanging platform this morning

The two were working on the windows of the Golden Tulip Hotel, Leuvehaven, Rotterdam, from a permanent window cleaning platform. The platform was left suspended from the other cable and the safety brake, while the emergency services employed a ladder platform to bring them down.
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A close up shot

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The ladder platform arrives on the scene

Vertikal Comment

This failure and subsequent rescue made the headlines in the area and while anything like this is frightening event, the platform, a purpose built, designed-for-purpose Building Maintenance Unit, was saved by its back up systems and was probably never in danger of falling.

However when one component that should not fail, fails, one never knows what else might give way. The rescue was text book stuff from an emergency services team that arrived in double quick time with the right equipment.