The Leading News & Information Service For The Facilities, Workplace & Built Environment Community

Oh What a Beautiful Mornin' Turns To A Terrifying Day

High rise rescue
16 May 2019
 

A bright and sunny morning for a couple of window cleaners in Oklahoma City turned intense as they swung from their cradle smashing through windows on the tallest building in town.

On Wednesday May 15, the Oklahoma City Fire Department dispatched crews to the Devon Tower at 7:43am after a report that the platform the workers were in was swinging out of control.

Arriving firefighters witnessed the basket swinging violently at the very top of the tower. Glass was breaking and falling to the street below as the platform crashed into the tower.

Crews secured a safe perimeter in front of the building to ensure that nobody was struck by falling debris. Technical Rescue Specialists then made their way to the top of the tower. They quickly devised a plan. They secured rope bags to the building and then threw the bags up to where the contract window cleaning workers were still swinging well above the roofline.

Those workers were able to secure the rope to the platform, then firefighters were able to bring the swinging platform under control.

After the platform was stabilised, firefighters were able to remove the workers from the platform who were then taken to be examined for injuries - remarkably, they refused further treatment or transport.

Picture: It was All Er Nothin' in a dramatic Oklahoma high rise rescue.

Article written by Brian Shillibeer | Published 16 May 2019

Share



Related Articles

Living The High Life

The merger of Nationwide Window Cleaning and High Access Maintenance has created one of the largest specialist cleaning at height companies in the UK. Both companies...

 Read Full Article
Manchester Cleaning Show Celebrates Record Attendee Numbers

Over 2,558 people attended the annual Manchester Cleaning Show – its busiest show to date. There were 85 industry exhibitors at the event, as well as over 40...

 Read Full Article
Atlas FM Acquires Tudor Group 

FM service provider Atlas has acquired commercial cleaning company Tudor Group for an undisclosed sum. Tudor Group is based in Eccles, Greater Manchester and provides...

 Read Full Article
Europcar Provides Emergency Vehicles To LifeSavers Scotland Charity

Europcar Mobility Group UK has answered a plea for help on social media from East Kilbride based charity LifeSavers Scotland, providing free of charge vehicles to help...

 Read Full Article
Fighting Coronavirus – Can Window Cleaners Help?

The Federation of Window Cleaners says that thousands have the kit needed to disinfect public areas nationwide, to aid the COVID-19 response. The window cleaning...

 Read Full Article
Airline Company Guilty For Unsafe Operation of Passenger Lift

Flybe, the airline company, was sentenced on 4 February 2020 for the unsafe operation of a passenger lift. Meanwhile, a number of other firms have found themselves...

 Read Full Article
Support Service Company Fined For Brain Injury Fall

A company providing a range of airline ground support services has been fined after an employee fell from a height of more than two metres - suffering fractures and a...

 Read Full Article
Chemical Co Convicted At Christmas

Just before Christmas, a chemical company (LMA Services Ltd) was sentenced for breaches that led to a fire. Meanwhile, a fall from height has cost Sir Robert McAlpine...

 Read Full Article
Leak And Ladder Lead To Bad Mix At Chemical Co

An employee inspecting a steam leak at height fell to the ground when the ladder he was on failed. The employee of Vertellus Specialties UK fell two metres and suffered a...

 Read Full Article
Well Blow Me Down - Director Fined For Being Blown Off Roof

A director of a construction has seen his company (along with two others) fined when he was blown off an unsafe roof.  The three firms, Bowmer and Kirkland,...

 Read Full Article