NEW YORK — Two workers who were not secured with safety lines were rescued after their scaffolding began to dangle and swing uncontrollably dozens of stories above New York City.
It happened 78 stories above the ground on West 58th Street around 9:45 a.m. Friday.
Firefighters had to break windows and were quickly able to stabilize the rigging, keep it upright and pull the two workers to safety.
The rescued workers are in “stable condition,” as stated by FDNY Deputy Chief Michael Trahan, after receiving treatment on the scene by EMS and being taken to the hospital.
The workers were wearing their safety harnesses, but they were useless because they were not hooked up to the scaffold rigging by safety lines.
“They noticed that the workers on the scaffolding were not secured with safety lines, so they managed to place lines over them inside the bucket to secure them,” Trahan explained.
FDNY Lt. Chief Nick Schneider said it was “extremely dangerous” for the occupants of the scaffolding and also for members of the FDNY.
“We’re operating essentially on the edge of a 78-story building, so it was very difficult to us, but I couldn’t believe what I was seeing, that they weren’t tied off, they kept trying to stand up and we kept telling them sit down, sit down, they weren’t secured to anything,” Schneider said.
After the workers were rescued, the rigging continued to swing in the wind and smashed into the building, sending glass falling to the street below, during a very busy time of day.
Officials said 58th Street between Eighth and Ninth avenues was temporarily shut down for concerns of falling glass.
It is not believed anyone was hurt on the street down below from the falling glass.
The Buildings Department is on the scene and will likely issue violations.
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