Workers Trapped on High-Rise Scaffolding

Responding to a May 9 incident, Los Angeles firefighters demonstrated how skillful techniques, tempered with a cautious approach, add up to a successful rescue.

At 1653 HRS, the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) Dispatch Center received a 9-1-1 call reporting that two window washers were stranded on the scaffolding of a high rise in the Century City area.

The department dispatched the first of the units, Engine 292 and Truck 92 (operating together as Light Force 92 and staffed with a total of six personnel), Engine 2, Truck 3 and RA 2 (Rescue Ambulance–ALS).

LF 92 arrived on scene at 1708 HRS to find the scaffolding between the 24th and 25th floors of the 27-story building. The LF 92 crew went to the roof to make voice contact with the workers, and asked the workers to operate their control boxes to try to free the cable. But the problem was that the scaffolding cables had gotten jammed, so the platform wouldn’t move up or down. The scaffolding appeared to be stable, and both workers–two men, ages 31 and 46–were securely attached to their safety harnesses and uninjured.

After their initial assessment, LF 92 requested a USAR task force. The LF 92 crew believed that they could complete the rescue themselves, but because the situation was stable, they called for additional resources for extra safety assistance and to provide back-up in case the rescue did not go exactly to plan. So the department dispatched UR 88, UR 5, UR 27, E5, LF5, RA 5, Battalion 4 and Battalion 2.

Upon arrival, UR 5 and UR 88 formulated a plan to use a “lowering pick-off” technique that involved lowering a rescuer from the roof, attaching lines to a worker and then raising both worker and rescuer 20 feet to the top of the building.

Battalion 4 assumed the role of incident commander (IC), the task force commander from UR 5 became the rescue group supervisor, UR 88 was the technical safety officer, and LF 92 members worked with the haul team. Battalion 2 was assigned as the safety officer. Rescue team members were briefed on the plan, the area was secured, and alternate plans were devised.

Fortunately for rigging the rope system, there were plenty of hard points on the roof where firefighters could anchor their rescue systems. To avoid edge problems, the rescuers set a tripod as a high point and anchored it using a back-tie to hard points on the roof. To lower the rescuer, they anchored a brake-bar rack. To raise the rescuer and worker, the firefighters pre-rigged a 4:1 MA (“pig-rig”) haul system that could be attached to the main line rope when they were ready to change over from lowering to hauling. A separate anchored belay line was used as a tandem Prusik tended by a firefighter. The rescuer then descended with a rescue harness, which was placed on a worker. The workers were each secured to the main and belay lines attached to the harness and by a capture strap.

At 1834 HRS, the first worker was safely brought to the top of the building. The rescuers then reset the system, and the rescuer performed the same evolution to rescue the second worker. At 1852 HRS, the second patient was safely at the top. Both patients were evaluated by RA 5. They had no injuries and were not transported.

By now, an approaching thunderstorm was beginning to create a potential safety hazard for people on the building roof. The rescuers broke down their systems and secured the scaffolding so it would not fall before the building management could repair it. Everyone was evacuated from the roof and went down to the building lobby to conduct a post-incident review.

Sources: Information for this report was provided by Los Angeles Fire Department battalion chiefs Jerome A. Boyd and Jack H. Wise. Some additional details were taken from a version of the incident by the Associated Press.

Lessons Learned/Lessons Reinforced:
The two basic types of pick-off rescues are a rappel pick-off and a lowering pick-off (used in this incident). Each technique has its own advantages and disadvantages. In a rappel pick-off, the rescuer lowers himself or herself on their own rappel device, attaches the victim to the lowering device, and usually then rappels to the ground with the subject. A rappel pick-off gives the rescuer a great deal of freedom in descending and in positioning to contact the victim, but leaves little room for error, such as a rescuer getting too far below the victim to make the pickoff. Also, the rescuer has to tend their own lowering device to control both their weight and the victim’s weight–leaving only one hand to work the rescue. An error in judgment could mean disaster for both rescuer and subject.

In a lowering pick-off, the rescuer is lowered from above with a fixed brake. This procedure demands good communication and coordination between the rescuer and the people above. But the rescuer has both hands free to complete actions associated with rescuing the subject. Also, it is easier to raise rescuer and victim, as the upper team can rig and work the raising system. In addition, there is less pressure on a single rescuer to perform every step correctly. When adequate personnel are available, the lowering pick-off may be the best choice in terms of safety.

Although both techniques appear to be simple, both must be practiced thoroughly, as getting procedures out of order can lead to difficulties, including having to reverse and repeat steps. The person coordinating the pick-off rescue must have the technical expertise, be experienced and completely understand how the operation is to take place.

The LAFD helped ensure success in this operation by having two complete rescue teams in place (one to back up the initial team in case of problems). And having safety officers in place helped mitigate any dangers, too.