August 20, 2012

Worker seriously injured after 15 foot fall at Calgary worksite

RICHARD GILBERT

staff writer

A construction worker fell about 15 feet at a residential construction site in Calgary and was taken to hospital with serious injuries yesterday.

“A worker was moving a piece of formwork or building material on a scaffold, when he stepped of the scaffold and fell about 15 feet into the joists and beams near where he was working,” said Alberta Occupational Health and Safety spokesperson Brookes Merritt.

The incident happened at about 8:45 a.m. in the 2000 block of 27th Ave S.W.

The 27-year-old male is employed by Custom Creations Inc.

According to a City of Calgary press release, fire crews were tasked with the challenging job of removing the patient from the second floor of the construction site.

The High Angle Rescue team was called in to assist with the removal of the immobilized patient.

The main challenge of the rescue was getting to the location. Stairs had not yet been built on the residential project.

Fire crews utilized an aerial ladder truck to safely slide the patient on the stretcher and down the rails of the ladder and lower him to safety.

Upon completion of the technical rescue, the worker was transferred to emergency services.

“The worker was transported to hospital with suspected broken bones and other injuries,” said Merritt. “He is in stable condition.”

A stop work order was issued and the incident is under investigation by Alberta Occupational Health and Safety.

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