Sacramento, California – Two construction workers were brought safely to the ground Wednesday after a scaffolding malfunction left them suspended high above a Sacramento street, clinging to a tilted platform outside the eighth floor of a downtown building.
The Sacramento Fire Department said crews were dispatched on Feb. 18 after reports that two men were “hanging off the side of an eight-story building.” The workers had been installing protective netting along the building’s exterior when the scaffold system failed, throwing the platform dangerously out of balance.
According to fire officials, the problem appeared to stem from a malfunction in either the motor or braking system. Sacramento Fire Chief Chris Costamagna told Fox40 that one side of the scaffold shifted dramatically, causing the structure to tilt and leaving the men stranded mid-air.
Video released by the department captured the tense scene: emergency responders moving methodically, securing the workers while traffic and onlookers gathered below. The rescue unfolded several stories above 15th Street, between Q and R streets, an area that was temporarily closed as crews worked.
Traditional ladder trucks were not a viable option. Due to the height and positioning of the scaffold, fire officials determined that ladders could not be placed safely beneath the workers. Instead, rescuers adjusted their strategy and accessed the building’s rooftop.
From above, a specialized rescue team anchored themselves and lowered equipment down to the stranded men. Chief Costamagna said crews were able to “hook into them” from the roof, stabilizing both workers before guiding them carefully to the ground. The operation took about 30 minutes.
Despite the dramatic circumstances, officials confirmed that both workers were safely lowered and no injuries were reported.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has launched an investigation into the cause of the malfunction. While scaffold systems are widely used and generally safe when maintained and operated correctly, mechanical issues or equipment failures can quickly create life-threatening situations.
Authorities have not released further details about the specific equipment involved or whether construction has resumed at the site. For now, the street has reopened, and what could have ended in tragedy instead concluded with two workers walking away unharmed.