Safety comes first for a reason. Taking all necessary precautions may take a few extra minutes, but it can save your life. This is something we all know to be true, but not all of us have actually lived it. Well, on October 19 2012, at 10:45 am, Jermaine Miller and Gordon Walker of the Toronto Branch learned just how important their safety equipment really is.
That Friday morning it was sunny and cool, and there was not a cloud in sight. Jermaine and Gordon were utilizing a swing stage to conduct glazing operations at the 36th floor level on the Skybridge project in downtown Toronto.
Jermaine was lowering the swing stage about five inches when the motor failed to shut off and continued to lower on the right side of the stage. He immediately operated the emergency shut-off, but it failed to stop the motor and the stage continued its descent. After repeated attempts to stop the motor Jermaine and Gordon’s personal fall protection equipment engaged and they became suspended from their lifelines 36 stories above the ground.
Thankfully, nearby were Jorge Da Silva (Metals Foreman), Tony Bond (Metals), Joaquim Moreira (Metals), Daniel Griffiths (Metals), Paul Pena (Service Foreman), and Richard Doucette (Glazing Foreman) who immediately initiated a rescue. These men worked quickly, and successfully brought Jermaine and Gordon back to safety.
Daniel Griffith, Joaquim Moreira, Tony Bond
Each contributor to the rescue effort has been presented with a Flynn Life Saver Award for their professionalism, and dedication to safety displayed during this incident. We would like to thank them for all of their efforts, and remind you to Stay Safe!
Richard Doucette, Gordon Walker, Jermaine Miller
