Worker Injured on Scaffold in Leamington Spa

An incident occurred in mid-February that required a worker to be rescued from scaffolding in South Warwickshire.

Emergency services were called to the scene following reports of a man who had injured his back on at the top of a scaffolding structure and was subsequently stuck.

Crews from the Warwickshire Fire and Rescue service worked alongside the West Midlands Ambulance service to rescue the worker, using a crane.

Speaking of the incident, a spokesperson for Alcester Fire Station said:

“The person had sustained a back injury whilst on the scaffolding but was rescued safely by our crew using a crane. The person was rescued with the assistance of Leamington crews operating the aerial appliance, this was a complex rescue due to the location of the property, but the skills of the aerial appliance operators successfully and safely rescued the casualty.”

Once rescued, the worker was assessed at the scene before being transported to Warwick Hospital for further treatment.

Whilst details surrounding the cause of the incident are as yet unclear, it serves as a significant reminder of the importance of best practice when working at height, and having a trained professional on site who can support in scaffold rescue.

Speaking of the incident, Jamie Lyons, Scaffolding H&S Advisor at SIMIAN said,

“A good work at height rescue plan should consider the work to be carried out, who is involved and the type of equipment and skills that may be required to execute a rescue.

Reliance on the emergency services should never be the first option, and, if necessary, the method of working should be adapted to mean that rescue won’t be required at all, or, if that can’t be achieved, that it is simple as it can be in the circumstances.”

Speak to the SIMIAN team today to find out how we can support your business to work safer at height.