Gondola being retracted due to weather tilts, stranding workers 28 floors high outside Raffles City Tower in rain
The gondola was being retracted due to weather.
That was when it tilted to one side and a decision was made to stop the retraction, stranding the two workers on the gondola between the 28th and 29th storey of the Raffles City Tower on the rainy morning of July 21.
Raffles City Tower is a 42-storey office building that is part of Raffles City.
Stomper Edmund shared a video of the gondola dangling on the side of the tower.
Sharing a photo of Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) vehicles parked outside Raffles City, Stomper Joseph said: "I just hoped nobody was injured in the incident."
SCDF had responded to the incident at 250 North Bridge Road at about 11.20am.
"Upon arrival, firefighters immediately checked on the gondola's stability, as well as the condition of the workers on the gondola," recounted SCDF in a Facebook post.
The Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (Dart) set up its rescue equipment on the 29th and 30th storey.
"The gondola was then secured with safety lines before a Dart rescuer descended onto the gondola to rescue the two workers," said SCDF.
"The Dart rescuer secured the two workers who were wearing body harnesses, and brought them into the building through the windows on level 29 and level 30.
"Both workers were assessed by an SCDF paramedic and conveyed to Raffles Hospital in a stable condition."
In a statement to the media, a spokesperson for Raffles City Singapore said the workers were carrying out routine facade resealant work at Raffles City Tower.
"When the weather suddenly changed at around 11.20am, an immediate stop-work order was issued," said the spokesperson.
"While the gondola was being retracted, it tilted to one side.
"Given the weather, it was deemed unsafe to continue straightening and retracting the gondola at that point. All supporting ropes remain intact."
The spokesperson said SCDF was alerted immediately as well as the gondola vendor to provide onsite assistance.
"Most importantly, both workers were moved to safety by about 12.30pm and conveyed to a nearby hospital for medical check-ups. Initial checks do not indicate injury to either worker," added the spokesperson.
"Workplace safety is of utmost importance to us. Both workers were secured within the gondola with the safety harness at the time of the incident, and the gondola in question had just undergone a full safety check last month.
"We will be working with our gondola vendor to investigate the cause of the incident."
