Photos & Story by
Todd Dickerboom
City of Bellevue Fire Department

On Wednesday morning June 26, 2002, at 7:55 a.m., units from the Bellevue Fire Department responded to a construction accident at the Lincoln Square project located across from Bellevue Square in downtown Bellevue at 604 Bellevue Way NE. Originally reported as a structural collapse, firefighters arrived within four minutes later to find that a man-hoist attached to the north side of a high-rise building under construction, had free-fallen down its track approximately 60-70 feet, seriously injuring three male workers as it struck the ground.

Representatives from Bovis/Lend Lease, the construction management team for the project, reported that the three injured workers were employees of Northwest Tower Crane in Seattle. Northwest Tower Crane is responsible for installing and removing elevator type hoists that are used to move construction workers, materials and equipment up and down the outside of buildings under construction. At the time of the accident, the three workers were engaged in the disassembling process, working from the top half of the hoist in a semi-enclosed area.

Upon arrival, firefighters utilized ground ladders to access and evaluate the workers, who were situated approximately 10-12 feet above ground level. Each were lifted from the top of the man-hoist with the use of a construction crane, and a specially made rescue harness which stabilizes a patient's head, neck and back while they are being lifted vertically. Within 20 minutes, all three workers had been extricated, and were being treated for possible back and pelvic injuries, as well as severe lower leg fractures. Two of the workers were immediately transported to Harborview Medical Center by Bellevue Medic Two and Evergreen Medic 19. Bellevue Medic One took the third patient to Overlake Hospital Medical Center; however, he was transferred later to Harborview.

A total of two Engine Companies, a Truck Company, two Aid Units, three Medic One Units, a Medical Services Officer, and a Battalion Chief all responded to the incident. In all, 25 firefighters were engaged in the extrication process. No other civilian or firefighter injuries were reported. The cause of the accident is under investigation by Labor and Industries.