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Workers escape harrowing Williamsburg scaffolding collapse with minor injuries

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Three workers were injured when scaffolding collapsed at a construction site in Williamsburg.
Photo by Todd Maisel

Three workers escaped a potentially deadly scaffolding collapse with only minor injuries in Williamsburg Thursday, according to firefighters.

“These guys are awfully lucky, that was a lot of debris from those scaffolding,” said one smoke eater. 

The collapse occurred at a six-story construction site on Grand Street between Lorimer Street and Union Avenue at about 3 pm. Workers were laboring from the roof of a neighboring building, when Thursday’s high winds toppled the scaffolding supports, fire officials said. 

Firefighters raced to the scene to find tons of wood and metal tangled on the three story adjoining roof and strewn across a rear courtyard below, but the debris did not bury the three workers caught in the collapse, and rescuers were able to provide immediate assistance, authorities say. 

Paramedics ferried the workers from Global Construction to the hospital, and supervisors on the scene said, “Thank God they will be okay,” while declining further comment.

The fire department called inspectors with the Department of Buildings to the site, and officials ordered a stop to all construction worker pending further investigation.

Firefighters hand off injured worker from bucket to EMS. (Photo by Todd Maisel)
EMS removed injured worker. (Photo by Todd Maisel)
Firefighters search for any other workesr who may have been trapped. (Photo by Todd Maisel)
Firefighters stand ready should they be needed outside the site. (Photo by Todd Maisel)