A window washer in Alabama had a close call when his equipment got stuck, leaving him dangling over 450 feet above the ground outside the state’s tallest building. The incident took place at the 35-story RSA Battle House Tower in downtown Mobile, where the man was washing windows when his descender malfunctioned.
Unable to move up or down, the window washer and a co-worker quickly called 911 for assistance. Fortunately, the man was not injured and was not in immediate danger of falling. Multiple fire units, including rescue technicians trained in high-angle rescues, were dispatched to the scene.
To reach the stranded window washer, fire personnel set up a rope system on a small roof on the building’s 35th floor and lowered a rescuer down more than one-story below to assist him. The rescuer attached the window washer’s harness to the fire department’s pulley system and safely brought him to the roof of the 33rd floor. From there, the man was able to walk through an open window into the building unharmed.
District 1 Chief Brandon Jackson praised the successful rescue operation, stating, “It worked like clockwork, it was beautiful. Everybody walked away and went home safely.” Thankfully, there were no injuries reported among the fire personnel involved in the rescue.
The RSA Tower, standing at 745 feet tall and housing 433,165 square feet of office space, is an iconic skyscraper in downtown Mobile. This incident serves as a reminder of the risks that window washers and other workers face when operating at extreme heights. It also highlights the importance of having well-trained emergency responders ready to handle such precarious situations with skill and efficiency.