A construction worker in Madison, Wisconsin, is fighting for life after a crane dropped a massive steel beam at a downtown jobsite Saturday morning, triggering an emergency rescue operation.
The Madison Fire Department said crews were dispatched to the intersection of State and Fairchild Streets around 9:30 a.m. following reports that a crane had lost control of a 20,000-plus-pound beam. The falling steel plunged through several levels of the structure, and at least one employee fell with it.
Authorities said the beam dropped roughly 50 feet, tearing through sublevels of the construction site. One worker was left stranded above the collapse area near the crane, while another was trapped below.
Madison’s Fire Heavy Urban Rescue Team was called in to handle the complex situation. Using equipment already on site, rescuers performed a delicate basket extraction to reach the injured employee.
The employee who fell was rescued but hospitalized in critical condition.
No additional injuries were reported, and the stranded worker was later brought to safety.
City officials have not released the name of the injured worker or the company overseeing the project. It remains unclear what caused the crane to drop the beam, and workplace safety investigators are expected to examine equipment records, operator training and site conditions.
Incidents involving heavy steel components are among the most dangerous in the construction industry. A 10-ton beam can generate catastrophic force when falling from height, and experts say even minor rigging failures can lead to life-threatening outcomes.
The worksite remained closed Saturday as emergency crews secured the area and inspectors began documenting evidence.
The accident comes amid heightened national attention on crane operations and jobsite protections. Construction advocates have called for stricter enforcement of lift planning, exclusion zones and secondary fall protection when working beneath suspended loads.
Local officials urged anyone who witnessed the incident to contact investigators as they piece together the sequence of events.
Originally reported by Adam Rosen in Yahoo.Com.
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