Construction Workers Rescued After Scaffolding Malfunction Leaves Them Hanging Off 8-Story Building

The Sacramento Fire Department safely lowered the workers to the ground after the incident.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Two construction workers became trapped outside the eighth floor of a building in Sacramento, California on Wednesday after the scaffolding they were working on malfunctioned, leaving them "hanging off the side of the building." The Sacramento Fire Department responded to the incident and was able to safely lower the workers to the ground. No injuries were reported.

Why it matters

Construction site accidents can pose serious risks to worker safety, and this incident highlights the importance of proper scaffolding maintenance and safety protocols to prevent such dangerous situations. The quick response and successful rescue by the fire department likely prevented a much more serious outcome.

The details

According to officials, the construction workers were installing protective netting on the side of the 8-story building when the scaffolding they were using experienced a "malfunction either in its motor or braking system," causing one side to become severely imbalanced and leaving the workers "hanging off the side of the building." After determining that a ladder truck could not be properly aligned below the stranded workers, the fire department's rescue team accessed the roof of the building to safely lower the workers to the ground using their own equipment.

  • The incident occurred on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.
  • The rescue operation took approximately 30 minutes.

The players

Sacramento Fire Department

The local fire department that responded to the incident and successfully rescued the two construction workers.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

The federal agency that launched an investigation into the scaffolding malfunction and the incident.

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What they’re saying

“The scaffolding had a malfunction either in its motor or braking system. So one side of the scaffolding got way out of balance.”

— Chris Costamagna, Sacramento Fire Chief (Fox40.com)

“What we were able to do is get our rescue company above them, hooking into them with our equipment.”

— Chris Costamagna, Sacramento Fire Chief (Fox40.com)

What’s next

OSHA will continue its investigation into the scaffolding malfunction to determine the cause and whether any safety violations occurred.

The takeaway

This incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of rigorous safety protocols and proper maintenance of construction equipment to protect workers from potentially deadly accidents. It also highlights the critical role of first responders in swiftly and safely rescuing workers in perilous situations.