Two workers rescued from malfunctioning scaffolding at State Farm

Two workers got stuck Wednesday morning while working on scaffolding at State Farm’s headquarters in Bloomington. (Blake Haas/WJBC)

 

By Blake Haas and Neil Doyle

BLOOMINGTON – Fire crews from Bloomington-Normal rescued two workers after a malfunction with scaffolding outside State Farm.

Both fire departments were called Wednesday around 9:30 a.m. to 1 State Farm Plaza because the workers got stuck approximately 200 feet up on the east side of the main building. Authorities said the workers were securely harnessed, but the scaffolding would not go up or down.

“The cable became fray and it got caught up in the motor,” said Bloomington Fire spokesperson Eric Davison.

Davison said firefighters had to to take out windows from inside the building and the two workers were safely rescued.

No injuries were reported and crews are working to safely lower the scaffolding.

Neil Doyle can be reached at [email protected]

Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected]

 

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…