Safety investigators are today looking into an accident at Canary Wharf in which a building maintenance worker was badly injured when his cradle hoisted at the side of a high-rise office block collapsed.
Air ambulance paramedics from Whitechapel arrived at Westferry Circus on the Isle of Dogs top treat the man after he was rescued from the cradle hanging perilously 50ft above the traffic exit slip-road hoisted alongside 15 Westferry Circus.
He was treated by paramedics before being rushed by ambulance to the Royal London Hospital “as a priority” with severe leg injuries, but later said to be in a comfortable condition that was not life-threatening.
The cradle slipped, then jammed against the side of the six-storey office block at 15 Westferry Circus with slabs of concrete from the roof crashing down into the street, one witness told the East London Advertiser.
The accident at 12.15pm yesterday has blocked West Ferry Road since, causing traffic gridlock leading to Millwall for the second day running.
The area around the two-level Westferry Circus at the western end of Canary Wharf was still cordoned off today, while a safety inspection was being carried out.
All passing bus services were cancelled with advice warnings to passengers posted at bus-stops.
Traffic getting on and off the Isle of Dogs has been restricted to one access point only over the Blue Bridge, a mile to the east at the Blackwall entrance to the Millwall Docks.
The Health and Safety Executive was contacted soon after the accident, but no arrests were made over safety, Scotland Yard confirmed today.
Investigations are continuing into why the cradle toppled.
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