Drone used to rescue window cleaner dangling from tower block
POLICE in Abu Dhabi flew into action when they heard a window cleaner was in danger – by sending a drone to rescue him.
The Asian worker was stuck 10 floors in the air after his platform malfunctioned while he was cleaning the windows of a tower block on Sheikh Rashed bin Saeed Al Maktoum Road on Tuesday.
Police and civil defence were called to the scene as emergency crews tried to get the cleaner down.
“The man had tried to leave the scaffold and was clinging to one of the windows, fearing that the scaffold might collapse,” a police official said.
Police cordoned off the area in case part of the platform fell then brought in a drone belonging to Abu Dhabi Police Security Media.
“The hi-tech device was flown to the man’s aid,” the official said.
Using the drone’s audio and visual capabilities, the official added, rescuers were able to “calm down the cleaner and instruct him on how to deal with the situation”.
Police said that after the fault in the cleaning cradle was identified using the drone’s cameras and microphone, emergency crews were able to talk the man through how to fix it and get him down safety.
Officers said the man was taken for a medical check-up and, despite the shock of the incident, was found to be in good health.
Abu Dhabi Police urged companies to perform regular inspections and maintenance on window-cleaning cradles and cranes.
“These checks will ensure the device’s durability, which is essential to avoid accidents,” a police officer said.
Cleaning firms were also told to provide training to staff on how to deal with such situations.
Drones are increasingly being used in the UAE by services.
Prizes has also been put up for the best ways to improve people’s lives as part of the Drones For Good scheme.
The winner of the UAE’s Dhs1 million competition will be announced on December 14.
The prize is being decided on the feasibility and technical aspects of submissions.
An international prize of $1 million (Dhs3.67 million) is also be up for grabs.
ismail@7days.ae
http://7daysindubai.com/drone-used-rescue-window-cleaner-dangling-tower-block/
