Workers rescued after scaffold malfunctions outside Milwaukee County Courthouse

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Two workers on a suspended scaffold outside the Milwaukee County Courthouse needed to be rescued on Thursday, Oct. 10. 

According to the fire department, just after 2:45 p.m. the scaffold the workers were on malfunctioned, and one side of the scaffold tipped to a 45-degree angle. 

The fire department says the two workers were wearing harnesses. 

First responders were at the scene within one minute of the call, and the fire department's heavy urban rescue team executed the rescue.

The fire department used a PA system to communicate with the workers; a Spanish-speaking firefighters was called in to help with a language barrier.  

The two workers were able to get to a top ledge of the courthouse and shimmy their way to another secure scaffold before being hoisted back to the roof. 

"I want to be 1000% transparent," said Milwaukee Police Chief Aaron Lipski. "We were ready to go over the edge and conduct a rope rescue, but these folks are highly skilled, this is their work environment." 

No injuries were reported.