them pickers are fine if the machine stays in same spot, but if your up a height and need to move the actually wheels,the basket swings a inch and feels like its swinging in the wind, think 18mph winds are the maximum you can take one up in

there's one report which names them, says they fell 20ft

By Sporting Life
18:45 · TUE June 29, 2021
Two cameramen were taken to hospital after falling from an elevated platform before racing at Hamilton.

A delay to racing was initially announced while emergency services attended to the injured men, with the meeting eventually called off just after 3.35pm.

The cameraman were working for RaceTech, who provide broadcast services for racing, and an investigation is already underway.

A statement from the company read: “Following a serious incident prior to the first race at Hamilton Park involving a mobile elevated camera platform, two freelance camera operators, Robbie Cotgrave and Kit Campbell, have been seriously injured and taken to hospital.

“A full investigation is underway into the cause of the incident.

“Our thoughts and concerns are very much with our two colleagues at this time.”

Clerk of the course Harriet Graham said the well being of the cameramen soon became the priority over the need to stage the fixture.

She said: “About half an hour before the first race an incident happened involving RaceTech operators and a hoist.

“Our emergency teams reacted immediately and then we needed to call the fire service and ambulances, so we had fire engines on site and the police.




“It took them a long time to assess the situation and extract them and take them off to hospital. During this time the timeline became more and more extended.

“The decision was we would wait for CID to arrive to see if we could continue racing, but they indicated they wouldn’t be making a decision in the short term.

“So, we held a stewards’ inquiry and the decision was made to call off racing.

“Whilst that is a big decision, we felt we had no timeline for when we could start racing and the main thing is all our thoughts are with the two guys who have gone off to hospital for further assessment. Let’s hope they are OK.

“In the bigger picture racing is secondary in this situation. A nasty accident has happened, two people are injured. They are having the best care they could have and received immediate attention.”

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman said: “We were alerted at 1.35pm on Tuesday, June 29 to an incident at Hamilton Park Racecourse, Hamilton.




“Operations Control mobilised two appliances to the scene and using an aerial rescue pump firefighters rescued two male casualties who had fallen onto the roof of a vehicle before handing them into the care of the Scottish Ambulance Service.

“Crews left the scene after ensuring the area was made safe and there were no further reported casualties.”

The Scottish Ambulance Service added: “We received a call at 13.38hrs this afternoon to attend an incident at Hamilton racecourse. Two ambulances and two rapid response vehicles were dispatched to the scene.”

A spokesperson for British Horseracing Authority said: “Everybody at the BHA is concerned by the reports from Hamilton this afternoon and our thoughts are with the two RaceTech employees who have been injured.

“We wish both a full and speedy recovery.”

Update: Two camera operators injured in an accident at Hamilton Park racecourse are "expected to make a full recovery". The two operators are receiving hospital treatment following Tuesday's incident

I was there at Hamilton yesterday (annual member) and firstly let's hope that reports of 'expected to make a full recovery' are correct, A&E wards full of people with life changing injuries after falling from roofs, ladders etc and as per below, these cherry pickers can go really high! 

Is there any reason why all the camerawork is not done via drones or following vehicles or fixed cameras in grandstands etc?  There's a cherry picker position on far side at Kelso which always gives me a shiver, it's very exposed and Kelso known to get a bit windy now and again!! 

The information coming through via the racecourse yesterday was intermittent and lacking any great details and there were a few murmurs about keeping people there so they could continue to spend at the concessions, but under the circumstances I doubt the racecourse could have done any more, and the lovely weather helped keep the mood respectful and calm.  Now of course the test for the racecourse will be how quickly and efficiently they reach out with refunds etc.

about 25 yrs ago before the widespread use of MEWPS,we use to use a man basket, to work up heights a basket with 4 chains on to a central lifting shackle that hooks on to a mobile crane jib,2 of us were about 60 ft up inm the steel works and a overhead crane forget we were there and smacked us with his hook send us spinning like a top ,we were screaming,panicing mobile crane driver was keeping his eye on us at got his down in seconds,we were shaking a ran to canteen to get a cup of tea,the overhead crane driver came in shaking like a leaf says do you mind lads can i get a tea with 5 sugars  ive just hit 2 lads in a man basket,we said we no it was us,and we all burst out laughing

worse i heard america

guy cooked alive in a industrial oven

and yes at safety passport courses i start off surrounded by lads and by the time ive told a few tales ,theres no one sat within 20 feet of me,

they were very very lucky foxy