Plastic sheeting saves construction worker after 30-foot fall from scaffold in Brighton

By Globe Staff

A construction worker who fell off scaffolding was rescued by the plastic sheeting wrapping the Brighton building where he was working, the Boston Fire Department said. The man fell at least 30 feet before his fall was stopped, officials said.

The 32-year-old man was on the scaffolding around 9:15 a.m. outside the five-story building at 1959 Commonwealth Ave. when he fell, crashing through planking on the scaffolding below him.

As he plummeted, the man also became ensnarled in the plastic sheeting wrapping the building as a shield against weather, said Boston Fire Department spokesman Steve MacDonald.

“He fell off the scaffolding and fell down and actually went through the planking that was below him,’’ said MacDonald. “The building was wrapped in heavy duty plastic to keep the elements out. And he ended up in the plastic — it sort of broke his fall.’’

MacDonald said when firefighters arrived, they had to “cut him out of the plastic.’’

He said the man was transported to a Boston hospital with injuries that included at least a broken arm.