SMH - February 26, 2009

More than 100 construction workers ran for their lives at a Sydney CBD building site when scaffolding that forced a work shutdown last year buckled in a busy street.

Superintendent Mick Fuller of the City Central local area command said more than 100 city workers had been evacuated from the buildings near the site.

He said if the scaffolding did collapse, debris could fall within 100 metres of the site and damage buildings on the other site of Castlereagh Street, including the Sheraton Hotel.

He said parts of the Sheraton Hotel had been evacuated and government structural engineers were on their way to access the damage.

Police Superintendent Michael Fuller said engineers would work to secure the site. The operation would take three or four days.

Hugo Paul, a partner at Paul & Paul Lawyers said he had been trying to access his building since 7.30am.

“Everyone is in a holding pattern. So we can’t make any money. No one is answering the phones,'’ he said.

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