Window washer briefly stuck on downtown Norfolk building

WVEC.com

Posted on February 3, 2012 at 12:20 PM

NORFOLK --A man was briefly stuck outside the 13th floor of an office building in downtown Norfolk Friday morning.

The man was washing windows on the USI building on Main Street when he apparently got stuck.

Norfolk Fire and Rescue crews went to help, but the man had gotten himself to safety by the time they arrived, Battalion Chief Harry Worley told WVEC.com

source: http://www.wvec.com/video/yahoo-video/window-washer-briefly-stuck-on-downtown-norfolk-building-138651044.html

Investigators: A Window Washer's World

Green Window Cleaning Services owner Jeff Scott and reporter Trish Van Pilsum descend a 15-story condo building in Madison, Wis.

Investigators: A Window Washer's World: MyFoxTWINCITIES.com

Updated: Thursday, 10 Nov 2011, 11:22 AM CST
Published : Wednesday, 09 Nov 2011, 7:13 PM CST

The center of the city shines only because there are a few workers who will brave any height to keep it that way. There are only about 100 high rise window washers in the Twin Cities area, but four have died since 2007.

IMAGE GALLERY: A Window Washer's World

Julie Jennings' son, Jake, is one of those who died in March of 2009. He was working at the Normandale Lakes Office Park in Bloomington and fell after the line tying him to the building he was cleaning slipped from its anchor. Julie feels that her son should have been better trained. She fears for other window washers who are just starting their careers and doesn't want any other famliy to go through what she has in the last two years. " It is the worst thing in the world. I will never get over it," said Julie.

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The other 3 fatal accidents:

Dec. 2007: Fidel Sanchez-Flores fell to his death while cleaning ice from the top of the IDS Crystal Court in Minneapolis.

Sept. 2009: Bryan Prairie, 24, fell from a roof at Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park.

June 2011: Ryan Shannon, 25, died after falling from Knollwood Place Apartments in St. Louis Park.

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"A hundred people and four deaths in four years -- it is an insane number," said Javier Morillo-Alicea, President of SEIU Local 26. "If you applied that to any other industry it would be a scandal."

Minnesota OSHA increased the number of inspections on Oct. 1, 2010 due to the deaths. The checks have turned up potentially deadly hazards including:

• Tie backs not being securely fastened to outrigger beams
• Inadequate anchorage systems
• Counterweights not of sufficient weight
• Washer not protected by a safety belt

Window Washer Safety Culture in Twin Cities

According to the International Window Cleaning Association, Minnesota has had the highest rate of window washing accidents in the United States since 2007.

This fall, the IWCA came to the Twin Cities, hoping to educate fellow washers on safety issues -- but the safety conference was poorly attended. The FOX 9 Investigators called several of the companies that didn't show up. They said they either didn't know about it or were too busy to attend.

When asked about training, several window washers told the FOX 9 Investigators they were either trained for only a short amount of time or just had on-the-job training when they began their careers.

Going Over the Wall

FOX 9 Investigator, Trish Van Pilsum wanted to draw attention to the issue of safety, so she found out what it is like to go over the wall -- the parapet wall that is.

Jeff Scott, owner of Green Window Cleaning in Madison, Wis., agreed to help Trish experience what window washers go through on a daily basis. He did not train her as he would the cleaners that work for him because that would have taken months of lessons and testing. Instead, he prepared her to repel down the side of a 15-story building in Madison with no cleaning duties. No safety measure was spared. She used a bosun's chair, work line and safety line.

Read more: Investigators: A Window Washer's World http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/dpp/news/investigative/in-depth-a-window-washers-world-nov-9-2011#ixzz1e5XkBxA7

Window Cleaners: They Do The Dirty Work For You

No one likes to wash his or her own windows. Some windows can be downright dangerous to wash, especially if you do not have the proper equipment. When your windows need washing, call in professional window cleaners. They will be equipped properly to get the job done faster and safer.

The most common equipment for window washing is a squeegee and clean soapy water. A number of cleaning fluids are available but many professionals use ordinary dish soap still. However, this may leave a film that attracts dirt, while other types of cleaners may keep the windows cleaner.

Bigger window cleaning businesses may invest in what is called a water fed pole. It can be used to reach places that are high up and not easily reached by a ladder. The windows are rinsed with purified water that does not leave marks after drying. In addition to this advantage, this system also cleans more thoroughly.

For really high windows, such as in office buildings, window cleaning companies may use cradles or platforms that can be hung down from the top of the building. The platforms may be referred to as scaffolding, among other terms.

Recently, some experimenting has been done washing windows with robots. This has proven faster than having people do the washing as well as infinitely safer. Window cleaning can be a profession that is very dangerous, in particular when it is being done on very high skyscrapers.

Using window cleaners is a smart way to get the job done. Your windows will be cleaner than you could get them and you will stay safer. Many cleaning companies are also insured and licensed so you can have even more confidence in hiring them.

Source:http://eva-news.com/sme/finance/window-cleaners-they-do-the-dirty-work-for-you/2377454/

Two window washers clung to their lives in Mission Bay

Two window washers clung to their lives in Mission Bay Thursday morning when their scaffolding broke 16 stories above the ground, according to SFGate.

While cleaning a high-rise luxury condominium at 300 Berry Street, Raul Aguilar and his nephew Benito Aguilar were saved by their safety harnesses when the scaffolding gave way beneath them -- half of it crashing to the courtyard below. The pair dangled from the roof while waiting for rescue teams to arrive.

According to CBS, both men were pulled to safety by rescue whttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.giforkers, but were immediately transported to San Francisco General for injuries.

Tony Aguilar, Benito's cousin, had been washing windows down the street when he heard about the incident and rushed to the scene. He told SFGate, "I came over here and saw the scaffold hanging."

Source:


Two window washers are lucky to be alive after part of a scaffolding gave way and left them dangling 14 stories high on a Mission Bay apartment building Thursday morning.

Passersby gasped as fire crews rushed to the building at 300 Berry St. just after 8:30 a.m. The scaffolding hung vertically, but the workers did not fall because they were wearing harnesses, San Francisco fire spokeswoman Lt. Mindy Talmadge said.

Firefighters pulled one of the men onto the roof. The other man was rescued through a 14th floor apartment. The residents of that room were on vacation in Ireland, a neighbor said.

One of the workers was transported to San Francisco General Hospital with serious injuries, Talmadge said. The other went to SFGH with minor injuries, she said.

The window washers were identified as Raul Aguilar and his nephew Benito Aguilar.

Rodney Blanchard, an installation and repairman with AT&T who had a job in the building, filmed the harrowing scene on his cellphone.

"I'm just glad they're okay," Blanchard said.

The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health is investigating. The owner of the window washing company said that a davit that is attached to the building and is supposed to secure the scaffolding snapped.

Read more at the San Francisco Examiner: http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/2011/08/window-washers-survive-soma-scaffolding-mishap#ixzz1U5u8urP2

Filipino window-cleaner falls to death in Dubai

MANILA, Philippines – A Filipino in Dubai died when he fell off a building where he was working as a window-cleaner.

Raymond Manzareno, 23, was cleaning a window in the 42-floor Citadel Tower Building when he fell and died.

Manzareno had only been working for 3 months in the Liverpool Cleaning Services.

The accident occurred near 12 noon last Sunday.

Though Manzareno fell from the first floor only, he hit the ground head first, causing his death.

The Citadel Tower Building is located in the Business Bay.

It was not clear if Manzareno was using a safety harness, according to the initial reports from his company. They are also not sure on the exact details of his fall.

Manzareno’s remains were brought to the police station's morgue. His employer is trying to find a way to bring his body back to the Philippines. With a report from Rachel Salinel, ABS-CBN News Middle East Bureau

Source:http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/global-filipino/07/05/11/filipino-window-cleaner-falls-death-dubai

Window washer dies in fall in St. Louis Park

A window washer was killed Friday afternoon after falling from the roof of an eight-story building in the 3600 block of Phillips Parkway in St. Louis Park.

The St. Louis Park fire and police departments arrived at the Knollwood Place Apartments at 2:15 p.m. after 911 calls from the scene. An adult male working as part of a window washing crew fell at least 80 feet from the roof of the building. There were no other injuries.

The victim was part of an at-least-two-person crew, said Jamie Zwilling, a spokesman for the city of St. Louis Park. The victim worked for an independent contractor. His or her name has not been released.

Zwilling said it's not clear how the accident happened, ahttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifnd that that is part of the investigation. Knollwood Place Apartments is a 151-unit independent-living senior building.

In September 2009, one window washer was killed and another was seriously hurt when three stories while working at Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park.

In March 2009, a 20-year-old Coon Rapids man died while working as a window washer at an office tower near Interstate 494 and Normandale Boulevard. in Bloomington.

Source: http://www.startribune.com/local/west/123659094.html

Stuck window washer is rescued

Fairfax County firefighters have rescued the window washer who was trapped outside the seventh floor of a Herndon high rise building, authorities said.

Rescue crews were dispatched late Thursday afternoon to Dulles Corner Road and Dulles Corner Drive and found the window washer tangled in his safety harness, authorities said.

He was rescued about an hour later, and taken to a hospital for a check-up, authorities said.

Source:http://voices.washingtonpost.com/local-breaking-news/virginia/window-washer-stuck-outside-hi.html

FAIRFAX, Va. (WUSA) -- A window repairman was stuck 10 floors up on a ledge at 2523 Dulles Corner Boulevard Thursday evening.

Fairfax County Fire Department crews were called to the 12-story office building around 6 p.m. They arrived to find Ever Gomez on the 18-inch ledge on the 10th floor.

Authorities say Gomez used his cell phone for call for help and works for Kensington Windows in Frederick, Md. He was a member of a crew that was repairing and caulking windows in the office building.

Gomez was wearing a safety harness and a part of his gear failed, leaving him unable to move.

Fairfax firefighters and high angle rescue members went to the top of the building and rigged a harness. A firefighter went down the building in the harness to Gomez and then clipped Gomez to his harness. The two men were then lowered about 30 feet into the platform of a ladder truck, which had been extended 70 feet into the air, a little more than 100 feet off the ground.

Gomez spent about 45 minutes in the cold, but he not injured at all.

After the rescue, he gathered up his tools, met up with his crew and left for home.

source:http://www.wusa9.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=134356&catid=188

A real high flying position

Daily Telegraph reporter Tim Vollmer tries out being a high ropes window cleaner. Picture: Jeff Herbert Source: The Daily Telegraph

MY MIND is racing as I scramble over the edge of the office building's roof -- the street below now worryingly distant -- with just two strands of rope, no thicker than a finger, all that is holding my weight.

I struggle to slide into a small wooden seat, clip my full body harness on to it, then am handed the tools of my trade for the day -- sponge, small bucket and squeegee.

With the rise of glass-covered multi-storey towers has come a new job, the high-rise window cleaner, requiring a handful of brave souls to dangle anywhere up to 100m in the air from a flimsy-looking rope, washing away the city's grime.

"The gear doesn't fail . . . usually," Safetek director and my boss for the day Jan Kroupa says reassuringly, seeing my nervous eyes glancing at the collection of carabiners, descenders and safety lines hanging from my body. We've attached our ropes to two anchors on the roof, which I'm told is actually the biggest safety risk, as the team's mechanical test kit regularly uncovers unsafe bolts that could give way.

Once over the side I slowly lower myself down to the first window, making sure all my equipment is clipped to me with lengths of cord so nothing falls to the footpath.

We've already tested for wind -- using the hi-tech technique of spitting from the roof and watching where it falls -- ensuring we work in the right direction and don't have drips blowing on to clean sections of glass.

Through the glass I can just make out the office workers at their desks, with a few of the women giving a wave and a smile, but most oblivious to the pair of spider-men clinging to the window.

The actual washing is an artform, with the window quickly covered in suds before I attempt the surprisingly difficult task of wiping it off with the squeegee using a single unbroken motion.

We give the edges a quick wipe, again to stop drips, then lower ourselves down slightly and start the process over.

Each strip is about 2m wide and experienced guys can do much more, swinging across and jamming their skyhooks into crevices on the building.

I've picked an easy day for it, with almost no wind and mild weather. On a summer scorcher the task becomes substantially harder, with a surface temperature of more than 60C giving just seconds to do the whole task before the water evaporates.

For Jan, the biggest challenge is finding good staff.

"For some reason this industry attracts a lot of weird people," he says.

I can't imagine why.

Source:http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/a-real-high-flying-position/story-fn6bm90q-1225987411442