Window Cleaning Universe

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Chicago Firefighters Rescue WC'rs

Firefighters Rescue Workers Dangling From Scaffold On Downtown High-Rise

Firefighters rescued two men from a window-washing ledge that tipped on the side of the Garland Building downtown. (Credit: Greg Davis/WBBM Newrsadio/CBS)

CHICAGO (CBS) — Firefighters made a daring rescue high above the Loop Thursday morning, as two workmen nearly fell off their scaffolding at a high-rise office building downtown.
The two workmen were on a window-washing platform on the 16th floor of the Garland Building, at 50 E. Washington St. across Garland Court from the Chicago Cultural Center.

Something went wrong, and they were left dangling.

But firefighters quickly rushed in to help.
“Apparently one of the motors did not stop when they came to the floor that they wanted to work on. Fortunately, they were close to a window, and we were able to secure our firefighters and get them through a window,” said Chicago Fire Battalion Chief Steve Little.
Both men were successfully pulled through the window, and no one was hurt.

Source: http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2012/06/14/firefighters-rescue-workers-dangling-from-scaffold-on-downtown-high-rise/

Window washer probe could take longer than expected (Calgary)

It could take six months to get to the bottom of what caused the platform holding two window-washers to fail Monday morning.

Occupational Health and Safety will begin speaking to witnesses of the accident as well as the company who employs the men who were left dangling in harnesses from a downtown building.

The Calgary Fire Department's high angle rescue team freed both men who were taken to hospital and suffered no injuries.

OHS says the interview and investigation process typically takes three to six months.

Source: http://www.660news.com/news/local/article/372759--window-washer-probe-could-take-longer-than-expected

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Window washers rescued from downtown Calgary building (Photos)

Two workers rescued after hanging by ropes from downtown Calgary office tower

A worker is taken away in an ambulance after firefighters rescue him and another worker after their platform gave way while working at the 12th floor of the Elveden Centre building on 7th Avenue and 7th Street S.W. on Monday June 11, 2012 in Calgary.

Photograph by: Dean Bicknell , Calgary Herald

A dramatic rescue of two men left dangling 10 stories in the air off of a downtown high rise captivated the attention of hundreds of office workers Monday.
Fire crews were called to the Elveden Centre in the 700 block of 7th Avenue SW. around 10:30 a.m. to rescue two workers who had been left stranded, clinging to their life lines, after the platform beneath them collapsed.
Both men were successfully lowered into the bucket of an awaiting fire truck shortly before noon.
From a south-facing window on the 17th floor of Sun Life Plaza, Shovik Sengupta watched this morning’s harrowing scene unfold.
The data analyst said he looked out the window shortly before 11 a.m. to see two men dangling from ropes.
“At the first they weren’t moving. They were staying very still. I don’t know if it’s because they are injured or because they don’t want to mess up their safety harness,” said Sengupta.
Sengupta watched as a rescuer lowered himself to the men who were clinging to ropes approximately 10 stories above the ground.
Below where the men had been dangling, the ground appears to be littered with debris, including buckets and window washing equipment.
“We missed the fall but we heard the sirens and we all came to the window,” he said. “At first it was pretty jarring to see two guys hanging from the building who aren’t moving.”
“It’s never a comfortable thing to see first thing on a Monday morning and you hope for the best.”
A spokesperson with the Calgary fire department said both workers were wearing lifelines when the platform collapsed.
No injuries have been reported and investigators are looking into the cause of the accident.
mpotkins@calgaryherald.com