Fatal Fall For Window Cleaner In Montréal, Canada

(Trois-Rivieres, Montréal) An accident has claimed the life of a window washer, yesterday morning at the pool pavilion at Expo Trois-Rivieres (pictured above). Around 07:30, Claude Lachapelle, 51 years old of Three Rivers, had a fall from about four meters while descending a ladder. His head broke the ground first - as he was not wearing a helmet, he had no chance.

His colleague was inside the pavilion & looked on horrified, he saw the victim fall, and then it was too late to rescue him. The police attended the scene to begin an investigation on behalf of the coroner. An autopsy will be performed on the body. The Commission on Health and Safety at Work will also be investigating. Amelia Larin, (spokesperson of the CSST), explained the cause of the collapse remains unknown. "Had he lost his footing or was he the victim of sudden dizzyness? This is the mystery for now. We will try to find out exactly what happened and we will analyze the work methods used to determine whether they were safe, "she said.

She said the job of window washing is always considered a risk. Since 2000, there have been three fatal accidents in Quebec involving window washers. Unfortunately, the statistics are much higher when it comes to falls from height involving workers in all job categories. In Mauricie and Centre du Quebec, there have been 370 falls from height in 2009 alone. "We know, for example, after three meters height, the worker should use a safety line, but again, it depends on the working environment. In this case, he did not need to use one because there was no danger. Also the cleaning was performed on a flat roof whilst washing windows. There was no risk of tripping over from the roof area, also a helmet is not compulsory for washing windows, "said Ms. Larin.

The CSST will inquire if the ladder was well positioned on the ground and if the worker had his hands free when scaling or descending the ladder. "These are rules that must be met: a ladder in place and hands free of any objects. The worker usually carries their equipment around the waist. The employer told us that the victim had always been respectful of safety standards but this fact will be checked to be sure, "said Ms. Larin.

The employer in question is "The Window Washer Laviolette", a company that has existed since 1930. Claude Thiffault has been the owner since 1955. "This is the first time in 50 years that such an accident occurs in my business", he said, even if his employees are used to washing the windows of buildings of 10-15 floors. "I can not believe it, especially since he only fell a dozen feet." "I do not know if he felt unwell, yet he was a healthy man." "He was also a good employee who had much experience in working at height." "He had worked on the CN bridges & he always respected the safety standards." "It must be said that on this subject, I'm a gentleman on the principles," he said.

More than an employee, Claude Lachapelle had also become his friend over the past two years. "He was always a cheerful man, who teased everyone, he never refused to work." "That is why we are in shock, even his colleague who saw him fall and with whom he often worked." "It is incredible that an accident happens to a guy with experience at this height," said Thiffault. Visibly shaken by this tragedy, the employer of the victim said he had lost not only an employee, but also a longtime friend.

Window washer falls to death in Trois Rivières: MONTREAL - A window washer in his 50s died in Trois Rivières Tuesday when he fell about three metres to the ground from his ladder, although he was reportedly observing all legal safety precautions. The man fell about 7:30 a.m. while working at the Piscine de l’Exposition on Gilles Villeneuve Ave., Trois Rivières police Constable Michel Letarte said. The man suffered a severe head injury and died. Amelia Larin, a spokesperson for the CSST, Quebec’s workplace health and safety board, said the victim’s colleague, and the only person nearby at the time, was inside the building when he saw the ladder fall and then his colleague hit the pavement. The victim was not wearing a harness because the ladder was leaning against a sloping roof about two storeys high, she explained. “A harness should not have been needed because when he fell he would (normally) have landed on the sloping roof” and not on the ground, she said. A coroner’s investigation, and the CSST, will examine the causes of the accident, she added. Since 2000, there have been three deaths of window washers who fell in Quebec. Two other window washers were seriously injured.