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Unger wants to send you on a cruise! - UNGER ENTERPRISES, LLC (UNGER) SWEEPSTAKES. SIGN UP FOR A DEMO AND BE ENTERED TO WIN A STRINGRAY CRUISE EXPERIENCE.

No purchase necessary.  Void where prohibited.

1.  Eligibility: Entrant must be 18 as of February 22, 2016 and a resident of: the fifty (50) United States, the District of Columbia or Canada.

2. Timing: Sweepstakes begins at 12:00:01 a.m. E.T. on Monday, February 22, 2016 and ends at 11:59:59 p.m. E.T. on Friday, April 1, 2016.

3. How to Enter: Visit www.ungerglobal.com/usa/demoform/and fill in required information. Stingray Demo must be checked off on form.  You will be contacted by your local Sales Rep to schedule a Stingray Demo.  

Click here - Unger wants to send you on a cruise!

4. Drawing: This Sweepstakes will have one (1) drawing and one (1) grand prize winner. Each entrant selected as a potential winner must comply with all terms and conditions set forth in these Official Rules, and winning is contingent upon fulfilling all such requirements. For each prize, a potential winner will be selected in a random drawing from all entries received on or before the entry deadline.  The drawing will be conducted on or about Friday, April 8, 2016, by Unger, whose decisions are final and binding in all matters relating to the Sweepstakes. Potential winners will be notified by e-mail or phone if a potential winner cannot be contacted within fourteen (14) days after the first attempt to contact such potential winner, an alternate entrant will be selected in his or her place at random from all entries received.      

5. Grand Prize: The following prize will be awarded for two (2):

- Flight to/from Florida Port

- Five (5) day Cruise to Grand Cayman Island

- Stingray City Tour

Total Approximate Retail Value of Prize: $3,000.  Any additional fees that exceed the $3,000 prize value will be the sole responsibility of the winner.  Winner will not receive difference between actual retail value and approximate retail value.  In lieu of receiving the Grand Prize, the winner may elect to receive five hundred dollars ($500), awarded in the form of a VISA® Gift Card.

The Unger Boat

UK Window Cleaners Statistically A Hit With Under 35's

The research found that one in four households have a window cleaner and nearly a fifth – 17per cent - employ gardeners.

Return of the cleaner: One if three families now pays for domestic help: A third of households hire domestic help and the trend is driven by under-35s. An influx of migrants from other EU states has created a pool of cheap workers. Twice as many people under 35 have a cleaner compared to older people.

As a result, it is not just the well-heeled who can pay others to do the hoovering and ironing or tidy the garden, according to the study by insurers esure. A spokesman said: ‘The idea of having regular help coming to your home is something that is traditionally associated with the well-to-do but it is becoming more mainstream. ‘In fact one in four of those on modest household incomes – earning up to £20,000 per year – now hire regular help.’ 

Researchers found that twice as many people under the age of 35 have a cleaner compared to older people – 16 per cent versus 9 per cent. While this may appear to be laziness, it could simply be that young adults and parents are working long hours to fund life’s essentials. Across the nation, working long hours and a busy social life are given as the main motivation for hiring a cleaner. While one in three simply say it is just easier to use a professional to do chores properly.

A quarter of young adults said they would rather do other things with their free time than dust and vacuum, and a further one in four find the work too boring to do themselves. The research found that one in four households have a window cleaner and nearly a fifth – 17 per cent - employ gardeners. One in 20 households hire handymen for simple jobs. Interestingly, a higher proportion of men rather than women brought in an expert - 6 per cent versus 4 per cent.

Other studies suggest today’s young men have never learned basic DIY skills and simply would not know where to start on changing a tap washer or putting up a shelf. Generation Y are forking out the most for their hired help with the under 35s spending an average of £204 last month compared to the average of £127. Despite the significant sums of money being handed over, the majority of people – 87per cent – do it on a ‘cash in hand’ basis.

Esure said people bringing in strangers to work around their home are not being as careful as they should. Fewer than one in four check references and four in five do not have a formal written contract. The study suggests the total sum paid for help around the home adds up to £26billion a year. 

The UK Elite Champion Window Cleaners

All of the money that Mark raises during the challenge will go to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. "He is a window cleaner by day and incredibly he was able to maintain his job during his training."

Injury scuppers Penkridge marathon man Mark Vaz's Land's End to John O'Groats challenge: Intrepid marathon man Mark Vaz is rescheduling his latest gruelling challenge – to run from Lands End to John O Groats – after injury stopped him in his tracks. The Penkridge resident, who ran 90 marathons in 90 days last year, has now set his sights on the cross-country feat as well as upping his current marathon challenge from 400 in a year to 1,000 in 730 days.

Last month he racked up the most 26.2-mile runs ever completed by a single runner in a calendar year when he completed his 240th event on February 20. He has been backed by Microsoft Band, a fitness tool made by the global technology giant, and Penkridge Round Table.

He started his Lands End to John O'Groats challenge at 4am on Thursday, but following issues with his foot he took the decision to postpone it in the early hours of Friday. On his Facebook page Mr Vaz, 32, of Bridgewater Close, said he would be taking on the challenge again in May.

A Round Table spokesman said: "As well as being mentally and physical draining the attempt to run that many marathons has also proved to be a challenge logistically. On some days Mark would (run) two marathons in order to complete his challenge.

"Mark hopes to inspire people and show that you can achieve anything you want to. All of the money that Mark raises during the challenge will go to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. "He is a window cleaner by day and incredibly he was able to maintain his job during his training." To sponsor Mr Vaz visit this page.

Calvin Routledge out training: "My window cleaning business is based in Ambleside and I work three days a week on the windows in South Lakes."

Ambleside window cleaner wins Army Orienteering championships - An Ambleside window cleaner has won the Army Individual Orienteering Championships held in Sherwood Forest. Calvin Routledge, 47, took the title from champion and Welsh International Major Richard Barrett by six minutes and stopped him winning the title for the fifth consecutive year.

The victory helped Calvin retain his ranking among the elite orienteers in the Army and added to his list of good-quality recent performances at the Inter Services/UK Armed Forces orienteering events and Corps and Army Cross-Country Championships

Calvin was born in Kendal and lived in Ambleside/Skelwith Bridge until he joined the Army at 16 after leaving the Lakes School. Prior to joining up he played football for Ambleside senior teams and ran for Ambleside. He served for about 23 years or so, including 10 years in the airborne brigade. When he left the Army he was a management accountant andWarrant Officer.

"I purchased part of our old window cleaner's round in Langdale/Grasmere/Hawkshead/Ambleside five years ago. It was rather a strange career move but I enjoyed the fresh air but maybe not the rain so much! "My business is based in Ambleside and I work three days a week on the windows in South Lakes. I also have a part time role as RSM of the CCF cadet unit at Lancaster Royal Grammar School. I currently live in Lancaster but seem to spend most of my time working, training or racing in the Lakes."

Business is based in Ambleside and work 3 days on the windows in South Lakes. I also have a part time role as RSM of the CCF cadet unit at Lancaster Royal Grammar School. Currently living in Lancaster but seem to spend most of my time working/training/racing in the Lakes."

Window Washers Rescued On Houston Marathon Oil Tower

A motor failed on the pulley system, stranding two window washers outside of a building in Houston.

2 window washers rescued from halfway up Houston skyscraper — Houston firefighters have rescued two window washers whose electric platform stalled halfway up a 41-story office building. Nobody was hurt in Monday afternoon's rescue on the side of the Marathon Oil Tower.

Houston Fire Department spokesman Jay Evans says emergency personnel were summoned on reports of a power issue with the lift. Evans says firefighters went into the building and popped a window out on a floor near the men. Firefighters extended a small ladder, then attached safely lines to the workers and the platform. The window washers climbed the ladder and were pulled into the building.

The incident lasted just over an hour, on a clear afternoon with light winds and temperatures in the low 70s. Officials aren't sure what prompted the power loss to the window washing platform.

The American Ladder Institute

Online video ladder safety training.

Are you using ladders safely? This free ladder safety training is a tool for the proper selection, care and safe use of all ladders, including stepladders, single and extension ladders, articulated ladders, and mobile ladders. Provided by the American Ladder Institute, this training outlines safe ladder practices in all applications, such as construction/painting, building and custodial services, warehousing, power, manufacturing, chemical and petrochemical, oil and gas, and at home.

Additional Safety Resources: In addition to this website, the American Ladder Institute also has these additional resources available:

View written ladder safety information.

Click here to Order copies of the online training on DVD.

Click here to view or order ladder standards.

An Articulated Ladder is a portable ladder with one or more pairs of locking hinges.

Choosing the Right Ladder: Ladders are built from one of three basic materials; wood, fiberglass and metal (aluminum).  

The environment of your work site is the first factor in choosing the material from which your ladder is constructed. For example, if you are working near sources of electricity, a metal ladder should be rejected since aluminum is an electrical conductor. Your body can complete an electrical circuit between the electrical power source, the ladder, and then to the ground in the event of a live wire contact incident. An electrical shock while working from a ladder can trigger a fall or cause your heart to stop leading to serious injury or death. On the other hand, if there are no electrical power sources in your work area, the aluminum ladder is the lightest weight when compared to fiberglass or wood.  

There are also several kinds of ladders manufactured for a variety of uses. Again, evaluation of your work environment and knowledge of what ladders are available will allow you to choose the right ladder for the job. Each of the following considerations addresses safety issues in your work environment: 

Will the ladder be resting on an uneven surface?

Is the work area crowded with people and/or materials?

What obstructions are in the path of the climb?

Next, the proper ladder length must be selected. It is unsafe to use a ladder that is too long or too short. When using a Step Ladder,for example, standing on the top cap or the step below the top cap is not permitted due to the increased likelihood of losing your balance. Likewise, when using an Extension Ladder, the top three rungs are not to be used for climbing. A Straight Ladder is too long, for example, if ceiling height prohibits the ladder from being set-up at the proper angle. Likewise, an Extension Ladder is too long if the ladder extends more than three (3) feet beyond the upper support point. In this case, the portion of the ladder that extends above the upper support point can act like a lever and cause the base of the ladder to move or slide out. Safety standards require a label on the ladder to indicate the highest standing level.

Next, consider the Duty Rating of the ladder. This is an indication of the maximum weight capacity the ladder can safely carry. To figure out the total amount of weight your ladder will be supporting, add:

Your Weight; plus

The Weight of Your Clothing and Protective Equipment; plus

The Weight of Tools and Supplies You Are Carrying; plus

The Weight of Tools and Supplies Stored on the Ladder

There are five categories of ladder Duty Ratings:

Type IAA (Extra Heavy Duty) 375 pounds

Type IA (Extra Heavy Duty) 300 pounds

Type I (Heavy Duty) 250 pounds

Type II (Medium Duty) 225 pounds

Type III (Light Duty) 200 pounds

The Duty Rating of your ladder can be found on the specifications label. Safety standards require a Duty Rating sticker to be placed on the side of every ladder. Do not assume that a longer ladder has a higher weight capacity.   There is no relationship between ladder length and weight capacity.

 Read more

Vancouver Window Cleaning Restrictions Dropped

Allowing only commercial window cleaning companies to clean window would be unfair and cumbersome to enforce, contends city.

City may relax window cleaning bans during future water restrictions: It was one of the most punitive municipalities in Metro Vancouver during the 2015 drought when it came to enforcing water restrictions, but now the City of Richmond is proposing to relax its own water use bylaws, for practical purposes. In a report to Richmond city council’s public works committee Wednesday, city planners are proposing to lift a ban on all aesthetic window washing during Stage 2 water restrictions.

The reason for the change, outlined in the report, is that because the Greater Vancouver Water District Board (Metro Vancouver) approved water use by commercial cleaning services for aesthetic purposes last month, city staff believe enforcement would be difficult as bylaw officers would be required to determine if the cleaning service was performed commercially or privately prior to issuing a ticket.

Furthermore, the city contends the new GVWD amendments are unfair to residents who cannot afford professional cleaning services. “This causes the issue of financial disparity and presents unfair treatment to low-income residents,” noted the report. It’s noted that Metro Vancouver prefers to have its rules align with those of each municipality, however it is not able to issue fines or penalties to municipalities applying discretion.

Metro Vancouver conducted a review of its water restrictions in November, following an unprecedented drought in the region, last summer. One of the problems discovered, via consultation with municipalities and businesses, was monitoring and enforcement challenges. “Local government staff noted that inconsistency in monitoring and enforcing the restrictions resulted in confusion for residents and businesses, which hindered compliance with the regulations,” noted a Metro Vancouver report.

Meetings were held with businesses associated with water use, such as golf courses, window washers, turf farms, irrigation companies and nurseries. Another major concern raised was the financial impact to such businesses.

In addition to the immediate lift on aesthetic cleaning during Stage 2 restrictions, the board will also allow exemption permits to water new lawns or for treatment to control the European chafer beetle during Stage 3 restrictions.

In 2015, the City of Richmond came down hard on water wasters during the summer’s record-setting heatwave — to the tune of $208,200 in fines. On the back of 50 written warnings, a total of 407 violation tickets at $500 each were issued, mostly in August, by city bylaw officers during Stage 3 restrictions, which banned lawn sprinkling of any kind. The proposals must still be endorsed by Richmond city council.

Sky Slide

Thrill-seekers will soon have the chance to sail down a glass side suspended 1,000 feet above ground and attached to the tallest building on the West Coast. Starting in June, it will cost $8 to slide down a portion of the 72-story U.S. Bank Tower in Los Angeles.

SKY SLIDE lifted to top floors of  OF US bank tower in downtown Los Angeles; The Sky Slide, a new attraction in downtown Los Angeles, was lifted over the city Saturday morning as it was being set up on the 69th and 70th floors of the U.S. Bank tower.

A massive helicopter dangled the clear glass slide over the streets below before it was placed near the top of the tower. The massive project hit a bit of turbulence during its 1,000-foot-high journey. It broke an awning on the building next door and a window was broken on one of the upper flowers of the tower.

John Colosimo's company built the slide and said all in all, the lift was still a success. He said safety has been the No. 1 priority in the project, which has gone through a rigorous testing process. "Before we brought that thing out here, we loaded it with 10,000 pounds of sand and hung it for an hour. It's pretty robust. I don't see it coming apart," he said.

When it's complete, the Sky Slide will take thrill-seekers from the 70th floor to the 69th. It's part of what will be California's tallest open-air observation deck called the OUE Sky Space. Tickets officially went on sale Saturday at skyspace and the attraction is set to open in June.

A helicopter on Saturday brought the Skyslide to the 69th floor of the downtown U.S. Bank Tower. At 72 stories, it is the tallest building west of the Mississippi. The helicopter experienced a bit of turbulence and the slide broke an awning on the building next door. A window was also broken on one of the upper floors of the tower, according to ABC. When it opens on June 25, the transparent, 45-foot-long slide will carry visitors from floors 70 to 69 as they peer down through 1 ¼-inch-thick glass.

A helicopter on Saturday brought the Skyslide to the 69th floor of the downtown U.S. Bank Tower. At 72 stories, it is the tallest building west of the Mississippi. The helicopter experienced a bit of turbulence and the slide broke an awning on the building next door. A window was also broken on one of the upper floors of the tower, according to ABC. When it opens on June 25, the transparent, 45-foot-long slide will carry visitors from floors 70 to 69 as they peer down through 1 ¼-inch-thick glass.

'The Skyslide boasts a safe, thrilling experience unlike any other in the world,' said a statement from Lucy Rumantir, head of U.S. operations for building owner OUE Limited of Singapore. 'Guests of all ages will have the opportunity to transform their view of Los Angeles as they glide down, gazing at unparalleled views of the city.' Skyslide is part of a $50 million renovation that will also put an open-air observation deck and bar on the tower's top floors. The slide ends at the observation deck. On a clear day, the tower provides panoramic views that extend to Catalina Island 22 miles off the Pacific Coast and over the Santa Monica Mountains to the city's sprawling San Fernando Valley.

Elevated Platform Rescue Merseyside

Five fire engines were called to the scene on Old Hall Street where two men were stranded on a raised platform at around midday today.

Two window cleaners rescued by fire service after becoming stuck outside top-floor window: Two window cleaners were rescued after they got stuck outside the top floor of a city centre office block.

Five fire engines were called to the scene on Old Hall Street where two men were stranded on a raised platform at around midday today. The men, employed by Birkenhead cleaning company Clearground, were cleaning the top floor windows of a building that includes law firm Hill Dickinson.

But one cleaner said the control for the platform stopped working - leaving two of the three staff stranded high in the air for around an hour. Search and rescue officers from the Merseyside fire service raised their own platform to be side-by-side with the men. The cleaners’ platform was then strapped temporarily to the building to keep them secure.

Cleaner Will Taylor said they became worried as the wind picked up.

A man in the top floor office only a few metres away and other passers-by looked on as the men were brought down safely by 1pm. Will Taylor, 58, said: “We got stuck up there and were up there for about an hour. The control had stopped working, both for us at the top or my mate at the bottom. “You worry, of course you worry - it was windy. My mate was shaking. We called our boss. You want to get the job done.”

He said they had already cleaned all the lower floors of the building, so would finish work for the day. He praised the fire service for their efforts adding: “They are brilliant, all of them. You would be lost without them.”

The Enhancement Award

Back row, 2nd in is Tim Carpenter, a selfless window cleaner who spent hours of his own free time cleaning bus shelters, road signs & street furniture in his home town, Melksham.

Civic awards handed out to Melksham community champions: A selfless cleaner, who spent hours of his own free time cleaning bus shelters in Melksham, is among the winners of this year’s Civic Awards. Tim Carpenter, of Marti Close, from Mr Sparkles window cleaners, has since March 2015 been cleaning bus shelters, road signs and street furniture on a voluntary basis.

Mr Carpenter, who was given the Enhancing Melksham Award, was among eight others recognised for their community work in a ceremony held at Melksham Town Hall on Sunday (Mar 13). The 50-year-old said: “Somebody nominated me for it and I did not expect it. It was just really nice. I have always maintained that if one does their little bit a lot can be achieved.

“I just got in touch with the council and said I wanted to give something back to the community and said I would tidy up the market square and then agreed to do the bus shelters. “It was nice to chip in and help the community as my business has gone from strength to strength and this is just a way to say thank you to the people of Melksham.”

The $4.5 Million Window Cleaning Job

Workers refurbish the panes of glass on the roof of Christ Cathedral in Garden Grove on Wednesday. The church, formerly known as Crystal Cathedral, is under going a year-long rehab that includes replaces the moulding between the glass and adding a new coating to the outside. The interior is also being completely remodeled.

What it takes to clean and repair Christ Cathedral's 10,000 glass panes (Garden Grove, Orange County, California): – A $4.5 million project to repair Christ Cathedral’s 10,000 glass window panes started Wednesday, a year-long effort that must happen before construction on the interior – to make the church more traditionally Catholic – can begin. The project is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange’s renovation of the 78,000-square-foot, all-glass structure previously known as the Crystal Cathedral and made famous by the late Rev. Robert Schuller, who died last year.

“It’s the first major visible step,” said Ryan Lilyengren, spokesman for the diocese, which is now headquartered at the 35-acre campus. “People will be excited about it.” A 15-story, 300-ton crane was brought in to do the work. On Tuesday, a three-man crew rode the crane’s bucket to the northeast slope of the cathedral to plan how they should approach the repairs. “We’re excited to finally get this thing started,” Mike Prestridge, vice president of contractor Century Building Solutions, said about working on the iconic building. “This is a thrill for us.”

Christ Cathedral’s 10,000 glass window panes started Wednesday, a year-long effort.

The workers will replace broken panes. But for most, they will clean the glass and use silicone caulking on the seals and metal frames, called mullion, to bolster “the structural integrity,” Prestridge said. The initial estimate, he said, calls for six panes to be repaired per person, per day. Within three to four weeks, additional lifts will arrive to repair the frames on the sides of the building. “Once it’s ramped up, up to 12 people will be working, not counting the crane operators,” Prestridge said.

After the frames are reinforced, the windows will get a special coating to make them shine brighter. “It still shines, but it’s more than 30 years old,” Lilyengren said of the former Crystal Cathedral, completed in 1981. “This will make it even brighter.” Since buying the campus for $57.5 million in 2012, the diocese has invested heavily in upgrades, spending $6.1 million to renovate the 13-story Tower of Hope and $2 million to repair the 16,000-pipe Hazel Wright Organ, which is about 90 percent complete.

The diocese could end up spending $113 million total to renovate the entire campus. Included in that is a $29 million allocation for renovating the main cathedral building, though it will likely cost more than that, Lilyengren said. Many of the cathedral renovations center on transforming the inside into a more traditionally Catholic place of worship.

Also, the interior of the 10,000 window panes will be accentuated with white panels, called petals, that will open at varying degrees and create shade; the petals will help keep the cathedral cool, as well as reduce the lighting – giving it a more somber feel. The petals will also have lights facing outward, creating an effect the design committee calls the Box of Stars, and making the cathedral more visible at night.

Lilyengren said the interior construction, which will take about 20 months, should be done by late 2018. But starting the work will wait until the panes that make up the cathedral’s large arched roof are repaired. “There was a lot of deferred maintenance,” Lilyengren said. “The building is not sealed, so the roof does leak.”

Cleaning Your Local Castle

Cleaning Your Local Castle - "Strong arms and a supple neck are vital requirements for this job."

St Michael's Mount windows undergo a spring clean before re-opening: Window cleaners from Mousehole were tasked with giving St Michael's Mount a spring clean The windows of an iconic West Cornwall landmark were given a spring clean before it re-opened to the public last weekend.

The day before the public were allowed back inside one of Cornwall's most famous castles, Crystal Clear Cleaning, based in Mousehole, sent a team of three dedicated cleaners to take on the all day job.

The team had to have a head for heights, as the castle's highest window is approximately 50 foot from ground and a further 250 foot above sea level. They took their equipment across the cobbled Causeway in the early hours of Saturday March 12 and used specially purchased 60 foot long poles to carry out the momentous task.

A spokeswoman for St Michael's Mount said: "They cleaned most of the 174 castle windows, which take quite a battering over the year from the salty wind. "Strong arms and a supple neck are vital requirements for this job."

Poverty Makes People Human

The people in the Tenderloin are friendly, and real. Most are living in poverty, and cannot afford the paraphernalia of wealth.

A TENDERLOIN STORY: THE WINDOW WASHER by Mary Jessup: I live in San Francisco in the Tenderloin neighborhood. The area has an awful reputation, and some people are afraid of the Tenderloin. But when you live in the Tenderloin, you realize its radiance. This little story is about the neighborhood, and the community. It was told to me by the window washer, and so I named the story after him.

A couple of weeks ago the management of my residential building hired a window washer to clean the exterior windows of our building. The man worked all day Saturday and Sunday. He did an excellent job. I was happy to have clean windows. Sunday morning, when exiting the building, I saw the window washer. He was standing on the sidewalk, taking a break. He had all his equipment with him, and I knew it was him. “Hi,” I said, smiling. “Thank you for washing the windows. You did a great job.” He smiled. “Hi,” he said. “Thank you.” “You’re welcome,” I said.

“You people in the Tenderloin talk to me,” he said. “You all talk to me, and say thank you. People here tell me they appreciate my work. They sometimes give me tips. And food.” “Wow! That’s wonderful,” I said. “Yeah,” he said. “I work all over the City. And nobody talks to me. In the Tenderloin people talk to me. They’re friendly.”

That is it. The people in the Tenderloin are friendly, and real. Most are living in poverty, and cannot afford the paraphernalia of wealth. The Tenderloin is not scary. It is real. The people are real, and they’re living a real life. Among the people of the Tenderloin, there is no pretense.

Poverty strips away arrogance, snobbishness, the sense of separation, which we call “us” and “them.” The poverty of the Tenderloin teaches humility. It is true that the Tenderloin is a harsh neighborhood, raw and rough. Life is lived on the streets. Everything is seen. There are no secrets. Experience teaches that life in the Tenderloin is the same as life everywhere else in the City, except everywhere else, life is concealed by facades.

The Tenderloin is San Francisco’s shadow. Every day on the streets, the citizens of the Tenderloin confront the dark side of life, the evil. This is a service performed by the residents of the Tenderloin for the remaining residents of the City. Living life in the shadow is the Tenderloin’s spiritual gift to San Francisco.

Poverty helps people to be truly human, to be authentic. We don’t think about it, we live it. We live our humanity. To be human is to be friendly.

Unger Selfie Contest

Send your selfie using Unger products.

Unger Selfie Contest: Love Unger Tools Send your selfies using any Unger product for a chance to ‪#‎WIN‬ an Unger Stingray! You think you look good doing your job? Then Unger wants to see it!

Send your selfie using Unger products. Win exciting Stingray prizes for best photos and be featured in Unger’s marketing material! It's easy to do.  Fill out the information here and upload your photo. Have more pictures to send?  You can also email your selfies to Stingray@ungerglobal.com

Congrats Ashley Mackintosh of A.E.Mackintosh Cleaning Services!! Your selfies won you an Unger Stingray! 

OSHA Cites Cleaning Service After Fatal Fall

Bella Vista, 631 Hazel St., Oshkosh, is a senior lifestyle and assisted-living facility, formerly the site of Mercy Medical Center & the scene of a 20 yr old window cleaners death.

OSHA cites cleaning service after fatal fall: The 2015 death of a 20 year old Oshkosh man who fell five stories from a senior-living facility prompted a federal investigation that resulted in multiple citations for a local window cleaning service.

Serwas Window Cleaning Services LLC faces one "wilful" and eight "serious" safety citations from the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration, after three separate investigations of company work sites in Oshkosh Appleton and Green Bay, the federal agency announced Thursday.

Tyler S. Peterson (pictured) fell to his death from a platform Sept. 9 while washing windows on the fifth floor of Bella Vista Retirement Community, 631 Hazel St., Oshkosh. He was taken to a local hospital, where he later died.

Inspectors determined Peterson's safety lines were not properly tied off, according to an OSHA news release. They also cited Serwas for failing to properly use fall protection and to train workers in fall-protection systems.

“This young man’s tragic death illustrates the importance of training workers in the proper use of fall protection systems,” said Robert Bonack, area director for OSHA's Appleton office. “Window washing is an inherently dangerous job. Employers must ensure workers have the proper equipment and are trained in its use.”

The agency also cited the company for four serious violations for failing to use fall protection properly and train workers in fall protection systems used during drop work, according to the news release. OSHA also issued Serwas a hazard letter for not marking or tagging the ropes used on the rigger with the length, diameter and date placed in service.

Chuck Hertel, an Oshkosh-based attorney representing Serwas in the matter, disputed the allegations, saying Serwas has "a very vigorous training program" that it requires all employees to complete before they start work.

"No employees go up in the air without going through it," Hertel said Thursday in an interview with USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin.

Inspectors also found another worker had fallen July 16 on a job site on Adams Street in Green Bay, and OSHA issued three serious violations to the company Jan. 12 for violating fall protection standards. Serwas has contested those citations.

In the Oshkosh and Green Bay incidents, the company provided employees with adequate safety equipment, but the employees chose not to use it, Hertel said.

"Unfortunately, that equipment takes a fair amount of effort to properly put in place, and sometimes an employee chooses to take a shortcut," Hertel said. "Unfortunately, there were horrible results as a consequence."

On Oct. 1, 2015, an OSHA inspector saw workers cleaning gutters without fall protection on a residential roof on Durkee Street in Appleton, according to the news release. The agency cited the company for failing to provide fall protection.

The agency issued citations for the Hazel and Durkee Street violations March 7. Proposed penalties for all three inspections total $69,800.

The company is working with OSHA investigators to resolve any safety issues and will contest any citations that aren't resolved, Hertel said.

20-Year-Old Window Washer Falls to Death in WI (Oshkosh, WI) - A 20-year-old window washer fell more than 58 feet to his death because his safety lines were not properly tied off, federal inspectors found. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Serwas Window Cleaning Services LLC, for a total of one willful and eight serious safety citations following three separate investigations of company worksites in Appleton, Green Bay, and Oshkosh. The investigations were opened following the worker's Sept. 9, 2015, death.

"This young man's tragic death illustrates the importance of training workers in the proper use of fall protection systems," said Robert Bonack, OSHA's area director for the Appleton office. "Window washing is an inherently dangerous job. Employers must ensure workers have the proper equipment and are trained in its use."

OSHA's fatality inspection found the rooftop rigger being used by the worker was not tied back to a separate anchor point and counterweights were not utilized prior to him going over the edge to clean a set of windows at a senior living property on Hazel Street in Oshkosh. The agency cited the company for four serious violations for failing to use fall protection properly and train workers in fall protection systems used during drop work. OSHA also issued Serwas a hazard letter for not marking or tagging the ropes used on the rigger with the length, diameter, and date placed in service.

While investigating the fatality, inspectors found another worker had fallen on a job site on Adams Street in Green Bay on July 16, 2015, OSHA issued three serious violations* to the company on Jan. 12, 2016, for violating fall protection standards. Serwas has contested those citations. On Oct. 1, 2015, an OSHA inspector observed workers cleaning gutters on a residential roof on Durkee Street in Appleton, without fall protection. The company was cited for failing to provide fall protection on this site as well. Citations for the Hazel* and Durkee Street* violations were issued to the company on March 7. Proposed penalties for all three inspections total $ 69,800.

OSHA offers a Stop Falls online resource with detailed information in English and Spanish on fall protection standards. The page provides fact sheets, posters, and videos that illustrate various fall hazards and appropriate preventive measures. OSHA standards require that an effective form of fall protection be in use when workers perform construction activities six feet or more above the next lower level.

The agency's ongoing Fall Prevention Campaign was developed in partnership with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and NIOSH's National Occupational Research Agenda program. Begun in 2012, the campaign provides employers with lifesaving information and educational materials on how to prevent falls, provide the right equipment for workers and train employees to use gear properly.

Sewas Window Cleaning Services has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.