Another Rescue Of Window Washers From Oakland High Rise

The first of two window washers is slowly pulled up the side of 1111 Broadway building in downtown Oakland, Calif., by Oakland firefighters after their platform got stuck on the 19th floor on Thursday.

Crews rescue two window washers from Oakland high-rise: Oakland paramedic and firefighter Brian Fukuhara isn't fond of heights, but it didn't stop him from rappelling down the side of a high-rise building Thursday morning to rescue two window washers trapped some 200 feet above downtown Oakland. "I'm a little afraid of heights," Fukuhara said.

The two window washers with Elite Window Washing Company, had been stranded outside the 19th floor of the high rise at 1111 Broadway for nearly two hours before employees inside realized they were in trouble and called for help about 10:45 a.m.

The two men, who weren't available for interview after the rescue, thought they could get their platform to work again, but one of the motors was broken and getting it to move up or down was impossible, officials said. The window washers were on the Broadway side of the 24-story building, getting baked by Thursday's warm temperatures. Luckily there were no strong winds.

While firefighters were securing equipment on the roof, Fukuhara, who joked that he "half volunteered and half I was assigned," put on a harness and began rappelling down about 11:15 a.m. for what firefighters call a high-angle rescue. He said the two men were in good spirits but a little dehydrated when he reached them, about 50 feet below the roof. They were very calm, and one of them who had been washing windows at the building for more than six years was "clearly was comfortable with heights," Fukuhara said.

Both men had extra harnesses placed on them. One was hoisted to the roof at about 11:30 a.m. and the other about five minutes later, to the applause and cheers of hundreds gathered in the street below. Fukuhara was pulled back up to the roof by 11:50 a.m. He said that because of the potential danger, he did have "a little bit of anxiety and stress, but that's what you train for."

The department's Urban Search and Rescue team trains to make sure such operations are carried out safely and in a timely manner, said Fukuhara, who has four years with the Oakland department and five years of experience with other agencies. "It feels good. We're here to do a job safe and fast," he added. Fukuhara said the window washers said they were "very thankful and still had time for (their) lunch break."

Oakland Fire Battalion Chief Coy Justice said the rescue team has hauled people up steep hillsides, but he could not recall a rescue like Thursday's. He said he had complete confidence in them. "They are well-trained and the best in the business. I'm glad to have them." Broadway was closed in both direction between 11th and 12th streets during the rescue. The front entrance to the building was also closed but could be accessed through side and rear doors.

Window Washers Hand Crank Swing Stage Rescue

Click to enlarge.

As news helicopters buzzed overhead, one of the two window washers passed time by taking photos on his cellphone. Down below, Urban Search & Rescue crews from the Orange County Fire Authority devised a plan to get the men safely off the disabled platform, which became stuck when a motor failed.

Window Washers Rescued From Side of High-Rise Building - The workers used a hand crank to hoist the platform on which they were working to the top of the 19-floor building: Two workers washing windows on the side of an Irvine high-rise building were stuck for several hours before members of an urban search and rescue team helped bring them to safety.

The window washers were working on a metal platform suspended by cables from the rooftop at 4 Park Plaza, an office building north of the 405 Freeway near Jamboree Road. The workers, who were wearing body harnesses, were not injured, according to Orange County Fire Authority officials.

Two window washers cleaning the windows at the Jamboree Center #4 Park Plaza building in Irvine look down after they became stuck on the 17th floor when their swing stage had a mechanical breakdown Wednesday morning.

About 35 members of the department responded to the 19-floor building after the workers became stuck 225 feet off the ground at about 9:30 a.m. By mid-day, crew members secured in harnesses on the rooftop lowered cables that were attached to the platform, called a "swing stage."

The cables were attached to cranks -- a hand-operated crank on one side, a motorized device on the other -- that allowed the workers to slowly bring the "swing stage" to the roof. The workers took turns using the manual crank as they tired. "The sun was beating on them, it's hot," said Capt. Steve Concialdi, of the Orange County Fire Authority. The workers were helped from the platform to the rooftop just before 1 p.m.

Window Washers Rescued Hanging Near 17th Floor of Irvine High-Rise: A pair of window washers were stuck for about three hours Wednesday when their platform malfunctioned near the 17th floor of an Irvine high-rise, but they were eventually lifted safely back to the building’s roof. The call for help came at 9:30 a.m. at the 19-story office building at 4 Park Plaza, Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Steve Concialdi said. At about noon, firefighters began raising the platform toward the roof using a mechanical device outfitted with two engines.

Office workers look out their windows as two window washers cleaning the windows at the Jamboree Center #4 Park Plaza building in Irvine became stuck on the 17th floor when their swing stage had a mechanical breakdown Wednesday morning.

Firefighters took turns hand-cranking the workers up the side of the building, Concialdi said. The workers were safely on the roof just before 1 p.m., according to Mike Lyster, spokesman for The Irvine Co., which owns the building. “The pizza (the company ordered) just arrived, so what good timing,” Lyster said.

The window washers work for Newport Window Maintenance, which services the building for The Irvine Co. about three times a year, Concialdi said. The workers were about 225 feet off the ground, Concialdi said. The building is 260 feet high, Lyster said. The workers were going from top to bottom cleaning the windows, Lyster said. It takes about four days to clean the windows on a building that size, he said.

Two window washers cleaning the windows at the Jamboree Center #4 Park Plaza building in Irvine were the center of attention Wednesday morning as they became stuck on the 17th floor when their swing stage had a mechanical breakdown. The Orange County Fire Authority responded and after nearly three hours their platform was hoisted back to the top of the building.

2 Window-Washers Rescued After Being Stuck Outside 17th Floor of Irvine Building:  Firefighters rescued two window-washers who were stuck for hours around the 17th floor of an office building in Irvine Wednesday. The call came in around 9:30 a.m. that the window washers were stuck outside 4 Park Plaza, which is a 19-story building that was built in 1991, according to tweets from the Orange County Fire Authority.

The workers were unable to move the platform due to a mechanical failure on one side of the lift, Fire Authority Capt. Steve Concialdi said. About 35 firefighters arrived at the scene, including 16 “highly qualified” Urban search-and-rescue firefighters, the Fire Authority tweeted. Rescuers secured the workers in harnesses before replacing a cable that would allow the platform to be brought to the top of the building.

The workers had to turn a hand crank on one side of the platform while using a motor on the other side to move the lift “inch by inch,” Concialdi said. “The safety of the two workers and our firefighters was paramount, so we had to go slow,” Concialdi said. Firefighters lowered water down to the workers, who were out in the sun for several hours. Just before 1 p.m., the workers’ platform was raised to the level of the building’s roof and rescuers helped the pair to safety.

Window Washer Rescue L.A.

Window washers rescued in 10100 Santa Monica Tower because of a scaffold malfunction.

Fire Crews Rescue 2 Workers Trapped On Scaffolding Outside Century City High-Rise: (CENTURY CITY) —Two window washers were rescued Thursday after being stuck on scaffolding on floor 26 of a 27-story high-rise in Century City. The incident happened around 4:50 p.m. at 10100 Santa Monica Tower located on W. Santa Monica Boulevard. “We had to inspect some windows, came down safety. We went back up and the cable got jammed. We couldn’t go up, we couldn’t go down. We didn’t want to play with it, so we called 911,” said worker Javier Barajas. Members of the Los Angeles Fire Department’s Urban Search and Rescue unit hoisted the two men to the roof of the building. No one was injured.

CA/Window Washer Firefighter reacts: Two window washers get rescued by Los Angeles Firefighters after getting stuck 26 floors up, outside a Century City high-rise. Problems with cables on their scaffolding left the pair stranded Thursday near the top.

LASS says: "Were here to do a job. Fortunately today, we did it well."

LASS says: "There were two patients trapped on the scaffolding and I believe mechanically it wasn't able to work anymore and they required rescuing."

LASS says: "No, I think they had their phones with them so they were chatting with some of their friends. They were in good spirits because there were two of them and they were able to keep each other company."

Both men were not injured or in serious danger, but firefighters had to put them each in a rescue harness to hoist them to the roof after 2 hours of being stranded.

Window washers saved from floor 26 of LA building: Los Angeles firefighters had to rescue two window washers who got stuck 26 floors up outside a Century City high-rise. Fire department spokesman Brian Humphrey says problems with cables on their scaffolding left the pair stranded Thursday not far from the top of the 27-story Santa Monica Tower shortly before 5 p.m. They were not injured or in serious danger, but firefighters had to put the two men in rescue harnesses and hoist them on to the roof about two hours after they got stuck.

Indian Window Washers & Other High Rise News

The chaps from Adventure 18 in Mumbai, India regularly sleep out.

DDB Mudra Mumbai and Adventure 18 urge Corporate India to step Outdoors: MUMBAI: Corporate India is overworked and exhausted. While the rest of the world works 50 to 60 hours a week, corporate India clocks in 80 hours. Their lives revolve around their desks, and their time away from work is the time they spend playing solitaire or browsing the internet. DDB Mudra Mumbai and Adventure 18 saw this as an opportunity to urge corporate India to get away from their dreary workstations and step out and have an adventure. Apart from this, the other challenge faced by the team was execute the campaign in a cost-effective way. The team used a surprisingly overlooked, yet effective medium of communication – Window Washers, to do the job.

Window Washers, dressed up in adventure gear, were sent down office buildings located across the city of Mumbai. In a sight worth a watch, mountaineers, rock climbers and para gliders descended on to buildings across the city. The result was overwhelming. There were a few who were scared, some were amused, but everyone took note of the men in adventure gear. And when the window washers had the attention of the office they revealed their message: “Don’t you wish you were outdoors?” The message continued to give the website address of Adventure 18.

Speaking on this activity, Louella Rebello, Executive Creative Director, DDB Mudra Mumbai, said, “Sometimes you are at work, you look out of the window and wish you could be in the great outdoors instead. We decided to actually put a guy out there telling you to do just that. Adventure 18 was a great partner in making this happen.'” Adding to this, Mohit Oberoi, Owner, Adventure 18, said, “It’s a great concept. More importantly, it’s brought attention to what we do and stand for as a company. That is to give people an unforgettable experience of the outdoors.”

Windows are work ethic wonder: I recently read somewhere that, according to New York window cleaners, a third of all the computer screens they can see through the windows of the skyscrapers they are cleaning are occupied with the electronic version of Solitaire. Somewhere else I read that 11% of US office workers spend between an hour and two hours a day of work time Facebooking and Twittering. Surveys, as we all know, are mostly so much old tat but generally contain a kernel of truth. I prefer to trust the New York window cleaners. In fact, I would be perfectly happy if some of my tax rands were spent on window cleaners to check up on what was really going on in our schools, clinics and Department of Cooperative Governance, and who was actually giving the taxpayers their full eight hours of public service toil, and who was shirking in the coffee room.

View from the Shard: Western Europe's tallest building, The Shard in London, opened its viewing platform to the public on Friday but a group of BBC School Reporters from Bermondsey's Harris Academy were allowed a sneak preview before the official launch.After leaving the second lift, the School Reporters took the short walk up to floor 69 where a spectacular view of London awaited. One student said: "Outside the windows I can see some window cleaners and all they have got is a seat but we've got ground and they must be petrified!"

New Tower Changes Skyline of Zhengzhou: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), which has been active in China for more than 20 years, continues to shape the skylines of rapidly growing cities around the country. In the north-central city of Zhengzhou, in Henan Province, the firm recently completed a partially hollow, 60-story, mixed-use tower with a glass-enclosed roof. The 280-meter-tall structure, which opened to office tenants in fall 2012, is the tallest building in the city. The column-shaped tower has a glass exterior that is screened by aluminum louvers. Oriented to cut glare coming inside, the louvers are set three to seven feet from the glass skin to leave a gap for window cleaning. Painted white, the sun screens were fabricated off-site in three- to five-story sections and then lifted into place. Close up, the building seems to be coated in aluminum, but the glass behind the louvers becomes evident further away.

South Korean firm aims for the sky in L.A. - Korean Air's $1-billion hotel skyscraper, a symbol of South Korea's status as an up-and-coming economic powerhouse will feature 73 stories, 900 guest rooms, office space and stores. The sail-shaped skyscraper will light up at night and dwarf many of its neighbors. Most of the building will be devoted to a hotel, though an operator has yet to be named. Arriving guests would be whisked by high-speed elevators to the “sky lobby” on the 70th floor for check-in. According to the plan, the 71st floor will be a restaurant. The floor above that will house window-washing gear and engineering equipment, clearing the top floor for an infinity swimming pool and observation deck.

Near street level will be about three floors of restaurants and shops, topped by 30 floors of offices for rent. Elevators will be double-decked, carrying two stacked cabs of passengers for additional capacity during peak hours. Perched at the very top of the building will be a decorative “crown” and a mast-like spire that will have embedded LED lighting that can change colors. The display will be eye-catching and visible for miles, but it will not be used for advertising, said Christopher Martin, chief executive of AC Martin. “It's not Coke bottles, it's art,” he said.

With the spire reaching to 1,100 feet, the Wilshire Grand would become one of the tallest structures in the country, surpassing the 1,046-foot Chrysler Building in New York, which has 77 stories. The contemporary design of the Wilshire Grand, with its floor-to-ceiling windows, is intended to set it apart from surrounding granite-clad office towers, said architect David Martin, who is Christopher Martin's cousin.

The world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, has the world's highest windows. Dallas joins the team whose heart-stopping job it is to clean them.

What’s so great about being an architect? You don’t have to look far beyond the advent of the term “starchitects” to understand. This refers to the biggest personalities in architecture and “starchitecture” refers to their signature, high-profile buildings. The wide exposure of starchitects has greatly increased the status of architectural profession to the general public that in some circles top architects enjoy rock star status. Even before the recent explosion of starchitects to the mainstream, architects have enjoyed a reputation of being a highly respected profession. Speaking of starchitects, Frank Gehry is one of the first architects you profile. You can see part of the first segment with Frank Gehry on the Web site. It was quite a coup getting Gehry to participate. But after I explained why the show was so important to me and to architects, he agreed to be involved. And I must say, he did not disappoint! I can’t wait to share the story of the Ruvo Center in Las Vegas in the premiere episode. Cool Spaces with Stephen Chung.

Up, up and away with dirty windows (ORANGE BEACH, Ala.) - A crew of window washers was hard at work March 7 on one of the towers of Turquoise Place in Orange Beach. The gleaming towers are 30 stories high. Click pictures to enlarge.

Lucino Zurita (left) and Juan Lopez with MTB Services, a Grandview window cleaning business, extend their lift a long way across McGee Street to clean The Link walkway to the Sheraton Hotel.

Pyramid daredevils moved on to Dubai for more amazing photos: It is a view of Dubai usually reserved for window cleaners, construction workers - or intrepid photographers. But some Russian tourists have shared with the world a rare perspective of the city by taking photographs from the edge of some of its most famous skyscrapers. Including stunning shots of the Marina and breathtaking views of Downtown, the pair have posted the images to their blog, 'Dedmaxopka'. The Russian duo recently avoided serious penalties when they climbed atop the Pyramids in Egypt for a photo opportunity.

Tower of the Americas by the numbers: A window washer dangles on lines as he works on the east side of the Tower of the Americas on April 2, 2008. Check out the link for amazing facts by numbers on the San Antonio tower in Texas.

Superhero window washers: Patients at Akron Children's Hospital were surprised to see a slew of superheroes hanging outside washing their windows. Go to link for even more photos.

46 Counts Of Insurance Fraud For Window Cleaner

Man Slapped With 46 Counts of Insurance Fraud: Authorities arrested Los Angeles, Calif. business owner Emmett Timothy Kennedy III, 47, on May 12, charging him with dozens of counts of insurance fraud after Kennedy allegedly under reported his company’s payroll.

In 2007, the State Compensation Insurance Fund (SCIF) suspected Kennedy’s company, WWC Window Cleaning, to have been committing premium fraud. The California Department of Insurance (CDI) began an investigation, and in 2009 it obtained a search warrant to collect WWC’s financial records. The CDI discovered that WWC was underreporting the number of employees at the company to the SCIF and the Employment Development Department (EDD).

As it turns out, WWC had been paying part or all of each employee’s salary in cash, allegedly under Kennedy’s direction. This action defrauded the SCIF and Unemployment Insurance fund of more than $1 million in a mere 4 years.

“The actions of this business owner put his employees at severe risk, had an accident occurred in the workplace,” said Calif. Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones. “The under reporting of his payroll shows an extremely blatant disregard for the welfare of his employees and the law.”

Kennedy now faces 46 counts of insurance fraud and four counts of violating the Unemployment Insurance Code. Each of the 46 counts carries a possible 5 years in prison. The court set his bail at $1 million.

SACRAMENTO, California: Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones today announced that Emmett Timothy Kennedy III, 47, of Los Angeles was arrested as he appeared in the Los Angeles Superior Court to face 46 counts of insurance fraud and four counts for violating the Unemployment Insurance Code, all of which are felonies. Every count of insurance fraud carries a potential five year prison sentence. Kennedy is the President of WWC Window Cleaning which is alleged to have defrauded their insurance carrier and the State's Unemployment Insurance fund of over $1,000,000 in unpaid premiums. Kennedy's bail has been set at $1,000,000.

"The actions of this business owner put his employees at severe risk, had an accident occurred in the workplace," said Commissioner Jones. "The underreporting of his payroll shows an extremely blatant disregard for the welfare of his employees and the law."

In 2007, the State Compensation Insurance Fund (SCIF) contacted the California Department of Insurance (CDI) and reported their suspicion that WWC Window Cleaning (WCC) was committing premium fraud. CDI's Fraud Division, together with Investigators from the Employment Development Department (EDD) initiated an investigation of WWC. A search warrant was executed on March 17, 2009 which resulted in the seizure of WWC's financial records. A forensic audit of the financial records was performed by EDD and it determined that WWC actually had more employees than they were reporting to their insurance carrier SCIF or to EDD for the proper Employee Contributions or Unemployment Tax.

This misrepresentation defrauded SCIF and the Unemployment Insurance fund of over $1,000,000 in a four year period. To conceal the misrepresentations, WWC paid their employees in cash for either a portion or all of their salary. WWC is alleged to have taken this action at the direction of Kennedy.

This case is a result of a joint investigation between the California Employment Development Department and the Department of Insurance - Fraud Division and is being prosecuted by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, Workers' Compensation and Health Care Fraud Unit.

R.I.P Window Washer - Gandy Ochoa

Window washer electrocuted in Huntington Beach.

A man washing windows at a three-story medical building was killed Tuesday morning when an extension rod he was using came in contact with a 12,000-volt power line, authorities said. The incident was reported about 6:30 a.m. at Beach Boulevard and Newman Street, said Jeff Lopez, deputy fire marshal with the Huntington Beach Fire Department. The body was lying on the sidewalk on Newman Street, adjacent to the Beach Medical building in the 17700 block of Beach Boulevard about four hours after the accident. The Orange County Coroner's Office removed the body about 10:30 a.m.

Jeff Lopez, deputy fire marshal with the Huntington Beach Fire Department, said the man was using an aluminum extension rod to reach the third story with his brush. "It came into contact with the power line, which shorted to the ground and electrocuted him immediately," Lopez said. It appears the man was walking around a tree when his equipment touched the power line, Lopez added. Coroner's Office officials identified the man as Gandy Ochoa, 27, a Pomona resident. Power was out while authorities removed the worker's brush, which hung from the power line above the sidewalk on Newman Avenue. The office building was briefly evacuated, Lopez said.

Yesterdays sad breaking news with video here.

An Southern California Edison lineman gets ready to disconnect the power after a window washer was electrocuted when his washing equipment touched a power line running along Newman Avenue behind Huntington Beach Hospital this morning about 6:30 a.m.

A Southern California Edison lineman disconnects the power to a line running along the North side of Huntington Beach Hospital on Tuesday morning. A window washer was electrocuted when his washing equipment touched the power line running along Newman Avenue behind the hospital.

A window washer's brush hangs from the power line above the sidewalk on Newman Avenue in Huntington Beach this morning after the washer was electrocuted near Huntington Beach Hospital about 6:30 a.m.

A Huntington Beach police officer places a barrier to block the view of the body of a window washer who was electrocuted while washing the windows of a medical building next to Huntington Beach Hopsital this morning. The window washer was electrocuted when his washing equipment touched a power line running along Newman Avenue.

Initially people thought that the fire by the roadside was a downed cable, but it turned out to be the perished victims body alight.