Window Cleaning News

Nick Florence has turned college football’s most difficult assignment into a season to savor. As the quarterback following Heisman winner Robert Griffin III at Baylor, Florence knew he couldn’t duplicate Griffin’s arm strength or world-class speed or flair for the dramatic. Yet somehow, he just might duplicate some of RG3’s numbers. Going into Thursday’s Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl against UCLA, Florence could conceivably break Griffin’s season records for passing yards and total offense, among others. “He’s been unbelievable,” Baylor coach Art Briles said. “I think he had the toughest job in America to come in and follow a Heisman Trophy winner with all the dynamic qualities that Robert had.”
Then again, Florence knows all about hard jobs. After graduating from South Garland, he delayed enrolling in Baylor as a full-time student for a semester, grayshirting as it’s called. During that time away from school, he worked as a window washer in Waco. “It was mainly residential, two-story houses,” Florence said. “The more experienced guys did the really high ladders. But I did get to see a lot of real cool houses.” Like? “In the main living room of one, it had every type of animal you could imagine,” Florence said. “The coffee table was made from an elephant’s foot. There was a polar bear, all kinds of deer and elk on the walls. It was a sportsman’s paradise. And there was a fireman’s pole connecting the first and second floors.” Florence even re-enacted his window washing memories at Baylor’s practice facility this year for a TV spot. Now he’s leading the nation in total offense, a unique transition from dirty jobs to filthy numbers.

It was the “rescue” that had Ballarat talking yesterday. Cars slowed down and pedestrians turned their gaze skyward as Fred the window cleaner dangled precariously from the edge of one of Ballarat’s tallest buildings. Fred wasn’t worried. The big grin on his face was proof of that. He knew a team of full-time professional firefighters from Ballarat City Fire Brigade were just minutes away to enact his amazing rescue. Yesterday, Fred (the Friendly Rescue Extrication Dummy) became stuck several times at the corner of Dana and Doveton streets, as seven members of the brigade trained for delicate high-angle rescues. Station officer Scott Gambino said the training was used to fine-tune the firefighters’ skills in different disciplines as the summer fire season raged on. “The scenario was that we had a window cleaner up on a building and his harness and rope gear got jammed, so we had to send someone down in our rope rescue gear,” he said. Mr Gambino said yesterday’s drill helped ensure the city’s career firefighters would be ready the next time a real rescue was required. “We get quite a few rescues off roof tops in Ballarat,” he said. “But there are some areas where the truck can’t get to, that’s where we use the rope gear.” Ballarat City Fire Brigade had a minimum of seven staff on duty 24-hours-a-day...lucky for Fred, who was lowered back to earth without any hassle yesterday. “He’s always happy when you bring him down,” Mr Gambino said.

Defendant in court over death plunge: Lawyers have two months to submit their closing arguments in defence of an official, who is accused of manslaughter after a window-cleaner plunged 17 floors to his death. The Bahraini, 34, appeared in the Lower Criminal Court yesterday in connection with the death of Pakistani Mohammed Shafique Siddique, 47, who was cleaning the windows of Al Rossais Tower in the Diplomatic Area when one of the cables of a suspended platform he was working on snapped on May 27. The impact of the fall was so severe that his body was not in one piece. According to court documents, Mr Siddique was unable to hold on to anything as he was not wearing safety gear. The defendant, who was the building's administrative director, has also been accused of violating Labour Ministry rules by using the victim without a work permit, violating safety rules by not providing safety equipment to him and not maintaining them. The Bahraini was earlier released from police custody after having a travel ban imposed on him. The case was adjourned until March 31.

Two Hull firms and a company director have been sentenced for joint safety failings relating to the death of a worker who plummeted more than eight metres through a fragile rooflight while cleaning gutters. The image shows the shattered rooflight where Kevin Jackson fell; a father of five, suffered multiple injuries including several fractures of his skull, 15 broken ribs and severe damage to his lungs and other internal organs. He died in hospital the same day. The Health Safety Executive yesterday prosecuted director Shaun Cavill, his company Cavill Property Maintenance, and Garthwest, after investigating the incident which occurred in October 2009. Hull Crown Court was told that Kevin Jackson and a colleague had been hired by Cavills and director Shaun Cavill to clean the gutters and roof of Garthwest's factory in Rotterdam Road. The workers were not given any safety equipment, no protection measures were provided to reduce the risk of falling, and neither man had been trained to work safely at height. Mr Jackson was on the roof working when his colleague heard a crash and turned to see him fall through a fragile factory rooflight to the concrete floor more than eight metres below.

HSE served a Prohibition Notice on both companies after the incident, preventing any further work at height on the site. A subsequent investigation found a series of serious safety failings:

- No controls, e.g. boards or staging, were used to work from to prevent workers stepping on to a fragile surface

- No controls, such as crash decks, were provided to reduce the distance of a fall if one happened

- No risk assessment was carried out

- No edge protection was provided on the roof

- No instructions were given by either company to the workers about how to carry out the work safely

Cavill Property Maintenance of Kingswood Park, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined £65,000. Garthwest, of Sutton Fields Industrial Estate, was fined £50,000 with costs of £19,300 after also admitting breaching Section 3(1) of the same Act. Shaun Cavill, of The Spinney, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 37(1) of the same Act by virtue of his negligence as an individual director. He was fined £25,000. After the hearing, HSE Inspector Mark Welsh said: "All three parties in this case have contributed to the tragic loss of life of a loving husband, father and grandfather. It was an incident that was wholly preventable if obvious and sensible controls and safeguards had been put in place.

"Cavill Property Maintenance should have had safe working practices and provided safety equipment to ensure the workers were not put at risk, but the firm neglected its duty of care. Shaun Cavill took on the contract for the work and it was his responsibility to ensure his company put safety measures in place. "Garthwest, where the incident happened, should have followed their own safety procedures but did not do so. They failed to assess the competency of the company they hired and didn't ask for their risk assessment. Nor did they supervise the work or carry out any checks on what safety equipment was being used - which was none.

"Unsafe work at height on fragile roofs is a regular occurrence within many industries and is a major cause of death and serious injury. HSE will not hesitate to bring legal action against companies and individuals who fall so dangerously below accepted safety standards." The latest figures show that 38 people died as a result of a fall in a workplace in Great Britain in 2010/11, and more than 4,000 suffered a major injury. Information on preventing falls is available here.

Business women of New Jersey honored - Despite the stereotype that the business world can sometimes be a "boys' club," women are particularly suited for business, says Karen Martinez-Wardzinski. "I love women in management positions. They are very detail oriented, and they give you 120 percent all of the time," says Martinez-Wardzinski, founder and owner of Bravo Building Services, a facility service and outsourcing company based in Green Brook. Martinez-Wardzinski recently was recognized as a finalist for the Leading Women Entrepreneurs and Business Owners Award. The initiative was created in 2011 by the Leading Women Entrepreneurs Program, based in Clinton, to acknowledge female business owners who exhibit outstanding performance in four areas: market potential, innovation, community involvement and advocacy for women.

Martinez-Wardzinski is among the top 25 finalists, who were recognized at an event in Madison in December. Martinez-Wardzinski, along with other finalists, share their stories. "For me to break through the glass ceiling -- that I did is extremely rare," says Martinez-Wardzinski, 45. "When I started I would go to meetings, and I would be the only woman, and people looked at me like I had three heads. Now I am starting to see a little bit more here and there but not to my level." Being a woman is in part what prompted Martinez-Wardzinski, in 1997, to start Bravo Building Services, a company that provides housekeeping, mechanical maintenance, window cleaning, mail and administrative services to companies throughout the country. She was working in the building-service industry and didn't like how many of the male owners operated their businesses.

"I was frustrated working for only male owners," Martinez-Wardzinski says. "I thought there had to be a better way to treat employees and customers and be transparent in everything I did. If I brought employees in, and I trained them and promoted them from within and helped them grow, then we would be successful. I stuck to that, and it worked."

Today Martinez-Wardzinski's company has 3,100 employees that service everything from the Walmart headquarters in Arkansas to hospitals in Virginia. Along with its headquarters in Green Brook, Bravo operates branch offices in Arlington, Va., Charlotte, N.C., and New Castle, Del. Martinez-Wardzinski has plans to open another office somewhere in the western part of the country in the future. She lives in Franklin Township with her husband and her three daughters, ages 10, 9 and 7. Martinez-Wardzinski says she has a "nothing-is-impossible" attitude that has taken her far. "My experience is most people don't own their own business because they are scared to fail," she says. "If you can embrace that fear, and say, 'OK if I do fail I am still alive, I still have all these wonderful gifts, I can always make a new plan,' you will succeed."

'Cleaning Fairy' Susan Warren Arrested After Shoveling Man's Driveway Without Permission: Susan Warren has had another dustup with the law. The 53-year-old woman, known by local media as the "Cleaning Fairy," was arrested on Tuesday in Elyria, Ohio after someone reported that a woman was shoveling a stranger's driveway without permission, according to Fox 19. In November, Warren pleaded guilty to burglary after she was accused of breaking into a home west of Cleveland, cleaning it and leaving a bill for $75. She was sentenced to a year of probation. When cops questioned Warren on Tuesday, they discovered she had a warrant out for her arrest stemming from an attempted burglary charge, according to the Chronicle-Telegram. Fox 19 spoke to Warren's son who said he had no idea why his mom decided to shovel a stranger's driveway. Elyria Police Lt. Chris Costantino told the Chronicle-Telegram that Warren had nearly $1,000 in cash on her when she was arrested so the snow shoveling must have been “pretty lucrative,” he told the paper.

Necktie doubles as a cleaning cloth: A company has developed a necktie with a microfibre backing designed for cleaning delicate surfaces such as spectacle lenses, smartphones and iPads. The silk Ferrell SwipeTie has an integrated inner tip made from microfibre to remove smudges and smears. The tie is the brainchild of Swipe Apparel which was founded by Michael Kim and Avi Padhye in 2011. "We both come from professional backgrounds and would always encounter sharply-dressed men who would rub their ‘phones on their trousers and jackets to try to wipe off the built-up gunk," said Kim. "We knew there must be a better way. "Most clothing material is not designed to clean glass or plastic screens, so wiping your phone screen on your shirt will minimally reduce the dirty screen or make it worse. And carrying a cleaning cloth......who wants to do that?"

The Cailfornia-based company also manufactures a cotton T-shirt - the SwipeTee - which has an integrated microfibre badge. This can be either placed on the left or right sleeve or to the front of the T-shirt according to the customer's requirements. The microfibre segment of both garments is said to be particularly suitable for removing fingerprints and smudges from delicate surfaces such as eyeglass lenses, iPhone and Android smartphones, iPods, iPads and other portable entertainment and tablet devices. So now you can clean windows wearing a tie!

Family left angry and frustrated: They wanted a headstone to remember their late mum. But they have been left out of pocket and feeling angry and frustrated. Andrew Larcome, of Heather Lane, Nately Scures, and his two brothers paid £1,060 to Simply Memorials for a headstone to mark the grave of their mother Rita Ann Larcome. The 71-year-old mum, from the Isle of Wight, died from cancer in 2011 and was buried in a cemetery in Farnborough. The memorial company, based in Skegness, Lincolnshire, promised to supply the headstone 12 weeks after the payment was made on June 27 last year when Mr Larcome ordered it on the company’s website.

But no headstone came, and when Mr Larcome tried to contact the company by email and telephone, he did not get a response. He has since received a letter to say that the company has ceased trading and that its owner, David Blakey, would be filing for bankruptcy. Mr Larcome said: “It’s absolutely gutting especially when you think that we’re talking about a headstone. “It is absolutely devastating. It’s bad enough that my dad has no money and me and my brothers had to pay for it.” At the end of last month, the 47-year-old window cleaner drove to Skegness to try to find Mr Blakey.

JACKSON—Ronald Albert Jackson, 57, of Astoria, Ore., passed away Jan. 13, 2013, after a long battle with cancer. He was born July 20, 1955, at McAuley Hospital in Coos Bay to Bob and Peggy Jackson. The family lived in a logging camp in Scottsburg, later moving to Westlake. He graduated from Siuslaw High School in 1973. He ran a route delivering milk products, had a window cleaning business, and more. For several years he traveled on private buses with various rock bands, traveling across the United States, from Juneau, Alaska, to Key West, Fla. His true passion was teaching piano, which he did throughout his life. Ron will be remembered for his music, his puns, his sense of humor and the love that he projected throughout his entire life.

Halesowen arson suspect released: A 36-year-old man arrested after an arson attack on a Halesowen house, from which a mother and two children were rescued by a neighbour, has been released by police. A West Midlands Police spokesman said no further action would taken against the man who had been bailed twice pending investigations by detectives following the night-time blaze at the Elizabeth Road house last November. Terrified mother Catherine Keenan-Williams, aged 26, plucked Alex, aged three and two-year-old Caitlin from their beds as thick acrid smoke filled their home after the front door was set on fire.

Her desperate screams were heard by next door neighbour David Burford, a window cleaner, who, with help from son Josh, used his ladders to rescue the family from an upstairs window. The man, arrested from another address in Halesowen the same day, was questioned on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life and bailed until December 14 and again until this month. The police spokesman said the blaze was still being investigated.

Jesus Image Appears On Window At Hard Rock Hotel In San Diego: Celebrities are a fairly common sight at the Hard Rock Hotel San Diego, but the hotel may have had a celeb sighting of truly biblical proportions: Jesus Christ. The image of what some people think looks like the Almighty appeared in the window of one of the hotel rooms over the weekend. Chuck Rickman, a retired 911 dispatcher, noticed the eerie apparition while taking a stroll. "I was walking downtown when out of the corner, it popped out at me," Rickman, 64, told The Huffington Post. "I had a cellphone and took a picture of it."

Rickman said he's not religious and thought the image could either be Jesus or "Led Zeppelin." "It looks like someone had taken a shower and steamed up the window, but I talked with a young man nearby and he said he had seen it for several weeks," Rickman said. A hotel representative was happy to see the photo, but said there have been no other reported Jesus sightings in any of the windows. To be fair, the explanation for Jesus's appearance on a hotel window may be more scientific than beatific.

Researchers at Northwestern University say the human brain is wired to look for familiarity and meaning in the most abstract squiggles. As a result, brains automatically identify similar objects and then organize them according to type. That’s why we can look at a baseball cap and a fedora and know right away that both are hats. Still, Matt Greene, the Hard Rock Hotel San Diego's general manager, is thrilled by the prospect. "Celebrities stay here all the time, but if it is Jesus, he'd be the biggest one to stay here."

Eco living: window wars at Trinity College, Cambridge - Trinity College in Cambridge has grand renovation plans – but conservationists aren't happy with the changes. Today the Grade I listed courtyard demonstrates the intense debate between conservationists and those who argue that Britain’s historic buildings must be made energy efficient. At stake is not just student comfort – New Court’s rooms are notoriously draughty – but the future habitability of the country’s historic buildings. By 2018, all privately rented properties, including thousands of homes in Grade I and Grade II* areas of Bath, Belgravia and properties on Crown and National Trust land will have to achieve minimum energy standards if they are not to fall foul of the 2011 Energy Act. The Trust has also installed solar thermal panels on the roof of 700-year-old Chirk Castle near Llangollen, providing hot water for residents. He says local authority conservation officers’ knowledge often lags behind the rapid development of new materials. I went to see New Court and could not tell the difference between the original single-paned windows and a “Histoglass” one. Trinity’s plans are just the kind of radical and inventive ideas worthy of the great thinkers Cambridge has produced.

An off-duty Woodbridge police officer who was attacked after the 2012 National Hockey League Winter Classic game in Philadelphia has filed a civil suit against the man who attacked him and the bar where the man had been drinking before the melee. Raymond Gill, a Woodbridge attorney representing Neal Auricchio Jr.(pictured), an Iraqi war veteran and five-year veteran of the Woodbridge Police Department, said the suit has been filed against Dennis Veteri of Glassboro and South Philly Bar and Grill in Philadelphia. Auricchio, who was injured after being punched and kicked in the head, an attack that was captured on video, has a titanium plate behind his left eye and scar tissue that affects his vision, as well as post-concussion symptoms, Gill said. Auricchio spent three months undergoing medical treatment.

The suit seeks at least $50,000 in damages. “We think the case is significantly worth more than $50,000,” Gill said Friday, the day after a news conference was conducted in Philadelphia to announce the suit. Last January, after the Winter Classic game between the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers, Auricchio and his friend, Michael Janocko, both Rangers fans wearing team jerseys, were standing in line to buy cheesesteaks at Geno’s Steaks in Philadelphia for the ride home. According to Gill, while the two men were standing in line, a group of people came out of a nearby bar and began taunting Auricchio and Janocko because they were wearing Rangers jerseys. The Rangers had defeated the Flyers in the game. According to the suit, the altercation started when Veteri paid a window washer to spray Auricchio and Janocko. Then Veteri knocked off Janocko’s hat and spit in it.

Bizarre accidents: Dying, of course, is bad enough but being proved wrong at the same time must be hard to take, as was the case for a Canadian lawyer who hurled himself out of a 24 floor window in Toronto while demonstrating to a group of visiting law students the ‘unbreakable’ nature of the glass. A lesson there for all of us, I think, about not tempting fate.

Wheel done Rab! Strathcarron supporter Rab Simpson has always gone the extra mile for the hospice. So when his name was randomly drawn from the hat for its fundraising car raffle, he was a particularly popular and deserving winner. The big-hearted Bannockburn man has raised well over £100,000 over more than two decades by collecting Barr’s returnable glass bottles. Now the 80-year-old is driving around in a brand new white Peugeot 208 provided by Hardies of Stirling. “I was gobsmacked when I got the phone call,” said Rab. “I thought they were kidding. It took a few days to sink in. Rab’s first donation to the hospice was in April 1990. More recently he handed over the bottle operation to Donald Crawford and David Walker, but continues to help with the collections.

People from all over the Central Belt contact the retired window cleaner asking him to collect their bottles in his trailer and he travels as far as Callander, Kippen, and even Glasgow, to ensure as many bottles get returned and as much cash is raised as possible.The majority of the collections have come from around 200 individuals and workplaces in the Stirling and Falkirk areas. He even had to invest in a special trailer to keep up with demand – although he twice had it stolen despite having it emblazoned with a large sign showing it is used in aid of Strathcarron.

I’ll steer kids away from gang life, says New Order's Hooky - New Order legend backing estate project that helps prevent youngsters being drawn into gangs, and founder says he has shown what can be achieved. New Order legend Peter Hook has a new role – helping prevent youngsters being drawn into gangs. The music star has been unveiled as the patron of community project United Estates of Wythenshawe. Based in Benchill, the charity aims to break down turf boundaries between rival groups in the area and divert youngsters from getting involved with gangs. More than 1,000 teenagers a week now use the centre’s gym, learn music and dance or work for the charity’s window cleaning and gardening social enterprise businesses.

Frugal Living - Dust high shelves: A window washing service will do it. My window washer routinely dusts my high ceiling fans and other hard-to-reach places. He will also change light bulbs and smoke detector batteries that are beyond the reach of a normal ladder! He helps with these small jobs when he is here for his “real job” of window washing. He has the appropriate ladders and equipment to do the jobs that most of us can’t reach. — Wendi, Arizona

Woody is a window cleaner. A few years ago, he was Britain’s favourite popstar. These days his window cleaning round brings him into contact with an odd collection of former celebs. Roxy Squires is one of the original TV ladettes. She’s interviewed more bands and flirted with more A-listers than you could shake a stick at. But now, how can she bring herself to admit that her fifteen minutes of fame might be over? Together, they form the world’s strangest self-help group; can Woody persuade his flock of failures to come to terms with life as ordinary civilians? Or will Roxy convince them to plump for one last shot at fame? Could It Be I’m Falling In Love? is the second, brilliantly funny novel from a bright new star in women’s fiction. Eleanor Prescott worked as a PR at MTV for seven years. She lives in Kent with her husband, son and daughter. Her first novel Alice Brown’s Lessons in the Curious Art of Dating was published by Quercus in 2012.

Denver council sparring over DIA contract, as union tries to organize: Renewal of a contract covering about three dozen airport security guards has created a rift in Denver's City Council, with at least one councilor alleging a union-backed effort is influencing his colleagues. On Tuesday night, Kniech questioned a DIA official and an HSS executive about allegations that workers have not received required training and that some have been disciplined for taking sick leave. Kniech voted against the bill on first reading, saying she will not support the final vote unless changes are made. Kniech said she is looking out for employees, not the union. "I don't want HSS kicked out," she said. "I want these problems solved. I am supportive of workers having a voice on the job. If they get a voice and I don't have satisfactory resolution, I still won't support the contract." The SEIU represents 700 workers at DIA, including window cleaners.

Spectrum Window Cleaners Are Hiring For Their Abseiling Division: Spectrum Window Cleaning, One of London’s leading commercial window cleaners, today announced that they plan to add a level 3 abseil window cleaner to their abseil cleaning division. Spectrum’s growing reputation in the London cleaning services market is demonstrated in the amount of growing demand for Spectrum Window Cleaners via repeat business requests. Lucian Ivan, Managing Director, at Spectrum Window Cleaning commented; “Spectrum’s continued growth in the London abseil cleaning services market via new business acquisition and through repeat business further demonstrates our growing reputation for quality and effectiveness on client premises. The hiring of qualified abseil cleaners ensures that we maintain the highest service levels of safety and effectiveness our clients expect”. The company offer employee’s great training opportunities, diversified contract work, the highest level of safety and competitive packages. Abseil cleaners are encouraged to apply to Spectrum Window Cleaning for open positions.

Cleaning firm to offer new jobs: A commercial and office facilities company is giving the town a boost with plans to take on 53 staff over the next three months. PCS Facilities has been awarded a substantial contract in the area which means it will hire area managers, supervisors, office managers and mobile teams to help support its growth for the year ahead. PCS Facilities is a national company and already employs more than 50 staff in Swindon and the surrounding area. The company is seeking to double that figure with the additional contracts.

The company specialises in commercial and office cleaning, window and carpet cleaning, waste management, pest control, ground maintenance, security and almost any task involved in the maintenance of a building, Company director Yucel Mehmet has lived in the town for 25 years. He said: “It’s an exciting time for us. “There is a demand for our expertise in Swindon and the local area and we are looking to double the size of our workforce. “As we expand we are looking to involve the local community and recruit from within the town. “Our aim is to deliver services to buildings without any fuss but with a high level of passion. “Swindon has a mix of old and new commercial and office developments and is a great place to develop PCS Facilities.”

Window Cleaning Charity & High Rise Rescue

A Santa costume to raise money. Click to super-size.

Window cleaner aiming to raise £1,000 for cancer charity: A window cleaner is planning to go to work dressed as Father Christmas for the whole of December to raise money for a cancer charity. Levi Mitchell, 21, is hoping to raise £1,000 for Cancer Research after his colleague died from the disease last month. Mr Mitchell, who lives in East Road in West Mersea, works for Hanley Cleaning Services and plans to complete his December window rounds around Essex in a Santa suit. He was prompted to raise money after friend Russell Stevenson, 53, died in November. “Russell was diagnosed six months ago and by then they had caught it too late and they couldn’t do anything for him,”

Mr Mitchell said. “He was the one who got me into the trade, I didn’t know what to be doing before he asked me to become a window cleaner so I owe him a lot.” He added: “Cancer seems to be hitting people more and more now. “I know from my own experience, and we have all had family affected by it.” Mr Mitchell is hoping customers and neighbours of customers will contribute while he works in the run up to Christmas. “I won’t be hard to miss,” he added.

High-rise rescue drama: Two window cleaners feared for their lives yesterday after they got stuck on a suspended platform on the 18th floor of a building in Manama's business district. They tried to hold on to the cables of the platform, which was swinging due to strong winds, for 15 minutes before they were rescued by firemen. The Indians, both in their 40s, were cleaning the windows of Al Salam Tower in the Diplomatic Area when an electrical malfunction stopped the platform from operating, leaving the workers stranded mid-air.

Passers-by heard the men's screams and called police and the Civil Defence, who managed to tie ropes around them and pull them to safety from the rooftop. "We reached the scene in around five minutes at 10.10am," said a fireman at the scene. "We hurried to save the men by going in the elevator which took us to the roof of the building. "We then dangled a rope, which is used specifically in these kinds of situations, which was wrapped around the bodies of the workers and we then lifted them up to the roof."

It is understood the men worked for Abdul A'al Cleaning and Maintenance Establishment, which was contracted to work on the building. Two fire engines carrying around 15 firemen rushed to the scene and police blocked all roads near the building to carry out the rescue mission. Officials at the scene claimed the malfunction occurred due to poor maintenance and urged cleaning companies not to send their workers on jobs during bad weather conditions. "In such weather conditions, where it is windy, companies should avoid using the suspended platform to clean windows, because they swing from side to side putting workers' lives at risk," said a policeman.

"There are at least four other buildings that we can see right now that are using these suspended platforms when it is windy. "We get a lot of similar cases where the window cleaners are stuck in mid-air fighting for their lives. "We are always ready for such cases that occur in the community, but we urge companies to help us by not using suspended platforms in poor weather conditions." An eyewitness, who works in a nearby building, said he had seen repeated incidents in the area where workers were put in danger. "This is not the first time I see workers hanging in midair due to a malfunction. These companies have the same problem occurring over and over again," said Hamed Shah. "However, the civil defence arrived very quickly, they went on the roof and lifted the workers up by a rope in a very professional manner."

The GDN reported in May that Pakistani Mohammed Shafique Siddique, who used to work as a window cleaner, plunged 17 floors to his death after the cables of a suspended platform he was working on snapped. He was cleaning the windows of the Al Rossais Tower in the Diplomatic Area when one of the cables broke at 7.30am, dropping the 48-year-old onto the ground. An Asian employee of the tower, who asked Mr Siddique to clean the windows of the building, is currently standing trial for manslaughter.

Window Cleaners Rescued In Abu Dhabi

Two workers were rescued by Abu Dhabi Police on Monday from falling 15 stories down a building on Salam Street.

Window cleaners rescued from falling 15 floors: Workers taken down using automatic ladder. Abu Dhabi: Two workers were rescued by the Abu Dhabi Police on Monday evening from falling 15 stories down a building on Salam Street on Monday evening. The Asian workers were cleaning the glass windows when the rope supporting their scaffolding suddenly snapped. Rescue workers gave the two men directions to help them steady the scaffolding and prevent it from swinging, revealed Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Ibrahim Al Ameri, Deputy Director of Emergency and Public Safety Department.
Rescue ropes were then wrapped around the workers as they were taken back to the ground using an automatic ladder. Scaffoldings used for cleaning buildings should be regularly maintained to ensure their durability, urged First Lieutenant Abdullah Hamad Al Tamimi, head of the Customer Service Centre at the General Directorate of Civil Defence in Abu Dhabi. These checks will ensure the device’s durability which is essential to avoid any such crashes which are a hazard to the safety of their users as well as those surrounding them, Al Tamimi added.

Two workers were rescued from a window cleaning cradle in Abu Dhabi when one of the ropes snapped.

Workers rescued after cleaning cradle rope snaps: Two workers were rescued from a window cleaning cradle in Abu Dhabi when one of the ropes snapped. The Asian workers had been cleaning the glass of a tall building on Salam Street in the capital on Monday evening when the incident happened. The were rescued by civil defence and police from the 15th floor using a crane. Colonel Mohammed Ibrahim Al Ameri, director of emergency and public safety section at Abu Dhabi Police, said the men had feared they would fall. Emergency services communicated with the workers to instal new ropes and the men were brought down safely.

Abu Dhabi window cleaners rescued from 15-storey fall: The Abu Dhabi Police and the Civil Defence rescued two Asian window cleaners from falling from the 15th floor of a building on Al Salam Street, after one of the ropes of a glass-cleaning scaffold broke, on Monday evening. Lieutenant Colonel Mohammed Ibrahim Al Amiri, Director of the Abu Dhabi Police Emergency and Public Safety Directorate, stated that the Operations Room received a call about the incident and that two terrified Asian workers were on board the scaffold. “The Rescue teams immediately started communicating with the workers,” he added. He added, “They assured them that all necessary precautions were being taken by fixing the crane to prevent it from swinging. They explained to the workers how to fix the crane with rescue ropes to prevent it from falling, and finally managed to get them down by mobile ladders.”

Official in dock over fatal plunge: A top official has gone on trial for manslaughter after an accident in which a window-cleaner plunged 17 floors to his death. The 34-year-old Bahraini appeared at the Lower Criminal Court yesterday in connection with the death of Pakistani Mohammed Shafique Siddique who was cleaning the windows of the Al Rossais Tower in the Diplomatic Area when one of the cables of a suspended platform he was working on snapped on May 27. The impact of the fall was so severe that the body of the 47-year-old was not in one piece. Mr Siddique was unable to hold on to anything as he was not wearing safety gear when he was 17 floors up in the air, according to court documents.
The building administrative director has also been accused of violating Labour Ministry rules by using the victim without a work permit, violating safety rules by not providing the safety equipment to the labourer and not maintaining the equipment. Witnesses took to the stand yesterday and said they heard the defendant call Mr Siddique and ask him to do some work in the building on the day of the incident. The judge adjourned the case until December 3 for the submission of defence papers and released the Bahraini from police custody after imposing a travel ban. Witnesses at the scene had earlier said they were shocked when they heard a hysterical scream and a loud thud caused by the impact of the fall. It is understood Mr Siddiqui took on odd jobs part time, but worked for Alia Buildings as a full-time employee. Previous blog on this fall here.

Bahrain Death Plunge For Window Cleaner

Death plunge horror: A window cleaner plunged 17 floors to his death yesterday after the cables of a suspended platform he was working on snapped. Pakistani Mohammed Shafique Siddique was cleaning the windows of the Al Rossais Tower in the Diplomatic Area when one of the cables broke at 7.30am, dropping the 48-year-old onto the ground. The impact of the fall was so severe that his body was not in one piece. Mr Siddique was unable to hold on to anything as he was not wearing safety gear when he was 17 floors up in the air. "As one of the cables snapped, Mr Siddique was thrown out," said a police official who was at the scene. "He had no time to grab on to anything and he was not harnessed."

Witnesses said they were shocked when they heard a hysterical scream and a loud thud caused by the impact of the fall. "The moment I looked up, I heard a loud noise and realised someone had fallen," said a car cleaner who was in the area. Another man, who was in a nearby building, said he could hear the commotion caused by the incident from inside his office lift. "When I looked down after reaching my office, I saw a crowd gathered at the scene," he said.

An investigation has been launched into the incident, said Labour Ministry labour inspections head Ahmed Al Haiki. "This is a clear case of a major violation and we will ensure the guilty are punished," he added. It is understood Mr Siddiqui took on odd jobs part time, but worked for Alia Buildings as a full-time employee. His two sons, brother-in-law, cousin and son-in-law live in Bahrain, while his wife and daughter live in Lahore in Pakistan's Punjab province. "There was no safety equipment and he was not harnessed. I am upset because we always believe nothing will happen. This is a tragedy and we are all very badly affected," said his cousin Tariq Naved.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Embassy officials pledged to help his family through insurance money. "We are saddened by the tragedy and will take all steps to see that the victim is given the proper insurance," said deputy head of mission Aurangzeb. However, Alia Buildings manager Adnan Saleh said the insurance money could not be handed over as Mr Siddiqui violated the terms of his employment, but promised to help his family in other ways and pay for the repatriation. "He was with our company for the last 20 years and was a very dedicated worker," he said. "However, I now know he was working for other people when he was off work, maybe to earn extra money. This is illegal. "The insurance money may not be handed over since he was violating the terms of the contract."

Update: Mystery over plunge death deepens: Mystery surrounds the death of a window-cleaner who fell 17 floors on Sunday when the cables of a suspended platform he was working on snapped. Sources told the GDN last night Pakistani Mohammed Shafique Siddique reported for work at around 7.30am and stepped into the platform even when officials managing the Al Rossais Tower had not scheduled any cleaning at that time. Other sources said the cleaning equipment might not have been properly maintained or Mr Siddique, 48, might not have taken adequate precautions before stepping inside the platform. Labour Ministry labour inspections head Ahmed Al Haiki said a probe was underway. Pakistan Embassy deputy head of mission Aurangzeb said they would do all they could to help repatriate Mr Siddique's body.

Window Cleaning News

A window cleaner, (click picture to enlarge) lower right, works on an office tower in the capital of Manama, Bahrain, Monday Oct. 3, 2011, that bears images of Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, center, Prime Minister Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, left, and Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, right. A Bahraini lawyer said Monday that 14 people have been sentenced to life in prison by a security court in the Gulf island kingdom for the killing of a Pakistani man during anti-government unrest.

Fatal fall from a substantial height, DANBURY - Phil Esposito set out to find a certain kind of hockey player upon his appointment as the Danbury Whalers' new head coach and president of hockey operations at the start of summer. Aaron Alto fit the mold. Sadly, the Danbury faithful will never see what Esposito saw in Alto when the Anchorage, Alaska, native was inked to a contract last month following an impressive showing at the Whalers' two-day free agent camp. Alto died September 24 as a result of injuries sustained two days prior in what Esposito described as a fall from a substantial height at the window-washing business Alto owned and operated out of his hometown. Alto was 22. "It makes you think about what it is you're doing every day. You're here and you're doing a job and you're trying to win hockey games, but something like this makes you really take a step back and (put things in perspective)," Esposito said. "You realize how precious life is."

Rappellers on Washington Monument find celebrity and some distractions - Erik Sohn, 33, said people usually didn't line up to watch him work as he and colleagues moved up and down, examining the outside walls of big buildings. "They think we're window washers, and they just walk on and they don't really stare at us," he said. "So this is a new experience." Then again, usually the buildings aren't major tourist attractions. Sohn, of Fairfax, Va., has been entertaining gawkers on the National Mall since Wednesday, one of four engineers and architects on a daredevil "difficult-access team" that's rappelling the 555-foot Washington Monument to check for small cracks caused by the 5.8-magnitude earthquake that struck the region Aug. 23. It may be the coolest job in all of Washington, at least in the eyes of Sohn's 3-year-old son, Schaffer, who got to watch his dad for four hours on Thursday. "He keeps referring to Spiderman," Sohn said. Sohn, who called the job "awe-inspiring," said a big challenge had been the acrobatics required to get out of the small windows atop the monument to begin his daily work. "It's a tight squeeze as you get out there with all the ropes and all the weight behind you and everything else," he said. "So it's just trying not to make a fool out of yourself as you slide out in front of all the cameras and the people watching you."

Fish Window Cleaning has an opening for a manager. Job title: Manager. Description: Fish Window Cleaning in Loganville has an opening for a manager. The operations manager is responsible for staff, sales and window cleaning. Qualifications: Qualified applicants for this position should have their own, dependable and respectable vehicle with proper insurance, have a valid driver’s license, be able to work independently and have a respectable appearance.

Alan Duckworth dressed as a baby, to raise cash for Baby Beat Appeal with window cleaner Stephen Neatis preparing to walk from Ewood Park to Deepdale.

Hey baby, have you gone the rung way? Have you heard the one about the window cleaner and the man dressed as a baby? If not, look out, they may soon be striding towards you on a fundraising mission. Window cleaner Stephen Neatis, 41, of Malvern Close, Lostock Hall, is set to walk from Ewood Park, Blackburn, to Preston North End’s Deepdale ground, to raise cash to help a child who is battling cancer. He will be joined in the 11.1 mile jaunt on Saturday, by friend Alan Duckworth, 41, also of Lostock Hall, who will be raising cash for Baby Beat Appeal. Stephen, a dad-of-six, whose five-year-old son Cody Joe has Down’s Syndrome, and Dexter, three, who suffers from autism. Through Facebook he got to know the parents of Harvey Hext, three, who has Down’s Syndrome and neuroblastoma, an aggressive cancer, and decided to help the Bristol-based family raise cash for specialist treatment. He said: “I did not want to throw myself out a plane or of the top of a tall building. “Because we have disabled children we have got to know people all over the world.” To sponsor Stephen or Alan visit the Lostock Hall Conservative Club, in Brownedge Road, or contact Stephen on Facebook.

Bratislava, Slovakia: A Czech friend, who has achieved considerable success in life since then, reminded me that for several years he was a window-washer under the Communist regime. The government of the proletariat believed that the worst thing it could do to people who had dissented was to send them into the proletariat. During that period, he was very active in the democratic opposition. Since he spoke good English, he was often asked by his comrades (probably not the right word) in the anti-Communist struggle for freedom to be the guide for visiting Western sympathizers. Often, he recounts, these were Western leftists eager to explain to those Czechs engaged in the battle for liberty that Marxian socialism was really a great idea, they just needed to make a few adjustments.

DPW employee gets “taxpayer advocate” award: The Bergen County Freeholders recently honored Department of Public Works employee Marty Murtagh with their first-ever “Taxpayer Advocate” award. Murtagh was presented with the award at the Sept. 21st Freeholders meeting. County officials credited him with saving the department over $137,000 by combining janitorial contracts, eliminating unnecessary cell phones and land line phones and cutting a window-washing contract by making it once-a-year instead of twice-a-year.

NEW YORK CITY – In its second week, the “Occupy Wall Street” protests who say they are marching against banks and corporate greed seems to be gaining momentum as the New York’s Transit Workers Union Local, the SEIU (Service Employees International Union) and other unions are pledging their support by planning to march with the protesters. The Transit Workers Union that represents subway and bus workers with approximately 38,000 members will join “Occupy Wall Street” on Oct. 5, to show their support with the protesters who say they are marching in the financial district against corporate profits on Wall Street. The SEIU (Service Employees International Union) that represents security officers, doormen, porters, maintenance, aides, window cleaners and food service workers will also be showing their support by joining protesters on Oct. 12.

Dead at 71, Olson's crimes, narcissism ensure legacy as Canada's worst villain: Neighbours in their apartment building remember Olson as a creepy "candy man" who tried to befriend children by offering them small jobs. Indeed, he lured some of his victims that way, such as 16-year-old Sandra Wolfsteiner, who was hitchhiking when Olson picked her up and offered her work as a window cleaner. The killing spree paralysed Vancouver and its suburbs with fear, as children disappeared who didn't fit the profile of troubled runaways. On Aug. 12, 1981, weeks after police first identified Olson as a suspect, he was finally arrested on Vancouver Island after a surveillance team spotted him picking up two young hitchhikers. His trial on 10 first-degree murder charges began Jan. 14, 1982, but it ended within days when Olson reversed his not-guilty plea. He admitted to 11 killings and was sentenced to life with no parole eligibility for 25 years. The judge recommended he never get out.

Flying chair hits Sydney high rise and shuts street: For a little wicker chair it's causing a lot of fuss. A busy street in the The Rocks remains closed for a second day because of fears a chair hanging precariously off a Sydney high rise building could come unstuck and plummet to the ground, injuring pedestrians and motorists. Strong winds are thwarting attempts to retrieve the outdoor cane piece. Wind blew the chair off a balcony in Harrington Street, near Circular Quay, shortly after 3.30pm (AEST) on Thursday. It became wedged precariously in the window of an opposite building 20 floors above the ground. A hydraulic platform wasn't tall enough to reach it while none of the windows on any of the building's floors open. The only solution left was for firefighters to come down from the roof of the 40 floor building by either abseiling or using the buildings window cleaning gantry. But the use of the gantry is immediately disabled when winds are stronger than five knots and plans to remove it at 5am (AEST) on Friday had to be cancelled. Airborne chair finally comes down.

Banks to Make Customers Pay Fee for Using Debit Cards: Consumers have already begun to react to the changes. Patrick Shields, 48, said he had decided to leave Citibank, where he has held a small-business account for his residential window cleaning business since 1986. He was contemplating opening a personal checking account, but realized he could do better at a credit union. “At the credit union, they opened it free of charges, which Citi could not and would not do,” said Mr. Shields, who noted that a personal checking account would have cost more than the one he uses for his New York business. “Now I have both accounts covered, and I am fee-free.”

Bold Commercials and Flavors Aim to Spice Up Chili’s Brand - In another new spot, three office workers step out of their building and shield their faces with their hands. “What is that?” says one. “It burns!” says another. And another adds, “It’s singeing me!” A window washer nearby deadpans, “It’s the sun.” Then a voice-over says, “Get out of the office more often, with Chili’s $6 Lunch Break combos” and shots of half sandwiches with soup and French fries are shown. Video here.

For window cleaner Michael Mikkelsen, witnessing how dementia has slowly eaten away at his father's mind has been incredibly painful to watch. Like thousands of Queenslanders, Michael has been thrust into a nightmare as he deals with the mental annihilation of a man who was once very alert. For former flight engineer Norm Mikkelsen, 85, experiencing his own demise is the cruellest blow of all. Michael said his father still knew what his life was like before the onset of the disease. Norm was diagnosed about a year ago with suspected Lewy body dementia, which is closely allied to Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. The once-active man now has trouble walking and feeding himself, and will eventually die as a result of the disease, unable to recognise even those closest to him or remember his past. "It's probably harder on him," Michael said before visiting his father at NoosaCare's Carramar aged-care home on what was World Alzheimer's Day. "He still knows he's not right. So it's pretty hard on both of us." Michael visits Carramar, which he said did a wonderful job, almost every day. He said some days were better than others. "Right now he's not good, but three weeks ago he was really good," he said. NoosaCare group care manager Sandra Gunner described Alzheimer's as a "very cruel disease" which greatly affected families. "The person they once had in their lives, and knew in their lives, isn't there any longer," she said. According to Alzheimer's Australia, dementia affects thinking, behaviour and the ability to perform everyday tasks. Dementia can happen to anybody, but it is more common after the age of 65.

Paul E. Booher (Kittanning) 81, of Kittanning passed Wednesday, September 28, 2011 at ACMH. He was born January 5, 1930 in Kittanning to Emanuel and Bertha (Fails) Booher. Paul lived in Kittanning his entire life and worked for Stull’s Cleaning as a window washer.

Two men have been arrested following the death of a man in Co Down. The body of the 60-year-old, named locally as George Bowman, was found at his home in Mountview Drive in Dromore on Tuesday night. The men, aged 34 and 37, are being held at Lurgan police station. DUP councillor Paul Rankin said Mr Bowman was well known within the community and had suffered from health problems in the last few years. He said that he was a long-term resident in the area who had been living at the address for some time. “I would have known the family,” Mr Rankin added. “He had health problems and had taken a stroke or heart attack at some point and hadn’t worked for a while. “You would always have seen him on the street. “Most of the people in the town would have been shocked to hear the news — they were a close family. “He lived with his wife and his children.” Mr Rankin said he had last seen the former window cleaner on Sunday walking around the local area.

Beyond a Joke by Bruce Dessau - Nor did I know much about George Formby. To me, Formby was a cheerful man with a ukulele who sang about being a window cleaner. Actually, as Dessau tells us, he was also a compulsive shagger, a depressive alcoholic and an obsessive collector of cars. He bought his first Rolls in 1937, and then bought 130 more cars over the next 20 years. He "collapsed on stage"; he became addicted to morphine; he was a chain-smoker; he had heart attacks; he became terrified of performing but drove himself on, singing his ditties, seducing women, buying cars, until he died of a heart attack at the age of 56. Dessau shows us that comedians tend to be weird, or compulsive, or obsessive; they veer easily towards depression; and they mostly find themselves, at least for a period, desperately out of fashion. Beyond this, he doesn't over-analyse.

Vincent Flynn 1957-2011,(of Dundalk) died peacefully in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda on September 9th was a member of a well known local family and a popular figure in the lower end of town. Aged 54, Vincent was one of 12 children of Rosaleen and Daniel Flynn, and was predeceased by brothers, Danny, and Tommy. The family who resided in Emer Terrace will be best remembered as newspaper vendors who distributed local, and national newspapers to homes all over town and sold them at the Market Square. The business was started by Vincent's mother and carried on by a number of her sons, including Vincent. Vincent also worked for a time in O'Mahony Plastics on Coe's Road, after which he started he own window cleaning round. He had many loyal customers and had an extensive round in the town. He also worked for a time on FAS schemes in parts of the town.

Having emerged from the tail end of punk rock's ethers in 1978 as lead vocalist with iconic four-piece Bauhaus, Peter Murphy has forged a reputation as one of the most unique, and challenging songwriters of his and every subsequent generation since. "Yeah but I'm half-Irish which makes me slightly mad! My dad was an iron worker who'd work double shifts in the week then have a window cleaning round at the weekend. I guess that whole work ethic is in the blood? It's been much harder work bringing up two children to be honest, but worth it all the same. I think touring actually keeps you physically well, provided you stay away from the drugs and booze of course."

Peter Docker, 47, is an actor, too, with credits ranging from Neighbours to The Circuit, as well as a long list of theatre roles in Melbourne and Perth. More recently, however, Docker has established himself as a writer, with work that probes the intersection of black and white. As a young adult, he worked as a dairy hand, hay carter, wheat bogger, window washer, bank teller, lift driver, barman, concierge, adult product vendor, army reservist and rock singer. When he became an actor, he found his talent but also found he was miserable.

Business champions to inspire Wales: Six inspirational entrepreneurs who have all built up successful companies in Wales have been appointed as Business Entrepreneurship Champions to the Welsh Government. Business Minister Edwina Hart said their role is to promote entrepreneurship and provide guidance on entrepreneurship policy to the Welsh Government. One of the six Champions is: Ben Giles - Ultima Cleaning Ltd, Cardigan – left school at 15 to start a window-cleaning round and has since set up multiple successful and highly innovative businesses, but still retains his original window cleaning business.

The Champions will form a voluntary network, meeting three times a year and speaking at several key events in Wales to promote entrepreneurship and inspire others to consider the entrepreneurship path into business. They were selected through an open procurement process via Sell2Wales and press advertisements that attracted 48 potential candidates. Officials are undertaking additional recruitment to appoint a Welsh-speaking Champion. The positions are voluntary and unpaid although travel and subsistence can be claimed.

EVANSVILLE — Angela Williams learned first-hand that homeless can occur seemingly in the bat of an eye. The sixth of seven children, Williams, the assistant director of alumni and parent relations at the University of Evansville, lived with her parents in a large Philadelphia home. Her mother worked for the local National Association for the Advancement of Colored People chapter, and her father owned his own window-washing business. The family was doing just fine. “And then my father died,” Williams said.

Firefighters Rappel Down Hartford Skyscraper For Rescue Training: When the 13 members of the Canton Volunteer Fire Department's technical rescue team spent Sunday afternoon rapelling down the 11-story building at 10 Columbus Boulevard known as the "candy cane" building, they weren't just there for the view. Although Canton's tallest buildings are only four stories, "If we can rappel from the roof of a building, we have another rescue option. It's the same ropes set-up whether you have a 100-foot or a 1,000-foot building," technical rescue team advisor Michael Krupa said.

Sunvalley Window Cleaners will donate a 60-foot Boom Lift in the Ramada Hotel parking lot facing Enterprise Way to hoist a sign in to help promote the drive-thru to passing motorists, thanks to the support of Sunvalley owner Martin McDermott.