1 Rescue, 1 Death & 1 Waiting To Be Saved

Firefighters rescue two window washers caught on a dangling scaffolding 164 feet up. No injuries were reported according to local media. Click to enlarge.

Window washers rescued after dangling from Chile hotel 164 feet above the ground: Two window washers were hanging onto their lives by a string at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Santiago. They were successfully rescued by a firefighter crew. A duo of window washers was rescued Wednesday morning when the platform they were on snapped. The men were trying to clean the windows of the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Santiago, Chile.

One of the washers was hanging onto a harness while the other was still holding on to the scaffold dangling from 164 feet above the ground. Firefighters were not able to reach them with a ladder so they rappelled down the building, according to local media. The man on the harness was rescued first, then the one on the platform. It was reported that the men had no injuries, but they both received medical attention.

Officials are still trying to figure out what went wrong and are trying to investigate if the platform wasn't secured properly. A similar incident happened earlier this month at the 1 World Trade Center in New York.

Dumont window washer dies after falling from ladder behind Norwood home: A 62-year-old window washer from Dumont died after falling from a ladder outside a Norwood home today. The Dyer Court homeowner told police she came home the middle of this afternoon and found the self-employed contractor dead on her rear deck.

He’d apparently landed on his head hours earlier, said emergency responders. The Bergen County Medical Examiner pronounced him dead at the scene through Hackensack University Medical Center paramedics. “He must have gotten there around 8 a.m. and was cleaning gutters and washing windows when the homeowner left,” said Police Chief Jeffrey Krapels.

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Ladder Fall - R.I.P. Patrick Garrity

Patrick Garrity, window cleaner died from a ladder fall yesterday in Long Hill Rd, Dromore.

Shock as Dromore man dies after fall (Co Tyrone): The man has been named locally as Patrick Garrity, who was aged in his early 50s. It is understood the long established window cleaner fell off a ladder and was killed instantly as he worked at a house on the Long Hill Road, Dromore. 

Mr Garrity was a single man who had three brothers. Offering her sympathy to his family, local councillor Ann Quinn said the community was “devastated”. “Patrick was a real gentlemen, very quiet and reserved,” she said. “He cared for his sick mother until her death a few years ago. He had built up a good window cleaning round and was very well known and popular. 

I spoke to people in the town, and they cannot believe this has happened to Patrick. They are devastated. He was a lovely man and my sympathy goes out to his family.” A spokesperson for Health and Safety Executive confirmed, “We have been made aware of an incident and are investigating. Our thoughts are with the family at this difficult time.” Police have also stated they are aware of Mr Garrity’s death and said it is not being treated as suspicious.

Window Cleaner, 71, Dies In Ladder Fall

Hindmarch Drive, Boldon.

Window cleaner, 71, dies in ladder fall: Tributes have been paid to a window cleaner who died while on his round. Robert Veater, 71, of Durham Road, Sunderland, was killed after falling from a ladder when working on a house in Hindmarch Drive, West Boldon. Mr Veater, a dad-of-three and grandad-of-five was taken to South Tyneside District Hospital after the fall but died of his injuries. Mr Veater’s family told the Echo they were too upset to speak about the tragedy. Stunned neighbours today told of their shock at his death. Mark Spinks, who lives just doors away from the house where the accident happened, said: “It was horrific.”

The 30-year-old, who lives with partner Sherry Alderson, 29, said: “We heard the ambulance and the police cars and went outside to see what had happened. “He was just lying on the ground. It was horrific. Mr Spinks, dad to Mark, eight, and Katie, two, added: “He was only trying to make an honest living and for that to happen is terrible.” Pat Saunders, of Hardie Drive, in West Boldon, said Mr Veater would be hugely missed by residents.

The 66-year-old, whose windows had been cleaned by Mr Veater for the past 30 years, said: “Bob’s death has got everybody round here really upset. “He was absolutely great. “He’d seen all of my kids grow up and me grandkids too. “He had been amazing over the years. “He was lovely to everyone and with there being a lot of older people where we live he was very pally with them.”

A spokeswoman for Northumbria Police said: “At 10.23am on November 8 police received a report from the Ambulance Service of an injured man at Hindmarch Drive, in Boldon. “Officers attended and a 71-year-old man was taken to South Tyneside Hospital where he subsequently died. “A report has been prepared for the coroner.” An inquest by South Tyneside coroner Terence Carney into Mr Veater’s death has been opened and adjourned. Mr Veater’s funeral takes place tomorrow at 11.30am at Sunderland Crematorium.

This is what the locals think of window cleaners.
Also see 72 Year Old Window Cleaner Falls To His Death.

72 Year Old Window Cleaner Falls To His Death

The new estate where Keith Harrison fell to his death.

Jury says Barnsley window cleaner fell to his death: A pensioner who worked as a window cleaner died when he fell off his ladder and plummeted to the ground, an inquest heard. Keith Harrison, aged 72, was washing windows at a house on Verona Drive, Darfield, Barnsley, when the tragic accident happened. He was taken to Barnsley Hospital and transferred to the Royal Hallamshire in Sheffield but died three days later, on January 26. Mr Harrison, had lived on Mount Street, Ardsley, for most of his life. He once worked as a miner, but gave up his job at Houghton Main pit when a friend died in an accident. Mr Harrison also worked in Barnsley Council’s refuse department and started an afternoon window cleaning round. Jurors recorded a verdict of accidental death.

HEALTH & SAFETY DOCUMENT CODE of PRACTICE 

WORKING at HEIGHT
ISSUE DATE & VERSION   JANUARY 2012 v1.2

 

4.1  Generic Risk Assessments and Their Application

The purpose of a generic risk assessment is to define the parameters within which a piece of
equipment e.g. step ladder, elevating platform etc can be safely used. The following generic risk
assessments have been produced and are available by following the links below: The generic risk assessment will give consideration to the following:

• the activity – including loading (weights, dimensions of materials); 
• the condition and stability of the work surfaces; 
• the duration of the work; 
• the equipment that will be used at height, e.g. tools and their weight; 
• personal protective equipment; 
• the environment, e.g. weather, temperature, lighting; 
• the physical condition of the people involved e.g. age, fitness, pregnancy, vertigo; 
• the training and supervision of the people undertaking the work at heights; 
• maintenance and storage of the equipment used for working at heights; 
• emergencies and rescue.

OAP window cleaner dies after plunge: A window cleaner who had been in the business for more than 40 years has died after falling from his ladder. Keith Harrison, 72, was cleaning windows when he fell and banged his head. He was rushed to Sheffield’s Royal Hallamshire Hospital but died three days later, following a stroke. Eunice Clifton, 67, his close friend and neighbour in Ardsley, Barnsley, said: “He was jolly, kind and just a lovely man. People are in absolute shock. “He loved being a window cleaner, I think it was the social aspect of it. He just couldn’t retire because he liked it so much.
“The day he had the accident he had been mending my fencing. He had got to the last panel and was coming back in the afternoon but never got the chance.” Mr Harrison, who had lived on the same street since he was a boy, was a former miner who worked in Barnsley Council’s refuse department and started an afternoon window cleaning round. He cleaned windows all over Barnsley and was working at a house in Darfield when the accident happened.

Ladder Death After Forty Years Of Window Cleaning

OAP window cleaner dies after plunge: A window cleaner who had been in the business for more than 40 years has died after falling from his ladder. Keith Harrison, 72, was cleaning windows when he fell and banged his head. He was rushed to Sheffield’s Royal Hallamshire Hospital but died three days later, following a stroke.

Eunice Clifton, 67, his close friend and neighbour in Ardsley, Barnsley, said: “He was jolly, kind and just a lovely man. People are in absolute shock. “He loved being a window cleaner, I think it was the social aspect of it. He just couldn’t retire because he liked it so much.

“The day he had the accident he had been mending my fencing. He had got to the last panel and was coming back in the afternoon but never got the chance.” Mr Harrison, who had lived on the same street since he was a boy, was a former miner who worked in Barnsley Council’s refuse department and started an afternoon window cleaning round.

He cleaned windows all over Barnsley and was working at a house in Darfield when the accident happened last week. A funeral will he held on Monday at Ardsley Crematorium.