Elevated Platform Rescue Merseyside

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

OSHA Cites Cleaning Service After Fatal Fall

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hanging From The Skies

The buildings where they work are equipped with a built-in ‘suspended scaffold platforms’, commonly known as a ‘swing stage’.

Hanging from the skies – A chat with the window cleaners of Kuwait’s skyscrapers: If you suffer from vertigo, window-cleaning is not the job for you. But for some some, it’s an everyday task. The job is challenging considering the safety risks for the cleaners, especially in Kuwait where safety precautions are not always implemented or enforced.

Kuwait Times spoke to several window cleaners who work in Kuwait City skyscrapers and was amazed by their bravery. “Yes we are insured and our salary is better than regular cleaners,” said Yousef Mazumder, a Bangladeshi supervisor. He told Kuwait Times that in the event of an accident, the worker’s family can claim monetary compensation from the company.

“This job is quite dangerous but every worker undergoes a series of training and workshops; we have safety briefings every time they ascend and descend for the job; we prepare them mentally and I always tell them to relax and not have any worries whilst up there,” he noted. Muzumder’s job is to ensure each and every member of his team is safe at the end of the day. “My job is to keep them safe on the job site and make sure that they are all at ease with each other. Personal problems should be left on the ground,” asserted Mazumder.

The buildings where they work are equipped with a built-in ‘suspended scaffold platforms’, commonly known as a ‘swing stage’. These machine is regularly maintained and also have locally-based engineers and technicians to help in case of a breakdown. “We have regular checks regardless whether we have a problem or not. The good thing is that they are just a call away. When I call for help, within minutes they are here. My objective every day is to finish the job with zero accidents,” Mazumder said.

It can take up to a month to clean the façade windows of a 30-storey glass building. While cleaning glass faced skyscrapers, a team must have at least 10 people plus a supervisor to oversee the process. The suspended scaffold is permitted to carry two to three workers to perform the cleaning job. An operator is usually stationed in the control room to communicate with the cleaners on the swing stage. “We work as a team. It needs coordination. The cleaners can only swing sideways; but lowering or moving the platform is done by the operator in the control room,” Mazumder explained.

The swing stage is also equipped with several safety tools and equipment including built-in harnesses attached to the bodies of the cleaners and the platform . “I instruct them to wear the harness at all times. There are other cables here inside this swing stage; these are used to support the platform to prevent unnecessary movements when a strong wind blows. The rope also serves as a support in the event of a breakdown. They are also connected to the glass windows in the building, so we are really safe,” he assured.

Jenat Ali Sheikh from Bangladesh and Saru Munam from India are two of the window cleaners who scale the heights of some of Kuwait’s tallest skyscrapers. “This is my job and I do this every day without fear,” Sheikh said. “I am not afraid anymore; in the beginning it was scary, but not now. Anyway, all jobs are dangerous even if you are in an office; you go out in the street you don’t know whether you’ll reach home alive,” he reasoned.

Munam said they were carefully trained before getting the job as window cleaners. “I underwent training for about one or two months. Initially, we start from the first floor; then every day, if we can tolerate the height, they increased the floors until the top floor; It’s a process – you will be replaced if you cannot tolerate heights,” Munam said.

The scaffolding carries about five buckets of water and some chemicals to clean the windowpanes. When all the water is consumed, the operator lifts up the swing stage to replenish it. Cleaners perform the job manually using the chemicals and other cleaning tools and equipment. Generally, chemicals are added to water and a brush or cloth-covered wiper is dipped into the resulting solution and used to scrub the glass. A squeegee is then used to sluice the dirt and water mixture from the glass.

Note: Suspended platforms are access platforms for one or more workers with manual or motor driven devices for raising and lowering via ropes. Platforms may be fitted to high rise buildings or skyscrapers, or assembled from components to suit the architecture and nature of work being performed. These can be either temporary or permanent. Both have their own unique governing codes and regulations. Permanent suspended platforms are often known as building maintenance units (BMU) and their platforms are also known as gondolas in Europe.

New York - Toronto - Scaffold Malfunctions

Two workers were rescued after a scaffold malfunction in NYC, when the platform/scaffold got stuck on the exterior of the 22nd floor of the building at W. 38th St. and 6th Ave. Responding firefighters had to cut a glass window on the 22nd floor to free the trapped workers, officials said.

2 Workers Rescued From Scaffolding Outside Midtown Skyscraper: Two window washers were rescued from scaffolding after becoming stuck 22 stories up at a 30-story skyscraper on Fifth Avenue Wednesday, authorities say. The movable scaffold got stuck after its electricity died, according to a source at the scene. As a result, the device wasn't able to move up or down, trapping the workers.

FDNY crews rescued the workers by cutting through a double-pane glass window. The workers were not injured, the source said. The scaffolding company will work to determine what went wrong with the scaffold, which was still hanging from the building at 3:30 p.m. Mechanics at the scene planned to raise the scaffold to the roof, fix it and then lower it to the ground.

Two window washers were rescued from scaffolding after becoming stuck 22 stories up.

Three Men Rescued From Swing Stage 23 Floors Up At Bay And Queen (Toronto, Canada) - Three men have been brought to safety after spending hours trapped on a swing stage outside the 23rd floor of a highrise  in the cities downtown core. It’s believed the men spent four hours stranded on the stage in the area of Bay Street and Queen Street West.

Nearly 20 firefighters were involved in the rescue of the window washers which got underway just before 6 this evening, with the rescuers removing a window pane to reach the men. They were rescued at around 7.p.m and no injuries were reported. Roads in the area had been closed for a time to facilitate the rescue but have since fully reopened.

Five trucks and approximately 20 firefighters worked to remove a building window to access the Toronto window cleaners.

R.I.P. Tyler Peterson

A view of Bella Vista Independent and Assisted Living in Oshkosh. Tyler Peterson, 20, an Oshkosh man was taken to the hospital and later died from his injuries.

Fatal fall victim identified as Oshkosh man, 20: The man who died after a reported five-story fall in Oshkosh was washing windows, authorities say. The Winnebago County Coroner's Office says Tyler Peterson, 20, of Oshkosh, died Wednesday. He was working at Bella Vista Independent and Assisted Living, 631 Hazel St., when scaffolding gave way.

Oshkosh police say they were called to the apartment complex around 12:40 p.m. for a report of a person who fell five stories. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration is also investigating Peterson's death. Bella Vista is the former Mercy Medical Center building near Menominee Park.

Oshkosh police, OSHA investigate man's death: Local and federal authorities continue to investigate the Wednesday, Sept. 9, death of a 20-year-old Oshkosh window-washer who they say fell five stories from a senior and assisted living facility.

The manner of death appears to be consistent with the fall itself, although authorities won't have a preliminary cause of his injuries until after a preliminary autopsy, which was scheduled for noon, Thursday, Sept. 10, Winnebago County Coroner Barry Busby said. Authorities anticipate releasing the findings of that preliminary examination sometime Friday, Sept. 11.

"This is a tragic accident and kind of unusual," Busby said, noting there has not been a job-related fatality of this nature in Oshkosh during his 18-year tenure as coroner. "With OSHA and everybody else involved, you have more eyes on it."

Tyler S. Peterson fell from a platform while washing windows on the fifth floor of Bella Vista Retirement Community, 631 Hazel St., which is the former Mercy Medical Center building, authorities said.

Authorities responded to a report of a person falling five stories from the building at 12:40 p.m., Wednesday, in the 600 block of Hazel Street, according to an Oshkosh Police Department news release. Peterson was transported to a local hospital, where he later died.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is conducting its own investigation of the incident to determine whether any violations of OSHA standards occurred, agency spokeswoman Rhonda Burke said in an email.

Two OSHA compliance safety and health officers from the agency's Appleton-area office responded to the scene after being notified at about 2 p.m., Wednesday, Burke said. Agency personnel will collect evidence, conduct interviews and review records relevant to the incident and will analyze the information for any violations for which citations might be issued.

Burke declined to provide more specifics about the incident, noting the agency does not comment on open investigations, but said falls are the leading cause of death in the workplace.

"There is no doubt that OSHA has saved thousands of lives, but far too many preventable injuries, illnesses and fatalities continue to occur," Burke said. "Workers and families should never accept the risk of death as a condition for employment — and neither should we."

Tyler Peterson, 20, of Oshkosh, died unexpectedly on September 9, 2015. He was born on January 20, 1995, the son of Suzanne Braatz. Tyler was a window washer for Serwas Window Cleaning. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and being with family and friends.

Tyler is survived by his mother Suzanne, step father Doug Swanke, two sisters Felicia Peterson, Savannah Swanke, his grandparents, Debra and Ronald Winter, Craig and Leigh Braatz, great grandparents Ken and Sylvia Braatz, his Aunt Shirley and other aunts and uncles, two nephews Damion and Rylan, special family Tina, Gina, Sara, cousins, special friend Daria and many other friends. Tyler was preceded in death by his great grandparents Doris and Everett Wohlrabe and his uncle Everette Wohlrabe

Services for Tyler will be on Tuesday, September 15, 2015, at 11:00 am at Konrad-Behlman Funeral Homes- Westside. Family and friends can visit at the funeral home on Monday, September 14, 2015, from 4:00-8:00 pm and on Tuesday from 10:00 am until time of service. Burial will be at the Pine River Cemetery. Please dress in casual and comfortable "Tyler Attire". 

United Nations Scaffold Platform Malfunction

Manhattan, New York: Scaffold malfunction.

Window washer basket dangling from building in Midtown Manhattan — A window washer basket was seen dangling off a building near the United Nations. The washer basket was attached to a residential building located at 866 United Nations Plaza on 48th Street and First Avenue. The basket has been stabilized and evened out. Police have closed off part of First Avenue that caused major delays heading northbound on 42nd Street. It’s unknown if there was anyone in the basket.

The washer basket was attached to a residential building located at 866 United Nations Plaza on 48th Street and First Avenue.

Chicago Failed Scaffolding Platform

All three made it inside the building through a window before fire crews arrived and were evaluated for injuries, according to the Chicago Fire Department. No one was hurt.

No one hurt after scaffold malfunction at Civic Opera building: No one was injured when a scaffold malfunctioned outside the Civic Opera House on Friday afternoon in the Loop.

Rescue crews were called to the building at 20 N. Wacker after a scaffold malfunctioned on the 16th floor, Fire Media Affairs said at 2:43 p.m. Three workers were able to get inside through windows before fire crews arrived.

Workers were medically evaluated on the scene and were uninjured, the fire department said. The platform has since been lowered to the ground for evaluation and repair.

White Knuckle Ride For Chinese Window Cleaners

Bad day at work for two Chinese window cleaners on China's second tallest building, the Shanghai World Financial Centre. The platform crashed into window of 100 Century Avenue Restaurant, shattering the glass. All employees on the 91st floor were then immediately evacuated. and luckily, the two workers on board at the time were not shaken off the platform and only suffered minor injuries.

Window cleaners take ride of their lives: Window cleaners endured a terrifying 15 minutes yesterday when the platform they were working from hundred of meters above ground began swinging violently. The pair were suspended between the 91st and 92nd floors of the Shanghai World Financial Center, the city’s second-tallest building at 492 meters, when their cradle slammed into a curtain wall, sending glass flying into the building and down to the ground.

The white-knuckle ride, which began at 9:15am, lasted about 15 minutes before the platform stopped swinging and could be lowered to a place where the cleaners were able to get off, Shanghai TV reported. The men have some bruises and one sprained his wrist, but they were otherwise unharmed by the ordeal, Yao Hui, a press officer with the building, told Shanghai Daily.

The men work for a cleaning company and were carrying out regular maintenance, he said. Some glass fell inside the building, so people on the 91st floor were evacuated, Yao said. While the cause of the incident is unknown, it was “confirmed that no ropes of the platform had snapped,” he said. A person inside the financial center managed to capture part of the incident on a cellphone and later uploaded the clip to the Internet.

Window cleaners take ride of their lives.

Window cleaners spin out of control on top of China’s second-tallest building: Two window cleaners working on China's second tallest building found themselves swinging violently almost 500 metres above the ground after their suspended platform spun out of control. The incident happened this morning at the Shanghai World Financial Centre, a 101-storey, 492 metre-tall skyscraper. The video, shot from the 100th floor restaurant, shows the hanging platform out of control repeatedly smashing into the glass walls at speed, causing loud thumping noises.

"I'm worried for them," a nearby spectator can be heard saying in English. Just before the video ends, a small fragment can be seen falling from the base of the platform as it is damaged by the impacts. The Shanghai Daily News reports that the hanging platform smashed through the curtain wall, and the two workers were treated in hospital with minor bruises. It is thought strong winds were the cause of the incident, but an investigation is underway.

Sydney Window Cleaner Rescue & Chicago Crack

The cleaners were stranded on their small platform off the fifth floor of the building in Pitt Street.

Two window cleaners were rescued by a cherry picker after they were left dangling off a high-rise building in the Sydney CBD when a cable broke. The cleaners were stranded on their small platform off the fifth floor of the building in Pitt Street, about 15 metres off the ground, a Fire and Rescue NSW spokesman said. Emergency services were called to the tower, on 130 Pitt Street and close to the Pitt Street Mall, about 10.20am on Friday.

A NSW Fire and Rescue spokeswoman said the operation took about 40 minutes. The platform has now been secured and WorkCover will investigate the incident. The two male cleaners were not injured.

A spokeswoman for Investa Office, which manages the building, said a section of the non-load bearing cable, that is usually fixed under the cleaner's platform, unspooled and fell to the ground. "As a precautionary measure, Investa's standard safety procedures were activated. Window cleaning works were stopped and emergency services called to assist with bringing cleaning staff to the ground," the spokeswoman said.

Sydney high-rise window cleaner Lincoln Wilson said it was "unheard of" for cables to break while working on the side of a building and, during his 10 years, he had never experienced any problems. "Cables should be maintained very regularly and checked over every six or 12 months by a qualified assessor. I know the cables are always out in the weather but they are made of high-tensile steel," Mr Wilson, who is the director of Mr Window Clean, said.

He said his staff always carried walkie-talkies and worked in teams while cleaning tall buildings, so they could help each other if there were any emergencies. One of four east-bound lanes on King Street at Pitt Street was closed while emergency services were on the scene and buses were diverted from area, a spokeswoman for the Transport Management Centre said.

Window cleaners at hanging five stories up on Pitt st, Sydney.

The two window cleaners are plucked from the work platform. A cable snapped leaving the men dangling.

Window cleaners trapped on platform in Sydney CBD after cable snaps: Two window cleaners have endured an hour of terror after a cable on their platform snapped five floors up. Emergency services were called to the tower, on the corner of Pitt Street and Lees Ct about 10.20am. In a 40 minute operation, Fire and Rescue NSW crews used a cherrypicker and a high-rise ladder to rescue the two men. The damaged platform was then secured and the matter will now be handed over to WorkCover. The incident saw one east-bound lane of traffic on King St closed. The two men were not injured. Fire and Rescue NSW Inspector Kernin Lambert said the men were in good spirits. He said it was lucky no passers-by were hit by the falling cable.

A California family visiting the Willis Tower in Chicago said they heard the glass flooring on its 103rd floor Skydeck begin to crack Wednesday night while they were taking in views of the city. A spokesman from the building said the sound came from the coating on the glass and the family was never in danger.

Glass ledge cracks on 103rd floor: Officials at Chicago's Willis Tower say the popular tourist attraction is safe, even though a glass ledge jutting from the building's 103rd floor appeared to crack beneath the feet of a visiting family. The see-through glass bays are known as The Ledge and extend about 1.2 metres from the building, which was once called the Sears Tower. Officials say the family wasn't in danger when the cracks appeared on Wednesday on a glass enclosure. In a statement, Willis Tower says a protective coating covering the glass surface cracked, not the glass itself. They say the cracks don't affect the “structural integrity” of the ledge, which is designed to occasionally crack.

The ledges have proven to be a popular - if a frightening - experience since opening in 2009. Fox News reported that as the family walked out onto the Skydeck, they say they were reassured by staffers that the window flooring was unbreakable. "I had my palms on the floor and I could feel it cracking," Alejandro Garibay, 23, told The Chicago Tribune. "Honestly, I was in shock, in disbelief. I was scared." Mr Garibay was watching fireworks at the Navy Pier. "It was an awesome view. We were getting up and walking away and for some reason I thought it would be cool to get a picture of my cousins and brother ... Then we started getting off and, as we push ourselves off, I could feel it cracking," he said.

Winnipeg Window Washer Rescue

A Winnipeg window washer is safe after being rescued while dangling above Portage Avenue.

Window washer rescued after dangling from Hydro Building: A Winnipeg window washer is safe after being rescued while dangling above Portage Avenue. Authorities say his ropes got tangled yesterday while he was cleaning the Manitoba Hydro building. Firefighters were able to reach him with their ladder truck and lowered him to the ground. They then worked to secure the window washing platform, which was swaying in the wind.

Manitoba Hydro Place was designed using computer modelling to improve performance: A Toronto architectural firm’s unique design approach has helped a Winnipeg skyscraper win the title of the year’s best tall building in the Americas. Manitoba Hydro Place is a 23-storey, energy-efficient building on Winnipeg’s Portage Avenue and it earned the award from the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. The $300 million building was completed in December 2008.

“What really differentiated this project from other buildings was from the beginning it was organized and designed through an Integrated Design Process (IDP),” said Kael Opie, KPMB project architect. “This was critical for Manitoba Hydro because we were trying to achieve a high level of energy reductions.” The goal was to achieve a 60 per cent energy savings. “A lot of things went into achieving this energy efficiency saving,” he explained. “The main difference between Hydro Place and a typical building is the heating and cooling of the building is achieved using a passive system, when possible. The shape of the building, orientation and atriums were all arranged to meet the energy requirements of the client.”

The IDP process was enhanced by extensive computer modeling using local wind, sun and temperature data to evaluate design options. The building also has the largest closed loop geothermal system in the province. There are 280 boreholes, each 150 mm (6 inches) in diameter, that penetrate the site 125 metres (400 ft.) underground. A key element in the passive ventilation system is a solar chimney that draws used air out of the building and preheats the incoming cold air in the south atria, during the winter. Depending on the season, a 24-metre-tall waterfall feature in each of the atria humidifies or dehumidifies the incoming air.

During colder weather, recovered heat from exhaust air and passive solar radiant energy is used to warm the fresh air. Manually operated windows on the interior curtain wall, combined with the automated exterior wall vents controlled by the Building Management System allow employees to control their individual environment. Every feature of Manitoba Hydro Place was integrated to make this building one of the most energy-efficient office towers in the world.

Window Washer Rescue In Downtown Vegas Underway

A window washer was reportedly in distress when calls to LVFR were made on Monday. Click to enlarge.

Window washer rescue in downtown Vegas underway: LAS VEGAS (FOX5) - Emergency crews were sent to a high-rise in downtown Las Vegas Monday on reports of a window washer in distress. According to Las Vegas Fire and Rescue, the worker was working aloft on the side of a high-rise building at 330 Lewis Ave., across from the Clark County Courthouse, when his equipment failed. First calls of the situation to LVFR were reported just after 10:30 a.m. LVFR said they were attempting to help the worker down from the building's eighth floor with the use of a ladder. Authorities don't believe the person in distress was injured during his ordeal.

The window washer became stuck while working on the windows of a building at 330 Lewis Ave., across from the Clark County Courthouse. Click to enlarge.

Firefighters attempting to rescue stranded window washer: Fire officials are attempting to rescue a stranded window washer trapped on the side of a building in downtown Las Vegas. The man got trapped when the window washing platform mechanism broke, leaving him stranded between the eighth and ninth floors around 11 a.m. Monday in the 300 block of Lewis Avenue, Las Vegas Fire & Rescue spokesman Tim Szymanski said. Firefighters are attempting to pull the man up from the roof of the building after an attempt to use a ladder fell short, he said. The man is uninjured and is on the shaded side of the building, Szymanski said.

Window washer knocks on window to ask for rescue. The window washer’s machine that lifts him became stuck and he knocked on a window, asking the person indoors to call the fire department, said Timothy Szymanski, a spokesman for the fire department. The window washer, a man working at 330 S. Third St., was brought to safety by a female firefighter, fire officials said.

Firefighters rescue downtown Vegas window washer: A 48-year-old window washer was rescued safely after his tether malfunctioned outside a downtown Las Vegas office building. Alex Ramos said he was suspended for more than two hours before rescuers lowered him by ropes to the sidewalk about noon Monday. He told reporters he never panicked when his gear malfunctioned at the eighth floor. He just knocked on a window. An office worker dialed 911 about 10:35 a.m.

Ramos says he was surprised by the number of firefighters who arrived with a 100-foot ladder truck and several other engines at the building near the Regional Justice Center. The bucket only reached the seventh floor. Ramos works for N&R Cleaning. He's been doing the job for eight years. He calmly snapped cellphone photos as firefighters reached him for the rescue.

Alex Ramos said he was suspended for more than two hours before rescuers lowered him by ropes to the sidewalk about noon Monday.

Details surrounding downtown window washer rescue: Action News cameras captured a dramatic rescue as a window washer finds himself stuck, dangling several stories from a downtown Las Vegas high-rise. Window washer Alex Ramos was near the top of the building just across from the Regional Justice Center when his equipment malfunctioned. Rescuers stood on a platform at the end of a ladder as it extended up the building and toward Ramos, coming within just few feet, but still more than an arm’s length away. Plans quickly shifted, and firefighter Mari Bussio had to be lowered down from the top of the building to get to him. Dozens of onlookers watched as Ramos maneuvered the ropes, successfully attaching him to Bussio.

Ramos, who's been washing windows for 8 years, remained calm as they rappelled down the side of building. The two were greeted by paramedics the moment their feet touched the ground, and just moments later Ramos was off again, seemingly unphased by the entire ordeal, and on to his next window washing job. The entire rescue took about an hour from start to finish. Ramos said he's planning on going back to the store where he bought his equipment to ask for a refund.