Tragic Accident Of Window Cleaner & Pressure Washer

Hughie Windfield who died after falling from a ladder.

Brighton window cleaner's fatal fall was ‘tragic accident’ - A window cleaner who plunged to his death narrowly avoided hitting a passer-by as he fell. Hughie Winfield, of Wolseley Road, Coldean, died in hospital after suffering a fractured skull and bleeding to the brain when he fell about 15ft from a ladder in Western Road, Lewes, in November. Drivers and passengers who saw the accident stopped to help him at the roadside while they waited for paramedics to arrive.

R.I.P. Hughie Winfield

An inquest into Mr Winfield’s death was told witnesses saw the 51-year-old almost land on a person underneath when he fell. Mr Winfield, nicknamed the Silver Fox by members of his darts team in Hollingbury, had cleaned windows for many years and was working at a block of flats in Lewes when he fell. His wife Karen, 52, said there was no explanation as to why he lost his footing. She said: “The coroner said no one will ever know. “People who saw it happen said the ladder went sideways with him. He did not jump away from it. “Hughie was wonderful. The coroner said it was a tragedy – that he was a man who lived life to the full.” A verdict of accidental death was recorded.

Hearing Set In Case Involving Worker's Death: "The tragedy of Erick Fernando Chinchilla, an immigrant worker who was killed while working on an unsafe renovation project at the home of Robert and Maya Tichio at 2 Macpherson Drive, is a microcosm that illustrates the dangerous working conditions too often faced by these laborers. These issues are playing a key role in the push for immigration reform, which is gaining momentum on a bipartisan bill in Congress. President Obama applauded this effort in his state of the union address (last) Monday night.

"Mr. Chinchilla was working on a $1,140,000 million project at the Tichio’s home on Nov. 1, 2010, when he was fatally injured, according to Attorney Glenn Formica of Formica Williams, P.C. in New Haven. Mr. Formica is co-counsel with Attorney Victor Ferrante of Bridgeport in representing Mr. Chinchilla’s estate in a wrongful death suit against Dibico Construction, the contractor on the project and others.

"While standing inside a seven-foot-deep trench, Mr. Chinchilla was attempting to power-wash the Tichio’s stone foundation, without being provided a helmet or escape-ladder, and no shoring to the inside wall of the trench, according to the Greenwich Police report.  Suddenly the front porch structure and its foundation fell away from the house and toppled into the trench, causing it to cave in and bury Mr. Chinchilla. He subsequently died of massive head injuries.  The case is scheduled for a summary judgment hearing on the Tichio’s personal liability for the accident on Feb. 19 in Bridgeport Superior Court.

"The Plaintiff’s law suit alleges that Federal work safety codes and OSHA standards were violated by the Tichios and by Dibico construction in the deadly accident, according to Attorney Formica. “Their negligence failed to provide a way out of trench, in violation of code, which killed Mr. Chinchilla,” said Attorney Formica.

"Mr. Chinchilla’s tragedy is not an isolated incident. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, immigrant workers tackle the riskiest jobs, in fields such as construction or agriculture, often without safety protections or proper training. Studies of immigrants doing reconstruction work in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina showed that they were exposed to “dangerous substances and conditions.”  Another study concluded that 21 of 29 fatal construction accidents in New York City during a recent 12-month period involved workers who were immigrants or had limited English proficiency.

"Two Ecuadorian brothers were working as window washers in New York in 2007 when their scaffolding collapsed, causing them to fall 47 stories. One died, and the other was gravely injured. A migrant farm worker died of heat stroke after picking tobacco in 110 degree weather in North Carolina in 2007, and his internal body temperature was recorded at 108 degrees. Also in 2007, a 14-year-old undocumented worker who had received no safety training was partially decapitated and crushed by machinery in a plant in Tennessee.

 “While I won’t comment on the specifics of the case, I think it is important to understand that our claim against the Tichio’s is a legal claim of negligence.  No one should confuse a legal claim of negligence with intentional conduct.  I imagine they grieve with my client’s family,” said, Attorney Formica. He added “In a larger sense, however, I think it’s time to make visible the many invisible people that are so much a part of the fabric of our everyday lives?”

"These workplace tragedies underscore the need for all workers to have full and complete access to the protections of labor, health, safety and other U.S. laws. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Tuesday in the lawsuit brought on behalf of the worker.

Duct Cleaning - A Window Cleaning Add-On?

These duct cleaners can be used to remove oil, grease and dust from the ducts in commercial kitchens.

Restaurant risky business: critical safety and maintenance items often overlooked - Restaurants need to maintain a certain level of cleanliness just to stay in business. However, all too often there's one part of the restaurant--one of the most important facets of the business--that gets overlooked: the kitchen exhaust duct. In restaurant kitchens, food is usually cooked underneath an air exhaust duct but, in many cases, owners are totally unaware of the importance of cleaning these exhaust ducts on a regular basis. Duct cleaning in restaurants is very important for many reasons with fire prevention at the top of the list. Many flammable contaminants, including oil, grease and dust, find their way into the exhaust ducts. Even a small spark, flame, or just heat buildup could be enough to start a catastrophic fire.
 

Another reason for the necessity of restaurant duct cleaning is the food itself. Clogged ducts can affect temperatures of the cooking surfaces, making them irregular and causing some foods to be undercooked. Heat could also build up in the kitchen, bringing chilled food ingredients up to dangerous temperatures where they could be susceptible to mould, fungus, and bacteria. Regularly power washing with an industrial duct cleaner will remove all of the contaminants that can lead to a clogged kitchen exhaust channel. This should be part of a restaurant’s regular cleaning schedule, so that it is not overlooked.
 

Generally, duct cleaning in a restaurant every three months is often enough, but optimally it should be done monthly in restaurants that cook high volumes of food, such as those in the fast food category. Even beyond keeping exhaust ducts clear, it’s also important to keep a restaurant facility neat, inviting and aptly valued. But, it can be tough to keep up with certain aspects of cleaning maintenance and upkeep. Some structural areas and features are also more challenging to clean than others—particularly on the exterior where the elements, insects, animals and even mould can wreak havoc. Over time, even cobwebs, dirt, leaves and pollen make a property look old, worn, dingy and less than it’s actually worth.

Here’s a quick list of other ways a portable power washer can greatly benefit a restaurant facility:

1. Unclog drains: Many do not realise that instead of calling a plumber and paying handsomely to have a drain line cleared, a pressure washer can accomplish the same task. A special “sewer jetter” nozzle attachment will safely and efficiently unclog and clean a drain.

2. De-grime grout and tile: A power washer with a rotary brush attachment can be very effective for safely cleaning floor tile and grout without damage. Use hot water to clean areas where grease and oil stains need to be cleared out, such as a food space or where cars are commonly parked.

3. Clean windows: Nothing diminishes a facility more than drab, dirty windows. Window squeegee attachments make the cleaning effort quick and easy. You can use them with soap and water or glass cleaner; either way you will be able to have a sparkling clean window in half the time it would take with a cloth.

4. Clean central air ducts: Hiring a professional to clean your central air conditioning ducts, or purchasing an air duct cleaning system, can be expensive...and unnecessary since a pressure washer outfitted with a special attachment can get the job done. These cost savings will allow you to breathe easy.

5. Clear gutters: Keeping gutters unclogged and functional is imperative to prevent water overflow that can cause them to detach and, worse, promote rot and rust to the surrounding structure. A standard garden hose just won’t get the job done. A pressure washer with a special gutter nozzle will aptly clear the dirt, leaves and debris in short order...and a ladder need not apply!

6. Wash walkways:  To de-stain and generally clean flat surfaces like driveways, sidewalks and garage floors, a water broom nozzle allows you to evenly wash the surface...and without causing back ache since you can stand up straight and use it.

7. Remove water and muck: Particularly useful in regions where rain and snow create a buildup of water and muck, or when pooled water needs to be drained indoors perhaps from an overfilled planter, flood or plumbing repair, a special “muck scupper” attachment provides for high volume water removal. This rapid response is key to thwart what can be costly moisture-related damage.

8. Quick dry: After you’ve pressure cleaned or removed moisture and muck from an area, or to better prepare a surface for foot traffic so that it’s pristine and also safe from slips and falls, an air blower attachment will help you quickly dry out the space.
 

A pressure washer is an extremely versatile and easy-to-use tool that can make restaurant safety, cleaning and maintenance a breeze.

The author and/or publisher of this information is in no way responsible for any damage caused to you, your pressure washer, anyone else, your property, or anyone else's property by trying to implement or by successfully implementing the above-mentioned performance and services.

Two Window Cleaners - Two Interviews

Janai Carlson, owner of A Better Outlook, says she enjoys bringing the outdoors in by cleaning windows for her clients.

Get ‘A Brighter Outlook': Janai Carlson is the owner of A Better Outlook, a window-washing service. (530) 798-8575

What is your job? I am your friendly window washing lady.

What is your typical day like? I come to your home or business and assess the position of the sun to determine the best place to start. I pull all the screens and brush the debris and cobwebs from around the windows and in the tracks. Using a highly concentrated, professional product, I apply the solution and squeegee it off. I then go around each window with a micro fiber cloth to catch any remaining water or smudges. I repeat the process for both sides. After the windows are perfect, I clean the screens and replace them. I also do on-site screen repair.

What would surprise most people about the job if they only knew? It's not as easy as it looks. It is essential to have the right tools, product and technique. With anything, practice makes perfect, and I have been “practicing” for many years and have hundreds of happy customers.

What do you love about you work? I love that I get immediate results and great customer satisfaction. I help people bring the outdoors in and really make their homes sparkle. One lady was so impressed, she said the clean windows helped lift her out of her depression.

What do you find most challenging? Three-story houses. I have a pole that goes about 25 feet and can reach most windows.

What special education or preparation is required to do this? My dad, Eric Carlson, owned a successful window washing business in this community. I worked with him and he taught me all the tricks of the trade.

What is your background? I came here about three years ago from Lake County where I was a Realtor and window washer. My dad was diagnosed with terminal cancer so I relocated in order to spend as much time with him as I could before he passed. I took over his remaining commercial accounts and started to grow my business from there.

What's new? Tools and products are always improving and I have become more efficient. A water-fed pole system filters the water as it goes through a brush and leaves the window spotless.

Dirty job: O'Fallon man has the house-cleaning solution.

Name: Mike Manno

Job: Owner, MJM Window Cleaning and Power Washing, 302 Joy Drive, O'Fallon (632-0527 or 558-5388)

Outlook: "There new so many homes around here with vinyl siding. Every three, four years, those houses need to be cleaned." Mike Manno likes being his own boss. He is also the lone employee of the house-washing business. He washes siding, decks, fences and more for metro-east home owners. He recently talked to business reporter Will Buss about his service:

What can you tell me about your business? "I clean mold off siding of houses. House washing is what I specialize in. I do window washing and clean decks and wood fencing. I can power wash concrete and also wash sidewalks and driveways. I try to focus on house washing."

What do you use for cleaning? "Basically what I use is a chemical mix that is recommended by vinyl manufacturers. It's really bleach water and detergent, but it's something they approve. If you dilute it enough, it becomes biodegradable."

How long have you been at it? "I am in my sixth year. I started in 2006."

How much competition do you have? "I would say there are others, but there are only a handful compared to landscapers who do it. I've been doing it longer than most anybody. I've been around a while."

And you do it all on your own? "Just myself. Only when I need help with a deck of a fence do I get someone else to help, but 95 percent of the time I do it all by myself."

What does your service cost? "It's really hard to say. I am small and local but have low overhead and am pretty competitive with my pricing."

How did you get into this line of work? "There so many homes around here with vinyl siding. Every three, four years, those houses need to be cleaned. It needs to be done. You need to clean vinyl siding as well as the gutters, the soffit and fascia. Before, I was working for a food company. I was a driver and salesman. But I wanted to have more flexibility that goes with self-employment."

Are you looking to expand your business? "That's a good question. This business usually goes pretty well for about eight to nine months of the year. December, January and February are the main months when I have kind of tried a few ideas. One business idea I tried last winter was grocery delivery. I didn't really promote it a lot or put too much effort into it. I also tried garage cleaning and organizing. Sometimes, you see these two-car garages and there are no cars in there because there is no room because there is so much stuff stored in there. I advertised it and got a few calls. I also work for IDOT plowing snow. That's not something to count on, and I wanted some regular income during those three months, so I've tried other little businesses."

What have you enjoyed most about your house-washing enterprise? "I would say the satisfaction of satisfying the customer. Another thing is obviously the flexibility of schedule and to be able to work when you want and how much you want to work."

Power Washer/Window Cleaner In Chemical Attack

Contractor held in chemical attack: FBI agents arrested the owner of Burns Power Washing on Friday and accused him of launching a chemical attack against a couple who say they were his customers. On Aug. 2, 2009, someone sealed shut the doors of Myles and Karen Levine's home and ignited chlorine tablets mixed with a chemical in their front and back yards. The result was a chlorine gas cloud the size of a football field that caused the evacuation of homes in the Levines' gated northwest-side neighborhood.

Federal prosecutors alleged Friday that Todd Russell Fries, also known as Todd Burns, was the perpetrator. Fries appears in ads for his business that end with the slogan "Burns Power Washing … right on the spot!" Agents arrested Fries on Friday morning at his home in the 5500 block of West El Camino del Cerro. A neighbor, Sparky Waters, said dozens of law-enforcement vehicles lined the road and the Pima County sheriff's bomb squad came, too. A federal indictment, unsealed earlier Friday, charges Fries with two counts of using a chemical weapon at the Levines' then-home in the 2800 block of West Magee road.

After the attack in 2009, Myles Levine said the only people he knew of that had any dispute with them was a contractor. On Friday, Levine would not say whether Fries was that contractor, but he did acknowledge that he had been a customer of Burns Power Washing. "It feels really good that there's been an arrest made. We've been living pretty much under wraps," Levine said. The Levines' previous home also was attacked on Oct. 31, 2008, when they were living in Marana. In that attack, someone wrote anti-Semitic graffiti on their home and dead animals were left outside. In the 2009 incident, too, dead animals were left outside the Levines' home. At the time, the Levines said they thought the two attacks were connected, and they told Marana police they suspected the contractor in the first incident. Authorities have not accused Fries of carrying out the 2008 attack.

Fries has been charged with misdemeanor crimes four times in Tucson municipal court, but all were dismissed. Three incidents in July and August 2008 led to two charges of shoplifting and one of assault, but all three were dismissed on March 16, 2009, said city prosecutor Baird Green. In 1996, Fries was charged with disorderly conduct, but that case, too, was dismissed.

On Burns Power Washing's website, Fries says he started the business on Oct. 6, 1999. The company's Facebook page shows photos of several large jobs the company has carried out recently, including window cleaning at the Richard Jefferson Gymnasium on the UA campus. Waters said Fries was generally a normal neighbor who would park large trucks with his business's name in his driveway. The roll-down shades at Fries' house were always down, except after the FBI arrived Friday, Waters said.

The most unusual thing Waters saw, he said, was that Fries would sometimes use a BB gun to shoot woodpeckers that pecked on his home. However, he said, FBI agents did come by several months ago and ask whether Waters' family ever smelled chemicals coming from next door. The Levines have felt terrorized for the last couple of years, Myles Levine said. Without knowing for sure who was targeting them, they moved to a more secure home and largely stopped leaving the house, said Levine, 63. "I had basically no contact other than some phone calls," Levine said. "We didn't know what was going on," he said. "We couldn't take the chance of it happening again. We were scared."

Again...No ending to the Cleaners Cull

Officials Cite Safety Omissions .

A worker who was power-washing the upper facade of an apartment building in Brooklyn without wearing a safety harness died on Monday after he feBuilding Washer Falls 4 Stories to His Death in Brooklyn; fell four stories to the ground, officials said. The victim was identified by friends as Houssain Mosharrf, who turned 50 on Sunday.

Investigators at the scene said they had not yet determined what caused Mr. Mosharrf to fall.
Mr. Mosharrf, of 1212 Newkirk Avenue in Brooklyn, and another worker had been cleaning the six-story building at 789 St. Marks Avenue in Crown Heights for about five days, the building’s superintendent said. On Monday, Mr. Mosharrf and Joishim Uddin, his partner, hoisted themselves up the building using suspended scaffolding: a rigged aluminum platform and rope.

According to the Department of Buildings, the workers were not wearing safety harnesses or any attached lifeline, as they are required to do, and there was no licensed rigger overseeing the use of the scaffolding, as the department also requires. Mr. Uddin said that he was Mr. Mosharrf’s helper. At one point, Mr. Uddin said, he climbed down from the perch and headed to a nearby store to pick up something for lunch. He said he was on the ground when he saw his partner tumble to the concrete below. At that point, he said, he ran away, returning about 5 p.m. to talk to the authorities. A translator at the scene said that Mr. Uddin “had never seen anything like that in his life.” An official of the city’s Office of Emergency Management said the fall occurred at 2:05 p.m. Witnesses said that Mr. Mosharrf was conscious immediately after the fall. “He kept saying, ‘My leg, my leg,’ ” said Aaron Womble, 49, who had been working nearby. Mr. Womble called 911. Emergency workers took Mr. Mosharrf to Kings County Hospital, where he was pronounced dead later that afternoon. Officials on the scene said they were having trouble determining who had hired Mr. Mosharrf and Mr. Uddin. Mr. Uddin said that he had known Mr. Mosharrf from the Brooklyn neighborhood where they both lived, and had been working for him for two or three weeks. He said that Mr. Mosharrf’s boss was named Isaac, but that he did not know Isaac’s last name and knew nothing more about the operation. “We’re not sure it is a company. We don’t know if it is a licensed company,” said Duane Rose, an inspector with the Office of Emergency Management. “It may have been the super’s friends, or the owner’s friends.” Jameel Khan, who said he had been the superintendent at the building for 21 years, said: “They are not my staff. They are not building maintenance staff.” The century-old building has 152 apartments. The Buildings Department has issued a stop-work order and is in the process of issuing citations, Kate Lindquist, a spokeswoman for the department, said Monday night. The building had been cited in the past for maintenance violations and construction license issues. At Kings County Hospital, friends and neighbors filed through the lobby, holding vigil for Mr. Mosharrf. About three hours after the accident, tears fell as the group was told that he had not survived the fall. Friends at the hospital said Mr. Mosharrf had a wife and several children living in Noakhali, Bangladesh. “He was a good, nice man,” said Mohammed Faiz, 67.

Photo of building in a previous fire: