Thriller In Manila As Whirlwind Hits Window Cleaners

The taller RCBC Plaza Yuchengco Tower and the smaller RCBC Plaza Tower 2. The taller tower stands at 192 meters (630 ft) from the ground to its architectural top, and is currently the 8th-tallest complete building in Makati City.

2 hurt while cleaning RCBC building windows Manila, Philippines - Two window cleaners were slightly injured after their gondola was hit by a sudden strong gust of wind while cleaning the RCBC Plaza along Ayala Avenue in Makati City on Monday morning. Acting Makati City police chief, Superintendent Jaime Santos, identified those injured as Roberto Rendon and Victoriano Nietes. Rendon and Nietes were rushed to the nearby Makati Medical Center for treatment of their injuries. According to the Makati Rescue, Rendon and Nietes were cleaning the outside reflective glass at the 40th floor of the RCBC Plaza’s Yuchengco Tower at about 10:15 am when their gondola was hit by a strong gust of wind. The Yuchengco Tower has a total of 46 floors. The strong gust of wind then sent the gondola swinging and then sent it slamming against the building’s reflective glass. Fortunately, the gondola did not break loose and was intact after the incident. In January last year, 10 construction workers were killed at the 39-storey Eton Residences construction site at the corner of Paseo de Roxas and Gallardo Street when the electric gondola carrying them broke and sent them falling from the 28th floor to the 7th floor. Investigations later revealed that the gondola was certified to carry only two passengers.

2 window cleaners hurt as whirlwind hits gondola (Manila, Philippines) – Two window cleaners in Makati were injured after a whirlwind hit a construction gondola they were riding on. Roberto Rendon and Victoriano Nietes were cleaning the windows of RCBC Plaza facing H.V. Dela Cuesta Street on Monday morning when a whirlwind hit their gondola, which was 42 feet off the ground. It took rescuers at least an hour to get the workers. The gondola's cables got strangled after being hit by strong winds. The workers were later rushed to the Makati Medical Center. A taxi's rear window was also damaged due to falling broken glass panels. No one was reported injured due to the shattered glass panels.

Stuffed With Love - The Window Cleaners Bears

Diena and Claus Abel are known for the elaborate teddy bear displays in front of their home beside County Road 93 in Waverley.

Couple brings joy to drivers by 'bearing' all - Elaborate displays of teddy bears have become a popular roadside sight (Waverley). – Not every house gets courier packages with bills of lading addressed to the “Bear Place in Waverley.” But Claus and Diena Abel have built up quite a following for the elaborate teddy bear displays in front of their Waverley home beside a busy stretch of County Road 93. “This is a simple way to bring joy into people’s lives,” explained Claus as he and Diena, his wife of 35 years, peruse their most recent “bears on bicycles” offering. The couple’s bears are so popular that cottagers, area residents and even tour buses and tourists from other countries often stop to have photos taken in front of the tableaux that depict a wide variety of holidays and life events, including Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, Canada Day, Victoria Day, back-to-school, and summer and winter vacations. “Sometimes, we can’t get in our driveway,” Diena said with a smile. “It’s been a joy and a challenge. The hardest thing is switching from Christmas to Valentine’s Day because everything’s frozen in the ground.”

Bear house. Claus and Diena Abel are known for the elaborate teddy bear displays in front of their home beside County Road 93 in Waverley.

The Abels, who are both 58, operate Alpha Enterprises Corp,. a window-cleaning company. They met while attending school in Penetanguishene, and now the former high school sweethearts have a 31-year-old son (Joshua), two daughters (Natasha, 25, and Tatyana, 22), two young grandchildren and a large collection of pets. Natasha, who has travelled extensively, said she has met people in other countries who have actually seen her parents’ displays while visiting Canada. “I was working in China and somebody had seen the bears while going to a cottage up here,” she said. “Despite what people might think, we are a normal family.”

The Abels even delve into major historic events, such as the time they created a scene complete with a windmill, wooden tulips and bears dressed in traditional Dutch clothing to recognize Diena’s Dutch roots and commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Canadian liberation of Holland during the Second World War. “We try to come up with ideas to make it more interesting,” Claus said. “For Father’s Day, we have identical bears, big and little, canoeing together.” They even had to build a large storage shed to house their animals and the many props – from canoes and barbecues to bicycles and desks – needed for the displays.

Diena’s favourite display celebrates Thanksgiving “because it’s more intricate and we can use our own corn and gourds,” while Claus enjoys the back-to-school offering. “The blackboard behind the teacher in the display has a real math problem and a real solution,” he added. “I also have all the desks filled except one, and in the background you can see a bear on a bike with a backpack rushing to get to school because he’s late.” The Abels’ foray into the world of bear displays began innocently enough 12 years ago, as Claus was driving home with then 10-year-old Tatyana. “There was a giant polar bear in the garbage for bulk pickup, and she begged me to stop and get it,” Claus recalled. “It took two weeks to dry and, by then, my daughter didn’t want it, so I put it out for my garbage.”

“The blackboard behind the teacher in the display has a real math problem and a real solution,” he says. “I also have all the desks filled except one and in the background, you can see a bear on a bike with a backpack rushing to get to school because he’s late.”

Some time passed and the bear still hadn’t been picked up, so Claus decided to dress it up as Santa Claus pushing a wheelbarrow full of presents. The positive response from that simple display led to more elaborate offerings that have become the couple’s trademark. The Abels regularly receive “gifts” of stuffed animals affixed with notes like: “I need a home. I hope I fit in.” They’ve also received countless thank-you notes over the years from passersby who enjoy the cheerful lift their displays provide. “It has been fun, and I do enjoy talking to the people at end of the driveway,” Claus said. “As well, we’ve sort of become an adoption agency for unwanted stuffed animals.”

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.

Shard Polishing In London

Tall order: The intrepid crew of window cleaners are mere dots on the 95-storey face of the Shard.

Abseiling cleaners give the Shard a polish, however it's not a good place to drop your bucket and squeegee. Think of it as extreme cleaning — it’s certainly not for the faint-hearted. A specialist crew abseils down the Shard to wash some of its thousands of windows. The 309-metre, 95-storey building, the tallest in Europe, has 11,000 glass panels, creating a huge workload for the companies handling the job. The cleaning crews may be able to give Prince Andrew some tips on what it’s like to be on the outside of the Shard. The Duke of York is due to abseil from the 87th to the 20th floor next month to raise funds for the Outward Bound Trust and the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund. Last month fire crews had to rescue a window cleaner who became stuck at the 72nd floor in strong winds days before its official opening.

Walking on glass: Cleaners abseiling the windows of Europe's tallest building.

Harnessed: The rope mechanism that keeps the cleaners safe at high heights.

Brave window cleaners descend 309m Shard to clean 11,000 windows: If you dislike cleaning your windows, spare a thought for the guys that abseiled down the 309m (1,013ft) Shard to wash some of the London landmark's 11,000 windows. The job is probably not a good one for those who suffer from vertigo as it involves trekking down the side of Europe's tallest building. The 95-storey Shard structure has thousands of glass panels, which creates a huge task for the specialist crews that have to clean them. Last month fire crews had to rescue one of these brave souls who became trapped on the 72nd floor due to severe winds. The Duke of York may want to ask the window cleaners for advice on how to cope with the dizzying heights as he is set to take part in a charity abseil on the Shard next month. The royal will raise money for the Outward Bound Trust and the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund by abseiling between the 87th and 20th floors.

Don’t look down: Window cleaners descend the Shard.

Krazy Glue For High Rise Window Cleaners

Window washing a tall building is already scary on its own, but doing it when secured in a safety harness using four drops of Krazy Glue is… crazy. But it happened in an ad for a company I haven’t seen advertise since my childhood. So first, let’s watch a classic Krazy Glue ad' from 1980 (below) -- remember the man who glued his hard hat to a steel beam and then swung around to prove the glue’s strength? The present-day spot shows the brave window washer more than 10 stories off the ground. After he’s safely on the building’s roof, the ad flashes back to his harness being secured by just four drops of Krazy Glue prior to his window-washing excursion. See it here, created by SBC Advertising.

Instant Krazy Glue a super-strong, fast-drying adhesive was introduced to the North American market in 1973. Most people recognize Instant Krazy Glue's® brand as THE instant glue that can bond anything from china and collectibles to holiday wreaths and model trains.

The chemical name for Instant Krazy Glue® is ethyl cyanoacrylate - a non-toxic, colorless, extremely fast-acting, strong adhesive. In its pure form, it can lift 2000 pounds per square inch. Instant Krazy Glue® requires a "trigger" to activate its adhesive properties. Fortunately, that catalyst is common water, naturally present on almost any surface on earth. That is why it is important to always keep the glue container sealed tightly when it is not being used.

Instant Krazy Glue® works best on smaller surfaces and requires a very small amount of glue to bond. It bonds instantly with a light touch and requires no chemical catalyst, clamps, vices or heat source. In most cases, the bond is so strong that attempts to separate two glued substances will rip off the original surfaces before the Instant Krazy Glue® bond fails. The Instant Krazy Glue® symbol of a construction worker hanging from his hard hat isn't just an advertising gimmick - it's really that strong.

Good Window Cleaner, Bad Window Cleaner

Nicky Rifat outside the flats in Lofting Road.

Heroic window cleaner stops Islington blaze before firefighters arrive: A brave window cleaner put out a flat fire before firefighters arrived because he feared children were trapped inside. Nicky Rifat has been praised after he ran into the first-floor flat in Lofting Road, Islington and used wet towels to beat out the flames before emergency services reached the scene. He said: “I walked round the corner and saw one of my neighbours crying hysterically. I just ran upstairs into the flat without thinking, because I was just worried there were kids in there.”

He found the flat empty, but fearing the blaze might spread and despite the thick smoke, he leapt into action.  He said: “The fire was in the kitchen. I was just hitting the flames with a wet towel, but the smoke was so bad I couldn’t breathe and I had to run out. “I put my top over my face, found another towel, went back in and managed to put out the fire.”

The blaze took hold at about 11.15pm last Wednesday and Mr Rafat was treated for smoke inhalation by ambulance paramedics.  His friend James Osborne, who contacted the Gazette, said: “He didn’t know if there were any kids in there so he just ran in there, and I just thought it was such a brave thing to do.” Julie Oldfield, 43, who lives below the first-floor flat, said: “Nicky deserves a medal, he was absolutely brilliant. “He was worried about the fire spreading and by the time the fire brigade came he’d already put it out.”

Mr Rifat added: “I’ve never done anything like that in my life. Afterwards, my girlfriend wasn’t very pleased that I took such a risk and she keeps telling me off.” Jemal D’Jemal, 50, of no fixed address, appeared at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court on Friday charged with arson, criminal damage, possessing a blade in a public place and threats to kill.

Window Cleaning Paedophile, Stephen Daniell.

No holiday camp for paedophile: Judge gives pervert permission to go to Center Parcs... but firm cancels booking. The judge released the former Scout leader on bail and relaxed conditions to enable him to go to the resort. A Crown Court judge allowed a paedophile who admitted indecency with young boys to go on holiday at Center Parcs while on bail. Judge Charles Byers gave ex-scoutmaster Stephen Daniell, 48, permission to visit the child-friendly holiday resort as long as he did not “misbehave”.

The astonishing decision at Maidstone crown court came after the pervert admitted encouraging teenage lads to strip naked and perform weird forfeits on camping trips. Daniell, from Tunbridge Wells, Kent, admitted six offences of indecency with a child. These included five of inciting a child to commit an act of gross indecency and one of gross indecency with a child.

Center Parks revealed tonight they have banned Daniell and cancelled his trip after the Daily Mirror contacted them to check they were aware of his offences. But judge Byers had agreed to relaxing Daniell’s bail condition of residence to enable him to go on a pre-booked trip to the Elveden Forest resort in Suffolk from September 3 to 7. Remarking that Daniell had been “presumptuous” in booking a holiday when he was facing a possible trial, he added that he was “not very happy” and asked defence counsel Alan Walmsley: “What’s he doing at Center Parcs and who is he going with?” After conferring with Daniell at the back of the court, Mr Walmsley said he was going with his wife and that the holiday dates “were out of the school holidays”.

Judge Byers (twat pictured right), who commented that he had not himself been to Center Parcs, then granted Daniell permission. Imposing an extra bail condition that he does not have direct or indirect contact with a child under 16, Judge Byers said: “There will be no walking up to anybody and suggesting a little chat.” He also questioned whether Daniell’s wife was aware of the court proceedings. It was confirmed that she is.

Daniell, who works as a window cleaner, had been due to go on trial on Monday but pleaded guilty before it started to six of the charges. The remaining two were ordered to be left on file, according to the KentOnline website. Prosecutor Lucy Luttman said Daniell, who has a caution for indecent exposure, met the boys through a conservation group and then struck on trips to Snowdonia in Wales. She said Daniell would encourage them to “get naked” and play forfeit games. “One was made to skirt between the layers of the tent, which was wet with condensation, and another had to remove keys from the top of a tent using his feet,” she said.

Adjourning sentence for reports, Judge Byers told Daniell he had not yet “made up his mind” as to his fate. “I would like to know what other avenues may be open to me of a constructive nature,” he added. Tonight a Center Parcs spokeswoman said: “At the time of booking we were unaware that this individual was on bail. “We respect that the case is continuing, but we do not believe it is appropriate for an individual on bail for such alleged crimes to visit Center Parcs. “The welfare and safety of our guests, particularly children, is paramount and therefore we must act in their best interest. "We feel it is only right to cancel this booking and have done so.” Speaking outside his home, tonight Daniell said: “I don’t want to discuss this.”

Harness Saves Window Cleaner

 Crews from Dick's Towing prepare to upright a tipped boom lift Sunday morning on Washington Avenue outside the Ottawa County Courthouse.

Harness saves man from injury: Grand Haven: A Spring Lake man’s harness kept him from being tossed onto the street below when his lift vehicle tipped over Sunday morning, said Lt. Renee Freeman of the Grand Haven Department of Public Safety. Gregory VanCleave had been cleaning windows on the third floor of the Ottawa County Courthouse, when the incident occurred about 8:35 a.m. The man, who was working for Fish Window Cleaning, had just started to lower the lift when the wheels began to sink in the ground, Freeman said. VanCleave was partially thrown from the bucket, was saved by his harness, but was still hanging 15-20 feet from the ground when police arrived, she said. Police used the aerial fire truck to reach the man and bring him into the bucket, Freeman said. He was not injured and refused treatment at the scene. Dick’s Towing brought two vehicles to the scene to upright the lift. 

Doug Collison, owner of the local Fish Window Cleaning franchise, said he was very relieved that the harness worked. “Our employees and our customers are very valuable to us,” he said. The owner said in the seven years they have been in business, they have probably performed 50,000 cleans and “we’ve never even come close to having an employee hurt,” he said. Collison said the company is very big on safety. “We have a training program and we have weekly safety meetings,” he said. Collison said the company they rent the boom lift from would be doing an investigation to determine if the tires of the lift sank into the ground or if they became soft.

Harness proves a life saver in Michigan: A man’s harness saved his life on Sunday when his boom lift went over in the town of Grand Haven, Michigan. Gregory VanCleave was employed by Fish Window Cleaning to clean the windows of the Ottawa County Courthouse. He was working on the third floor windows, using the large articulated boom lift, when the wheels on one side began to sink into the ground. The machine overturned catapulting VanCleave from the basket as the articulation knuckle hit the ground. Fortunately he was wearing a full harness and lanyard and was left dangling from the boom around five to six metres above the ground.
 

Vertikal Comment: Boom lifts rarely tip over and when they do it is almost always due to operator error and all too often down to ground conditions. How otherwise intelligent people can imagine that a grassed area around an old building will safely support a 10 to 15 tonne lift is a mystery. You would think that the delivery driver dropping the machine off might say “I hope you don’t think you are taking this onto that lawn?” Or that basic training for users would stress ground conditions … almost above all other issues? At least the man was wearing a harness, shame his lanyard was not just a little shorter so that he could have avoided dangling and the risk of suspension trauma. But at least it looks as though he escaped unhurt and once again proved the benefits of wearing a harness in a boom lift.