OT-So you think you have a shit job? Guess again! (Incredible Video!!)
The video is a must see!!!!!!! http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/5435459/detail.html
Remember, the windows cleaners are on this thing still!!!
Window Washers Nearly Knocked Off Swinging Platform
Debris Fell Out Windows, Rained Down On Street
DENVER -- Two window washers were nearly knocked off their platform in downtown Denver after a boom that secured the platform to the building broke.
"Two workers were going to wash windows on the 12th floor. They had just set down their outrigging of their platform. They dropped the platform to the 12th floor when one of the booms, on the roof support, started to collapse," said Denver Fire Lt. Phil Champagne.
Fortunately, the men were still holding on and were rescued by firefighters who had to break a window on the 12th floor to pull the window washers to safety. The men suffered only minor injuries.
The accident occurred just before 10:30 a.m. at the Denver Place Plaza Tower, located at 1099 18th St.
Witnesses say after the support line broke, the scaffolding swung back and forth in the air for several minutes, knocking out several windows. (7NEWS Photojournalist Coby Howell captured the drama. See the exclusive video.)
"It began to swing violently away from the building, to and fro the building -- about 40 foot out and 150 feet on the swing. It broke out a lot of glass," said Champagne.
"We were making a delivery right across the street and all of a sudden I hear this scream coming down and I thought it was the construction guys. Then we looked up and then the rails were knocking back and forth, knocking all the windows out," said witness Juanito Tamez/ "You should have seen all the glass that coming down. It was crazy ... It was swinging pretty far out ... I don't know what the hell you're doing cleaning windows in this kind of wind."
Nearly two dozen windows are broken on what appear to be 12th floor of the building. Papers and debris flew out of the offices and started to blow all over the place, making the street below look like a disaster zone.
"We do have one residual injury inside the building. That was a result, I believe, of fire crews entering the building. There's a lot of mass confusion on the 12th floor, as you can imagine. We had a lot of contents going out of that window because of the pressure," said Champagne.
Firefighters had to block of the street and clear the area because of the raining glass and debris. Several cars parked on the street below have dents and broken windows.
Once the accident was reported, firefighters worked quickly to get the window washers to safety. When the scaffolding swung close to the building, firefighters used a hook to pull the scaffolding in and secure it as the window washers were carefully brought into the 12th floor.
"Our equipment only goes to about 10th floor of those buildings. We had to do an interior rescue. So they thought very quickly, broke out the additional glass. We tried to secure the area below us the best we could and pull those two parties from the scaffolding to inside the building," Champagne said.
Investigators are trying to figure out if the heavy winds may have been a factor in the accident. Gusts of 20-30 mph were reported in the are at that time.
Investigators with the Occupational Safety and Health Adminstration will look into why the men were working outside, so high, on such a windy day. Firefighters said given the conditions, the men shouldn't have been out there working in the first place.
The 12th story of the 22-story Denver Plaza Tower remains evacuated.
Workers in the building across the street say the entire event was a scary thing to witness. One said that a window washer even appeared to be signaling to them for help as he clung on for dear life.
The scaffolding has been secured to the building but traffic to the area remains blocked. Firefighters are knocking the remaining glass from the windows and they are worried that it might fall below and injure a pedestrian.
Police say 18th is closed from Champa to Arapahoe, Curtis is closed at 17th, and Arapahoe is closed at 19th. The Denver Police Department is expected to reopen the area by rush area.
The video is a must see!!!!!!! http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/5435459/detail.html
Remember, the windows cleaners are on this thing still!!!
Window Washers Nearly Knocked Off Swinging Platform
Debris Fell Out Windows, Rained Down On Street
DENVER -- Two window washers were nearly knocked off their platform in downtown Denver after a boom that secured the platform to the building broke.
"Two workers were going to wash windows on the 12th floor. They had just set down their outrigging of their platform. They dropped the platform to the 12th floor when one of the booms, on the roof support, started to collapse," said Denver Fire Lt. Phil Champagne.
Fortunately, the men were still holding on and were rescued by firefighters who had to break a window on the 12th floor to pull the window washers to safety. The men suffered only minor injuries.
The accident occurred just before 10:30 a.m. at the Denver Place Plaza Tower, located at 1099 18th St.
Witnesses say after the support line broke, the scaffolding swung back and forth in the air for several minutes, knocking out several windows. (7NEWS Photojournalist Coby Howell captured the drama. See the exclusive video.)
"It began to swing violently away from the building, to and fro the building -- about 40 foot out and 150 feet on the swing. It broke out a lot of glass," said Champagne.
"We were making a delivery right across the street and all of a sudden I hear this scream coming down and I thought it was the construction guys. Then we looked up and then the rails were knocking back and forth, knocking all the windows out," said witness Juanito Tamez/ "You should have seen all the glass that coming down. It was crazy ... It was swinging pretty far out ... I don't know what the hell you're doing cleaning windows in this kind of wind."
Nearly two dozen windows are broken on what appear to be 12th floor of the building. Papers and debris flew out of the offices and started to blow all over the place, making the street below look like a disaster zone.
"We do have one residual injury inside the building. That was a result, I believe, of fire crews entering the building. There's a lot of mass confusion on the 12th floor, as you can imagine. We had a lot of contents going out of that window because of the pressure," said Champagne.
Firefighters had to block of the street and clear the area because of the raining glass and debris. Several cars parked on the street below have dents and broken windows.
Once the accident was reported, firefighters worked quickly to get the window washers to safety. When the scaffolding swung close to the building, firefighters used a hook to pull the scaffolding in and secure it as the window washers were carefully brought into the 12th floor.
"Our equipment only goes to about 10th floor of those buildings. We had to do an interior rescue. So they thought very quickly, broke out the additional glass. We tried to secure the area below us the best we could and pull those two parties from the scaffolding to inside the building," Champagne said.
Investigators are trying to figure out if the heavy winds may have been a factor in the accident. Gusts of 20-30 mph were reported in the are at that time.
Investigators with the Occupational Safety and Health Adminstration will look into why the men were working outside, so high, on such a windy day. Firefighters said given the conditions, the men shouldn't have been out there working in the first place.
The 12th story of the 22-story Denver Plaza Tower remains evacuated.
Workers in the building across the street say the entire event was a scary thing to witness. One said that a window washer even appeared to be signaling to them for help as he clung on for dear life.
The scaffolding has been secured to the building but traffic to the area remains blocked. Firefighters are knocking the remaining glass from the windows and they are worried that it might fall below and injure a pedestrian.
Police say 18th is closed from Champa to Arapahoe, Curtis is closed at 17th, and Arapahoe is closed at 19th. The Denver Police Department is expected to reopen the area by rush area.
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