A window washer plummeted 11 stories from the top of a San Francisco bank on Nov. 21 before falling onto a moving car on the street below. Although he suffered critical injuries, he survived the fall.
According to San Francisco police, the worker was preparing to clean windows at Sterling Bank and Trust around 10 a.m. when he somehow fell off a cleaning platform. He plunged 130 feet down to Montgomery Street, fell onto the roof of a passing Toyota Camry and rolled onto the pavement.
The Camry driver, who was not hurt, and several witnesses rushed to the man's aid. Paramedics transported him to San Francisco General Hospital where he was later listed in critical but stable condition. A representative with the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health Administration said he suffered injuries to his side and a broken arm. State safety inspectors are investigating the cause of the accident.
The worker's employer, Century Window Cleaners of Concord, has previously been fined by the state for safety violations. In 2008, the company paid $2,700 in a settlement after a complaint was filed. The company was ordered to train and supervise employees in the use of safety devices and equipment.
No matter the cause of a workplace accident, an employee who has suffered an on-the-job injury may file a workers' compensation insurance claim to cover medical treatment and a portion of his or her lost wages. An injured worker may wish to seek the aid of an attorney as they prepare their benefits claim to ensure it is properly filed.
Source: The San Francisco Chronicle, "Window Washer survives 11-story fall from S.F. building," Kevin Fagin, Nov. 21, 2014
Source: NBC Bay Area, "Window washer survives 11-story fall from building in San Francisco's Financial District", Mark Matthews, Cheryl Hurt and Lisa Fernandez, November 21, 2014
No Comments
Leave a comment