Don’t Settle For Less

Don’t Settle For Less

Window Washer Dies in Fall from Heights in New York

On Behalf of | Apr 3, 2015 | Workplace Injury

A tragic fall from heights accident in New York claimed the life of a young man on March 3rd in Tribeca. The young man was employed as a window washer and according to one eyewitness, when his hand slipped he plummeted to the street below, landing on the pavement.

The window washer was still alive when passersby rushed to help. However, by the time EMT’s arrived the man had stopped breathing. The rescue crew members performed CPR while the man was transported to Presbyterian Hospital but they were unable to revive him.

The window washer, whose name wasn’t immediately available, was employed by Aerial Window Cleaning LLC. As an employee working on a jobsite the man should have been covered under OSHA safety and New York Labor Law guidelines. Such guidelines exist to keep this very type of thing from happening. For instance, when employees are expected to work in areas were fall hazards are present, they must use safety harnesses or have safety barriers in place. Neither measure was present at the Tribeca building. These laws were promulgated for the protection of the injured worker and in certain instances; the law will hold the property owner and a general contractor responsible for the accident.

It’s unclear whether a safety harness had been made available to the man and he simply failed to use it or whether the company had failed altogether and hadn’t provided the correct gear for such a hazardous job. In addition, the man should have received training concerning how and when to properly use that equipment as well as how to do his job safely, without putting himself in harm’s way. As multiple witnesses report, the window washer was leaning backward out the window holding on with just one hand.

If you or a loved one has been injured during a fall in New York, contact a qualified fall from heights injury attorney today. Similar accidents have resulted in large dollar settlements for victims and their families. Call the Law Offices of Nussin S. Fogel for a free consultation at or 212-385-1122 to learn your rights.

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