A 55-year-old male window washer died after he fell from the eighth floor of the United States Appraisers Stores building on the corner of Gay and Lombard streets at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday in Baltimore.
The window washer was Arnold Redmond, officials said.
Witnesses at the scene said the man’s harness came undone.
He was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center, said Chief Kevin Cartwright, spokesman of the Baltimore City Fire Department.
Redmond worked for BuddyWindow Washing Service Inc.
James Hunter, president of Buddy Window Washing Service, said the man was crawling through the window into the building when he suddenly fell backward.
“I am trying to find out what?s going on,” Hunter said.
Hunter said his former employee was a good person and had worked for him for about 10 to 12 years.
Three flowers in the shape of a cross are taped to the side of the building along with a poem titled, “A time for Everything.” A hand-written note reads “In memory of a fallen window washer dead 6/21/06.”
“[Window washing] is actually extremely dangerous,” said Tom Wiester, president of US Window Washers Inc. “You have to know window washing before getting on the ropes.”
Washers wear full body harnesses that are attached to a chair, a padded wooded platform and a safety rope. The chair is then attached to the descending or work rope. The safety rope is a backup in case the work rope breaks.
The equipment is tied off on anchors on the roof, Wiester said. Pads are placed under the ropes where they hang off the roof to prevent the rope from tearing as it moves back and forth.
The equipment is checked before and after each use, Wiester said. They are examined for wear and tear, malfunctions or exposures to chemicals that may weaken the rope.
“Things are constantly being replaced all the time. To fully equip a high-rise window washer costs about $3,000 worth of safety equipment,” he said.
