Robots May Take Over Dangerous High Rise Window Cleaning Jobs

For decades, New York’s window washers have wowed the public with their fearlessness when it comes to cleaning high-rise windows on a scaffold. However, The Wall Street Journal, reports that robots may soon take over the jobs that these brave men have been doing, A company called Ecovacs Robotics is introducing a new robotic window-cleaning machine, Winbot 7. The device, which resembles a Roomba vacuum cleaner, attaches itself to a windowpane, maps out its perimeter and then proceeds to clean the surface, playing a tune when the work is completed.
Company officials believe that the their small robots could take over the cleaning of The Big Apple’s iconic skyscrapers where window work carries fall risks. They say it will significantly reduce the liability risks for window cleaning companies. There are about 800 high-rise window washers in New York City, The Wall Street Journal reports.
Laws Protecting Window Washers
There is no question that high-rise window washers face significant dangers. The lives of these individuals are definitely put at risk every day in the course of carrying out their jobs. New York’s Labor Laws 202 and 240 provide protections for those who wash building exteriors and windows. These laws require property owners and employers to provide a safe environment in order to avoid accidents. This includes providing proper safety devices. Some of the common dangers window washers face on the job include:
• Scaffolding giving way
• Unsafe scaffold
• Improper maintenance
• Lack of proper safety equipment
• Lack of fall safety devices
• Slippery surfaces
• Unsafe weather conditions
Injuries and Damages
Commercial high-rise window washers often suffer catastrophic injuries or fatalities due to falls from high elevations. Some of the common injuries include brain injuries, spinal cord damage, broken bones or neck and back injuries. Injured workers can seek workers’ compensation from their employers. In addition, they may also be able to file a third-party claim if a party other than the employer was negligent. Examples of third parties include general contractors, sub-contractors, building owners, manufacturers of defective products, etc. The laws in New York State heavily favor workers who fall from scaffolds.
If you or a loved one has been injured on the job, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options.
Please contact us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). We can also help with personal injury cases in New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
Other phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
Please visit us at: www.WORK4YOULAW.com
Source: The Wall Street Journal