Window washer falls to death in Boston from 32-story downtown building
A window washer died after falling 32 stories from one of the tallest high rise buildings in Boston on Monday morning, police said.
Boston emergency crews received a call Monday morning from 100 Summer Street about a window washer who had fallen several stories to the ground. When police arrived, around 8 a.m., they reported the victim as deceased at the scene in a statement from the Boston Police Department.
100 Summer Street is a 32 story high rise building located in downtown Boston. It is one of the tallest buildings in Boston according to their website
The worker was identified by The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office as 40-year-old Nicholas Marks of East Weymouth, according to Boston 25 News.
Gerardo Ortiz, who has known the victim for 18 years, said safety is a priority in their work.
“You follow all the safety procedures, and nothing will happen,” said Ortiz in an interview with Boston News 25. “You never know what could have happened. The equipment failed. It’s a lot of weight on the ropes.”
Marks worked for Sky Safety, a window cleaning company that provides commercial-quality cleaning.
Window Washing Safety
Window-washing fatalities are very rare. According to Boston News 25, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has reported 28 incidents in the last five years, and only 11 incidents have resulted in death.
“Our deepest sympathies go out to Mr. Marks’s family and friends at this tragic time,” Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden said.
No additional information was immediately available as the investigation is still underway and OSHA was notified.