MONTREAL, QC, Canada — A window washer died after falling from the Blue Cross building and landing on the roof of the Maison du Jazz restaurant 18 stories below, according to the Montreal Gazette.
The man, who worked for Mon laveur de vitre Inc. was connected to a 20-foot platform when it broke loose around 1:15 p.m. and plummeted to the rooftop of the restaurant below, the story stated.
Two other men were working with the victim and were taken to the hospital and treated for nervous shock, the story noted.
Mark Crispino, a witness who spoke to the window washers the day before the accident, said: "Just yesterday I asked them for a business card because I need window washing at home. I asked if accidents ever happened. He said nothing serious ever happens, because we have belts. So we always wear our safety belts, because otherwise we’re not insured."
It remains unclear what caused the malfunction, but when an Occupational Health and Safety Commission (CSST) investigation is complete the information will be released, the story added.
According to the story, four Montreal window washers have died on the job since 2000.
Click here to read the complete article.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Iowa gets first LEED-certified school
IOWA CITY, IA — Willowwind School, an independent elementary and pre-school for children ages three through 12, was recently awarded Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification at the Gold level, according to the Press-Citizen.
The school, a converted Moose Lodge remodeled in 2007 for $3.5 million, is currently the only school in the state of Iowa to achieve certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the story stated.
Designed by Neumann Monson Architects, Willowwind has many sustainable features, including: Natural daylight; a geothermal heating and cooling system; and prairie grass in an outdoor classroom, the story noted.
Click here to read the complete article.
The school, a converted Moose Lodge remodeled in 2007 for $3.5 million, is currently the only school in the state of Iowa to achieve certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the story stated.
Designed by Neumann Monson Architects, Willowwind has many sustainable features, including: Natural daylight; a geothermal heating and cooling system; and prairie grass in an outdoor classroom, the story noted.
Click here to read the complete article.
Roughly 300 janitors walk off job
TORONTO, ON, Canada — After rejecting the latest contract offer, about 300 janitors have walked off the job at Terminal 1 at Pearson International Airport, according to The Toronto Star.
The janitors, represented by Local 183 of the Labourers' International Union of North America (LIUNA), have left management staff with no other option but to perform the duties themselves until a contract is agreed upon, the story stated.
The Greater Toronto Airport Authority said that passengers could see an impact in cleanliness, but they are not anticipating it to be issue, the story noted.
Michael O'Brian, spokesperson for LIUNA Local 183, said: "The belief is that the scope of the work and the amount of work has increased in magnitude, but the wages have not. It was the individuals in the bargaining unit who were upset and we represent their interests."
The strike began shortly after midnight on Friday, August 14 and it remains unclear if and when it will end, the story added.
Click here to read the complete article.
The janitors, represented by Local 183 of the Labourers' International Union of North America (LIUNA), have left management staff with no other option but to perform the duties themselves until a contract is agreed upon, the story stated.
The Greater Toronto Airport Authority said that passengers could see an impact in cleanliness, but they are not anticipating it to be issue, the story noted.
Michael O'Brian, spokesperson for LIUNA Local 183, said: "The belief is that the scope of the work and the amount of work has increased in magnitude, but the wages have not. It was the individuals in the bargaining unit who were upset and we represent their interests."
The strike began shortly after midnight on Friday, August 14 and it remains unclear if and when it will end, the story added.
Click here to read the complete article.
Three major hotel companies green their headquarters
WASHINGTON — Three of the largest hotel companies in the United States have taken major steps to green their headquarters, moves that are likely to filter down to chain locations, according to GreenerBuildings.
Wyndham Worldwide, based in Parsippany, New Jersey, is seeking Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for Commercial Interiors for their headquarters and expects a Silver-level certification by early 2010, the story stated.
Hilton Hotels Corporation recently moved its headquarters from Beverly Hills to an 11-story, 323,000-square-foot LEED Gold-certified building in McLean, Virginia, the story noted.
Bethesda, Maryland-based Marriott International is seeking LEED certification for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance (OB&M), the story added.
According to the release, all three companies are seeking to reduce their carbon footprint and cut down on waste by adopting, among other initiatives, low-flow fixtures, energy-efficient roofing systems, low volatile organic compound (VOC) emitting materials, energy-efficient lighting and rainwater recovery systems.
Wyndham Worldwide, based in Parsippany, New Jersey, is seeking Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for Commercial Interiors for their headquarters and expects a Silver-level certification by early 2010, the story stated.
Hilton Hotels Corporation recently moved its headquarters from Beverly Hills to an 11-story, 323,000-square-foot LEED Gold-certified building in McLean, Virginia, the story noted.
Bethesda, Maryland-based Marriott International is seeking LEED certification for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance (OB&M), the story added.
According to the release, all three companies are seeking to reduce their carbon footprint and cut down on waste by adopting, among other initiatives, low-flow fixtures, energy-efficient roofing systems, low volatile organic compound (VOC) emitting materials, energy-efficient lighting and rainwater recovery systems.
Judge flattens cleaning lady's tire
LA PLATA, MD — The cleaning lady at the Charles County Courthouse was the victim of a childish misdeed after she discovered that the air was let out of the rear passenger side tire of her 2004 Toyota Corolla, according to The Washington Post.
According to the story, Jean Washington had just arrived to start her shift Monday afternoon when a sheriff's deputy warned her that Judge Robert Nalley was going to let the air out of her tire if she didn't move her car.
When Washington went to move her car, it was already too late; her tire was flat, the story stated.
A jail officer confirmed Washington's suspicion of Nalley by capturing the incident with pictures from the camera on his cellular telephone, the story noted.
Washington said: "When I actually saw that my tire was flat, I was almost in tears, and not because of the fact that the air was out of my tire. It was because of who did it."
There is an ongoing investigation into the matter, and even though there is picture evidence, nobody has been changed as of yet, the story added.
According to the article, one of the officers was kind enough to lend a hand and inflate Washington's tire with a pump.
Click here to read the complete article.
According to the story, Jean Washington had just arrived to start her shift Monday afternoon when a sheriff's deputy warned her that Judge Robert Nalley was going to let the air out of her tire if she didn't move her car.
When Washington went to move her car, it was already too late; her tire was flat, the story stated.
A jail officer confirmed Washington's suspicion of Nalley by capturing the incident with pictures from the camera on his cellular telephone, the story noted.
Washington said: "When I actually saw that my tire was flat, I was almost in tears, and not because of the fact that the air was out of my tire. It was because of who did it."
There is an ongoing investigation into the matter, and even though there is picture evidence, nobody has been changed as of yet, the story added.
According to the article, one of the officers was kind enough to lend a hand and inflate Washington's tire with a pump.
Click here to read the complete article.
Janitor tries to sell stolen medical equipment
IRVINE, CA — A janitor at Kaiser Permanente Hospital has been arrested on charges of suspicion of grand theft and possession of stolen property for allegedly stealing $150,000 worth of medical equipment and attempting to sell it to a used medical supply dealer, according to the Orange County Register.
Luis Curiel was arrested by the Irvine Police Department after Lee Allard, president of Pre-owned Endoscopes Inc., became suspicious because Curiel was trying to sell the equipment for prices far below its market value, the story stated.
According to the story, the equipment was worth $60,000 retail, but Curiel was selling it for only $24,000.
Allard, who met with Curiel in a hotel room where he wrote down the serial numbers to the equipment, later called the equipment manufacturer and the hospital before determining the situation was suspicious, the story noted.
Allard said: "I thought it was ridiculously low priced, so that set off a red flag, and he wanted cash only, not a business check. Also, the equipment usually comes in a carrying case, and it was just loose. I'm really glad I didn't end up holding the bag. Let the buyer beware, and if something seems too good to be true, it probably is."
Two Olympus endoscopes, which police believe were stolen sometime in July, have been recovered; the rest of Kaiser Hospital's missing equipment has yet to be located, the story added.
Click here to read the complete article.
Luis Curiel was arrested by the Irvine Police Department after Lee Allard, president of Pre-owned Endoscopes Inc., became suspicious because Curiel was trying to sell the equipment for prices far below its market value, the story stated.
According to the story, the equipment was worth $60,000 retail, but Curiel was selling it for only $24,000.
Allard, who met with Curiel in a hotel room where he wrote down the serial numbers to the equipment, later called the equipment manufacturer and the hospital before determining the situation was suspicious, the story noted.
Allard said: "I thought it was ridiculously low priced, so that set off a red flag, and he wanted cash only, not a business check. Also, the equipment usually comes in a carrying case, and it was just loose. I'm really glad I didn't end up holding the bag. Let the buyer beware, and if something seems too good to be true, it probably is."
Two Olympus endoscopes, which police believe were stolen sometime in July, have been recovered; the rest of Kaiser Hospital's missing equipment has yet to be located, the story added.
Click here to read the complete article.
Boise's first LEED Gold-certified building
BOISE, ID — Ada County recently received its first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification with the recognition of the Assessor's Office and the Indigent Services Department into the Civic Plaza complex from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), according to the Idaho Statesman.
According to the story, this marks the sixth LEED certification for the county, but the first at the Gold level.
The LEED-specific features for the Assessor's Office and Indigent Services Department office remodel projects include: Energy Star technology; using recycled construction waste; energy-efficient lighting; and a storm water management system, the story stated.
The project was awarded "Best Green Building Project under $5 million" by the Intermountain Contractor magazine in 2008, the story noted.
A central recycling center was incorporated into the building as a way to further promote sustainability, the story added.
Click here to read the complete article.
According to the story, this marks the sixth LEED certification for the county, but the first at the Gold level.
The LEED-specific features for the Assessor's Office and Indigent Services Department office remodel projects include: Energy Star technology; using recycled construction waste; energy-efficient lighting; and a storm water management system, the story stated.
The project was awarded "Best Green Building Project under $5 million" by the Intermountain Contractor magazine in 2008, the story noted.
A central recycling center was incorporated into the building as a way to further promote sustainability, the story added.
Click here to read the complete article.
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