Two window washes were very critically injured in an accident Saturday in Orinda, Mercury News reported. The two men, Jose Herrera, 51, and Eduardo Guerra, 30, were working for Santa Clara-based Delta Window Cleaning, when the accident occurred outside a three-story Orinda office building around 9:48 a.m. The incident occurred in the parking lot of the Village Square Shopping Center on Orinda Way where the Orinda Farmers Market was underway.
According to ABC News, Herrera and Guerra were in a cherry picker about 50 feet in the air when they hit some high-voltage power wires. Both men were electrocuted and suffered burns over more than 95% of their bodies. Several people at the nearby farmer's market witnessed the explosion and watched helplessly as they cherry picker bucket burned above the ground.
According to the Moraga-Oranda Fire District, when firefighters arrived, they found two victims on a lift platform about 50 feet off the ground, a large crowd in the area, and a live high voltage electrical wire down on the ground. Working cooperatively with police personnel, bystanders were moved back from the arcing power lines while firefighters tried to find a way to lower the lift platform. They were unsuccessful due to electrical damage to the lift controls. Rescue operations were complicated because the victims were trapped fifty feet above the ground near the power lines. Battalion Chief Randy Trumpf said, "We could not affect a rescue until the electrical power could be handled safely to avoid injury to bystanders and rescuers".
The two men were airlifted to the burn center at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center with second- and third-degree burns. A nurse said they were both in very critical condition. Please keep both Jose Herrera and Eduardo Guerra in your prayers.
Cause of the Accident
California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) investigators have opened a formal investigation into the incident. Witnesses and bystanders criticized emergency responders for taking a long time to get to the scene and rescuing the workers. Apparently, they had to wait for PG&E to turn off the power to safety rescue the two men. The cause of the accident remains under investigation.
Electrical Accident Liability Considerations
While this Orinda electrical accident remains under investigation, the family members of the victims would be well-advised to consult with a California burn injury attorney as soon as possible, who will protect the victims' legal rights following this incident. Depending on how the incident occurred, he victims may be entitled to compensation from their employer, and possibly the manufacturer of the cherry picker, as well as the power company. Because of known dangers of electricity, electrical companies have a high standard of care when it comes to accidents. An attorney who has successfully handled electrical accidents and is familiar with local, state, and federal regulations can help the victims protect their rights and recover the compensation they are entitled to following this workplace accident.
Sources: Mercury News, KGO-TV San Francisco, Moroaga-Orinda Fire District
This is EXACTLY why window cleaners need to be properly trained before using any kind of cherry picker or a water-fed pole.