dorchester

Window Washer Dies in Accidental Fall Inside JFK Library in Boston

District Attorney Kevin Hayden and police said the incident appeared to be a "tragic accident" that OSHA was looking into

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A window washer working inside Boston's JFK Presidential Library died in an apparently accidental fall Wednesday morning, officials said.

The worker, whose name has not been released, fell about five to seven stories.

"I would say about seven stories would be about three quarters of the way up," Deputy Boston Police Superintendent James Miller said.

Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden and police said the incident appeared to be a "tragic accident" that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and his office are looking into.

"I know everyone inside is concerned about what's going on," he said.

The incident took place just after 10:30 a.m., police said.

An employee of Gaeta Window Cleaning Company confirmed the window washer worked for their company. He said the worker had been with the company for a long period of time.

An OSHA representative confirmed the agency was inspecting Gaeta.

The JFK Library's director said in a statement they are "profoundly saddened by the death of the contractor," who had worked at the building for years, including washing the interior of the windows.

"This person has worked safely in our building for many years as a member of the team from the window cleaning company that was onsite this week to pressure wash the building," library and museum director Alan Price said. "This is a shocking and tragic event and I extend my deepest sorrow to his family and the JFK Library family."

The presidential library, a Boston landmark, was designed by famed architect I.M. Pei. It includes a 115-foot pavilion; the library's website says, "the space is empty to allow the viewer to contemplate what he has seen and experienced against a great panorama of sky, land and open sea."

The window washers had reporteldy moved inside the glass pavilion portion of the library to clean because of the rainy weather.

The JFK Presidential Library will remain closed to the general public on Thursday, reopening on Friday.

Boston police at the JFK Presidential Library in Boston's Dorchester neighborhood on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2022, after a worker fell from the building.
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