Hello, I'm not a window cleaner by trade but have been asked if I would consider doing a one off for a local office block I deliver to on my postal round.
I am unsure as to what height I can legally work to from a ladder as this is the way I'd be doing it.
The highest windows are about 30 ft high, The height doesn't bother me as I used to be a roofing labourer, I'd just like to know if, with the regulation in place I am legally allowed to work at these heights off a ladder or if I should pass it on to someone with a wfp system.
Any advice/info would be appreciated
Thanks
Andy
I may be wrong but I think the maximum height for working off a ladder was 7 metres. However, the regs that were introduced in April 2005 changed things. How much they changed things depends on how you want to interpret the regs but there is a bit that reckons that if a job can be done by means other than working at height, then that means should be used. Where the legislation falls down is that, because it is generic, it doesn't state what things must be taken into consideration when deciding if a job can be done without working at height. For instance, it doesn't mention quality. Clearly, with painting, it would be ludicrous to try glossing windows with a brush on the end of an extension pole because the quality would be rubbish (as well as too time consuming). However, with window cleaning, things are less clear. Generally, it is possible to do a perfectly acceptable job with a water fed pole - but this is a matter of individual opinion. The legislation seems to give no mention of individual opinions and quality of work in regards to how to work.
Anyway, working at 30 feet would, I think, have been illegal even before the regulation changes so you'd probably be better off declining. Maybe a local WFP operator will look favourably on you putting him onto the job?
