Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Alun Whyte on July 23, 2010, 10:38:00 pm

Title: Closing part of a road
Post by: Alun Whyte on July 23, 2010, 10:38:00 pm
Been asked to clean a large glass fronted, newly built, 185 bed hotel inside and out in the centre of town.
To get a suitable angle to clean 4 storeys up i would need to be stood partly in the road.

Other than cleaning at 5am when things are quiet does anyone know, can i cone off a small section at a time of the road so i can safely clean from the road or do i need to inform and seek permission from the council/highways agency etc.

Anyone with experience of a similar situation and how you resolved it would be appreciated
Title: Re: Closing part of a road
Post by: Steven Shoreditch on July 23, 2010, 10:41:58 pm
Tough one, this, but you'll need a hi-viz vest and a couple of cones.

Park your van 20 feet in front of where you are standing, and move it when you start getting away from it a bit.  you should be ok if you pay attention to your surrealings.
Title: Re: Closing part of a road
Post by: the bfg on July 23, 2010, 10:45:16 pm
unless a cherry picker is needed then the answer is no,  just start at 05.am
Title: Re: Closing part of a road
Post by: LQQK on July 23, 2010, 10:47:41 pm
You dont need to do anything, unless theres an accident in which case your insurance will be null and void if you havent done everything according to the letter of the law.

Title: Re: Closing part of a road
Post by: Alun Whyte on July 23, 2010, 10:52:31 pm
I start work at 5am every day that aint the issue what im looking for is if anyone knows the legal side of what can and can't be done.
Title: Re: Closing part of a road
Post by: mci services on July 23, 2010, 10:58:34 pm
well dont ask on here phone the highways agency and tell them what you propose and they will tell you what needs doing, sometimes they will say it must be fully cordoned and other times they will be happy for you to do it early hours with a few cones
Title: Re: Closing part of a road
Post by: Steven Shoreditch on July 23, 2010, 11:01:38 pm
I only know the illegal side of things.  Sorry.  I'm hopeless at road closures, as I dive in and out and try to get the job as best I can with the minimum of fuss and red tape etc.

Not saying you should, just saying maybe you could wing it and take a chance? If your guts say don't, then don't, but really, I would ask the council; don't bother with the police, as they might just want to nick you anyway, if possible.

Go the safe route: call the council.  Power to the people/Big Society (Tell them Big Dave told you to call).
Title: Re: Closing part of a road
Post by: Steven Shoreditch on July 23, 2010, 11:03:15 pm
I'm going to bed, but will need a big bladder relief valve opening beforehand.

Cheers.
Title: Re: Closing part of a road
Post by: mci services on July 23, 2010, 11:11:01 pm
i agree with sswc i would just do it early use the cones and van and get in and out
but if you want a real answer ask the council/highways or whoever
Title: Re: Closing part of a road
Post by: Paul Coleman on July 23, 2010, 11:32:06 pm
I'm going to bed, but will need a big bladder relief valve opening beforehand.

Cheers.

Didn't anyone tell you that bladders are banned?
Title: Re: Closing part of a road
Post by: LQQK on July 23, 2010, 11:40:21 pm
I start work at 5am every day that aint the issue what im looking for is if anyone knows the legal side of what can and can't be done.

It is if there is an accident and your the one stood in the middle of the road. The whole shabang will be the issue then. You, your insurance cover, your liability.

As Stu says, dont ask window cleaners, ask the highways agency.

Years ago I went on a coning course when we used to cone off lanes on a dual-carriageway (it wasnt for window cleaning) and there are laws, regularions, recommendations that you wouldnt believe.

Just for starters, a couple of cones as already suggested is nowhere near what you need. You need to start coning off a lane at particular distances, depending on what type of road it is and speed restrictions, you need to have cones spaced at certain distances, you may well need signing (Men At Work).............it goes on.

Get some proper advice, dont ask a bunch of numbnut shiners at midnight after kicking out time.

Otherwise you are uninsured.
Title: Re: Closing part of a road
Post by: George P on July 24, 2010, 09:43:29 am
cones and signage as stated and work in front of your van, you shouild also be trained to be able to put out cones in road - no joke, you may also need a permit from council with varying cost - probablly around £30 - £40.00
Title: Re: Closing part of a road
Post by: tacky on July 24, 2010, 01:01:29 pm
do it .early .or phone council to make sure .i myself would do it early when no traffic about .less hassle sometimes than dealing with council
Title: Re: Closing part of a road
Post by: Richy L on July 24, 2010, 04:59:05 pm
cones and signage as stated and work in front of your van, you shouild also be trained to be able to put out cones in road - no joke, you may also need a permit from council with varying cost - probablly around £30 - £40.00

Ive quoted a job where i need to use a cherry picker on a very busy road in cardiff centre. I was told I would need traffic management. £250 including hire of cones and signs etc. However, if it is just using the wfp i would just go there at 4ish and be gone by 7:30 the latest. It all depends how busy the road is really
Title: Re: Closing part of a road
Post by: tws on July 24, 2010, 05:16:27 pm
cones and signage as stated and work in front of your van, you shouild also be trained to be able to put out cones in road - no joke, you may also need a permit from council with varying cost - probablly around £30 - £40.00

Ive quoted a job where i need to use a cherry picker on a very busy road in cardiff centre. I was told I would need traffic management. £250 including hire of cones and signs etc. However, if it is just using the wfp i would just go there at 4ish and be gone by 7:30 the latest. It all depends how busy the road is really
do you need a licence for the cherry picker or training or what ?
Title: Re: Closing part of a road
Post by: RnS sussex on July 24, 2010, 06:32:51 pm
If its a hotel are going to wont to have bed rooms cleaned at 5 in the morning????
Title: Re: Closing part of a road
Post by: Steven Shoreditch on July 24, 2010, 06:38:39 pm
If its a hotel are going to wont to have bed rooms cleaned at 5 in the morning????
You think you're clever, don't you?

So do I.  :-*  :)
Title: Re: Closing part of a road
Post by: tacky on July 24, 2010, 06:58:18 pm
if its wfp they ll think its raining .n they ll just pull blankets over their heads ,
Title: Re: Closing part of a road
Post by: Richy L on July 25, 2010, 07:29:36 pm
cones and signage as stated and work in front of your van, you shouild also be trained to be able to put out cones in road - no joke, you may also need a permit from council with varying cost - probablly around £30 - £40.00

Ive quoted a job where i need to use a cherry picker on a very busy road in cardiff centre. I was told I would need traffic management. £250 including hire of cones and signs etc. However, if it is just using the wfp i would just go there at 4ish and be gone by 7:30 the latest. It all depends how busy the road is really
do you need a licence for the cherry picker or training or what ?

You need a license to hire one. its not law to get one to opperate one, but it does make common sense.
It only costs £195+VAT for the days course and you'll be qualified for 5 years.
Title: Re: Closing part of a road
Post by: gordonswindows on July 25, 2010, 11:16:06 pm
How did you get the job without describing the method you are going to use?

Have you completed a risk assessment for the safe completion of the work?

Your insurance will be null and void if here is no prepared paperwork

Have you completed and recieved a permit to work from the client?

I won't list every requirement here as it would be teaching other more experienced people how too suck eggs but the correct procedures are there for your health and safety as well as others and it makes it clear who is responsible ie liable if things go wrong.

Only my opinion but I think the hotel has offered it to you because they know if it goes wrong it will be you that carries the can.they probably saved a packet too as the preparation work alone is expensive never mind the costs of the actual work and they know what an experienced company would charge

Good luck