Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Ben wood on November 29, 2012, 02:52:03 pm
-
Questions for people that employ workers. Do you let them go on flat roofs to clean. And what safety equipment do you use
-
Questions for people that employ workers. Do you let them go on flat roofs to clean. And what safety equipment do you use
No not unless it has a rail around it then i try to avoid that too, to much risk.
-
If it can't be cleaned by standing on the ground - it's not cleaned.
-
I don't employ at the moment but as from january i will be telling all curent and future customers that for me to clean a window off a flat roof they will have to pay for safety measure to be installed ( latchway system ) or the window won't be cleaned.
Not risking my life it's to easy to step back and fall or even fall through the roof.
I need to find out a rough cost for the safety system to be installed and maintained before january though ;D ;D
Paul
-
Realy its only a garage flat roof for domestic work
-
Realy its only a garage flat roof for domestic work
the problem is if they have an accident. is it worth the risk to you and them for the sake of cleaning one window, having a safe system in place I cannot see a customer going for that but worth a try.
Some people do it, I choose not too.
-
The HSE requirement for it is an absolute nightmare mate, which you can read more about here http://www.hse.gov.uk/falls/regulations.htm and I think you would be advised to steer clear.
I'd do the job personally though if I thought it was worth it.
Duncan
-
currently i do, i ensure access ladder to roof is tied or footed and extends above 1metre above access point, if there are anchorage points on the roof i will attach to these using a harness and lanyard if no anchorage points and of short duration say about 8 or 9 windows i will clean them so long as work can be carried out at least 2 metres from edges of roof or from skylights, if i am to be on roof longer than this then i will take a couple of plastic barriers and place these behind where i am working at least 2 metres from edges of roof.
if workers or myself have any doubts about condition or substance of roof then they will not be accessed for cleaning.
i talked about this issue with Andrew willis of Impact 43 yesterday and although bryan dolby from the federation had posted about this issue a couple of days ago and qouted what he had been told from the HSE , Andrew disagrees and says he was at the meeting where this was discussed and the issue was not resolved, Andrew intends to set up further meetings with HSE, a management agent, the federation and a QC to try and get a final decision.
Andrews main concerns are how to assess stability of surface to be stood on, and when accessing or degressing from the roof it is not possible to provide reasonably practicable solutions to protect the operative should he fall.
Andrew was quite clear that if an accident occured using the methods i was using and an accident occured then i would be prosecuted, so i guess it boils down to whether you think it is worth the risk.
Personally i intend to carry on as i am untill this all thing is sorted out and i also intend to carry on using WFP without courdoning of the fall area in all except the occasional instance that i feel it may be necassary.
-
Realy its only a garage flat roof for domestic work
the problem is if they have an accident. is it worth the risk to you and them for the sake of cleaning one window, having a safe system in place I cannot see a customer going for that but worth a try.
Some people do it, I choose not too.
To be honest Ian im hoping thats the case and they don't want to do it ;D ;D
I don't want to buy a harness ect just for a few residential jobs.
Paul