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UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Andrew Willis on July 12, 2013, 11:22:29 am

Title: Cleaning from a step ladder is it safe
Post by: Andrew Willis on July 12, 2013, 11:22:29 am
OK how about some views on this

You have a cleaner on a step ladder
Cleaning in a public house
Ten feet from the ground
Dry dusting some areas using a mop

Should the cleaning company hire in something safer for him to use, protect him should he fall
Or would that be safety gone mad

Your thoughts please

 
Title: Re: Cleaning from a step ladder is it safe
Post by: Ian101 on July 12, 2013, 11:31:33 am
Can u fit a mewp into this pub or perhaps rope access however being serious 99% of window cleaners would just use the step ladders
Title: Re: Cleaning from a step ladder is it safe
Post by: p1w1 on July 12, 2013, 12:00:01 pm
just work from the floor with an extension if its just dusting, however if the steps must be used then ideally you would want someone perhaps keeping the steps steady for extra safety..but in reality i would just go up the steps as that's what they are made for what other reason do you have them??
paul
Title: Re: Cleaning from a step ladder is it safe
Post by: p1w1 on July 12, 2013, 12:01:42 pm
be interesting to hear dave morris reply on this as i believe he fell off some step ladders and broke his collar bone some time back  :o
Title: Re: Cleaning from a step ladder is it safe
Post by: MATT BATEMAN (OWC) on July 12, 2013, 12:44:23 pm
Dave Morris broke his arm falling off a step ladder.
Title: Re: Cleaning from a step ladder is it safe
Post by: formb on July 12, 2013, 01:06:35 pm
Squeegee pole!!

Put cones round THE DANGER ZONE, wear a high viz uniform, Cordon off THE DANGER ZONE, get an orange man with a big drum to march round the perimeter of THE DANGER ZONE to ensure that any blind people do not walk into THE DANGER ZONE, or indeed trip over any cones or the cordon.  ;D

In all seriousness though, absolutely no way I'd go up a 10 foot stepladder nowadays.
Title: Re: Cleaning from a step ladder is it safe
Post by: trevor perry on July 12, 2013, 01:08:47 pm
Dave Morris broke his arm falling off a step ladder.

Don't worry it has been dealt with should he fall again his risk assessment shows he has had training on how to land on his wallet  ;D ;D
Title: Re: Cleaning from a step ladder is it safe
Post by: MATT BATEMAN (OWC) on July 12, 2013, 01:09:49 pm
get an orange man with a big drum to march round the perimeter of THE DANGER ZONE to ensure that any blind people do not walk into THE DANGER ZONE,

Will you have to hand out ear-muffs to protect the publics hearing from the drummers decibels?  ;D
Title: Re: Cleaning from a step ladder is it safe
Post by: MATT BATEMAN (OWC) on July 12, 2013, 01:11:01 pm
Dave Morris broke his arm falling off a step ladder.

Don't worry it has been dealt with should he fall again his risk assessment shows he has had training on how to land on his wallet  ;D ;D

Understandable  ;D

Good point.

Risk well managed.  ;D  ;D
Title: Re: Cleaning from a step ladder is it safe
Post by: Moderator David@stives on July 12, 2013, 01:14:16 pm
Hi Guys I fell off the second run of a 6 ft Pointer A-frame, inside an hospital believe it or not.

I think I know the case Andy is on about, I read about it last year, It was in Cornwall I think, Pelynt, Looe.

Title: Re: Cleaning from a step ladder is it safe
Post by: trevor perry on July 12, 2013, 01:27:21 pm
Last week I was talking to one of my domestic customers who has been an health and safety advisor for 35 years and he made a real valid point which was "when the safety at work act first came out in 1974 it was there to protect employees and public from unscrupulous employers who made them work in unsafe situations but now it has been turned on its head to try and protect employers from unscrupulous employees and public who try and claim for every misfortune hence all the need for training certificates etc which are only there to cover the employers ass and very little to do with safety"
Title: Re: Cleaning from a step ladder is it safe
Post by: p1w1 on July 12, 2013, 01:39:22 pm
Last week I was talking to one of my domestic customers who has been an health and safety advisor for 35 years and he made a real valid point which was "when the safety at work act first came out in 1974 it was there to protect employees and public from unscrupulous employers who made them work in unsafe situations but now it has been turned on its head to try and protect employers from unscrupulous employees and public who try and claim for every misfortune hence all the need for training certificates etc which are only there to cover the employers ass and very little to do with safety"
I think your spot on there
Title: Re: Cleaning from a step ladder is it safe
Post by: mark dew on July 12, 2013, 02:15:36 pm
The trouble with steps is that it is hard to work off them facing the area you are cleaning. You are too far away.
The alternative is to work side on. Which i think is very dangerous because they aren't stable enough to stay upright if they move from side to side.

As said, better to have someone footing them.
 
Title: Re: Cleaning from a step ladder is it safe
Post by: deeege on July 12, 2013, 02:33:42 pm
The trouble with steps is that it is hard to work off them facing the area you are cleaning. You are too far away.
The alternative is to work side on. Which i think is very dangerous because they aren't stable enough to stay upright if they move from side to side.

As said, better to have someone footing them.
 

And then someone footing the person who is footing the ladder....

:)
Title: Re: Cleaning from a step ladder is it safe
Post by: Jim Waugh(Albright & Shiny) on July 12, 2013, 03:02:20 pm
this is why as soon as I have the spare spondoolies Im ordering a set of these puppies.http://www.midlandladders.com/products/4_Rung_Little_Giant_Classic-410-74.html (http://www.midlandladders.com/products/4_Rung_Little_Giant_Classic-410-74.html)
Title: Re: Cleaning from a step ladder is it safe
Post by: wfp master on July 12, 2013, 03:12:31 pm
The trouble with steps is that it is hard to work off them facing the area you are cleaning. You are too far away.
The alternative is to work side on. Which i think is very dangerous because they aren't stable enough to stay upright if they move from side to side.

As said, better to have someone footing them.
 

And then someone footing the person who is footing the ladder....

:)
while holding a pint.
Title: Re: Cleaning from a step ladder is it safe
Post by: robertphil on July 12, 2013, 03:14:38 pm
step ladders are increbibly lethal. 
Title: Re: Cleaning from a step ladder is it safe
Post by: Andrew Willis on July 12, 2013, 04:48:00 pm
be interesting to hear dave morris reply on this as i believe he fell off some step ladders and broke his collar bone some time back  :o

 ;D
Title: Re: Cleaning from a step ladder is it safe
Post by: Andrew Willis on July 12, 2013, 04:48:36 pm
Dave Morris broke his arm falling off a step ladder.

Don't worry it has been dealt with should he fall again his risk assessment shows he has had training on how to land on his wallet  ;D ;D

 ;D
Title: Re: Cleaning from a step ladder is it safe
Post by: Andrew Willis on July 12, 2013, 04:52:10 pm
Last week I was talking to one of my domestic customers who has been an health and safety advisor for 35 years and he made a real valid point which was "when the safety at work act first came out in 1974 it was there to protect employees and public from unscrupulous employers who made them work in unsafe situations but now it has been turned on its head to try and protect employers from unscrupulous employees and public who try and claim for every misfortune hence all the need for training certificates etc which are only there to cover the employers ass and very little to do with safety"

Actually your right the main reason is to protect you and others, like this its simple.

Re cases of action taken against, you are very unlikely to loos a case if you have done what various law requires, re cases for compensation this is through Civil courts once you have been found guilty of not complying, what I am against is cases settled out of court to save money. Also I would stop no win no fee.
Title: Re: Cleaning from a step ladder is it safe
Post by: Andrew Willis on July 12, 2013, 04:55:49 pm
OK how about some views on this

You have a cleaner on a step ladder
Cleaning in a public house
Ten feet from the ground
Dry dusting some areas using a mop

Should the cleaning company hire in something safer for him to use, protect him should he fall
Or would that be safety gone mad

Your thoughts please

 

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/story-17425164-detail/story.html#axzz2Yq9Yx1Bw
Title: Re: Cleaning from a step ladder is it safe
Post by: bobplum on July 12, 2013, 05:12:05 pm
yes, a step ladder is acceptable,within the range it is to be used

The ladder in question was unsuitable,"not fit for purpose"

As much has the company is too blame so is the deceased all he had to say was "no"
Title: Re: Cleaning from a step ladder is it safe
Post by: Ian Lancaster on July 12, 2013, 06:41:11 pm
My personal opinion is that step ladders have no place in cleaning at height situations.

A step ladder is 'free standing' in a very real sense of the words and the temptation to reach sideways while standing on one is ever present.  It only takes a short reach to shift the body weight beyond the balance point.  Similarly if an operative is standing on a step ladder and turns his body sideways to clean a surface at right angles to the ladder, it only takes a small amount of pressure to cause the step ladder to fall in the opposite direction.

I would only ever use a proper window cleaners ladder and if there was a surface that required cleaning which was out of reach of such a ladder then I would use a pole or simply not attempt the job.
Title: Re: Cleaning from a step ladder is it safe
Post by: trevor perry on July 12, 2013, 07:24:37 pm
Last week I was talking to one of my domestic customers who has been an health and safety advisor for 35 years and he made a real valid point which was "when the safety at work act first came out in 1974 it was there to protect employees and public from unscrupulous employers who made them work in unsafe situations but now it has been turned on its head to try and protect employers from unscrupulous employees and public who try and claim for every misfortune hence all the need for training certificates etc which are only there to cover the employers ass and very little to do with safety"

Actually your right the main reason is to protect you and others, like this its simple.

Re cases of action taken against, you are very unlikely to loos a case if you have done what various law requires, re cases for compensation this is through Civil courts once you have been found guilty of not complying, what I am against is cases settled out of court to save money. Also I would stop no win no fee.

 Andrew I have just been out and cracked open the champagne, we at last agree on something lets build from here ;D ;D
Title: Re: Cleaning from a step ladder is it safe
Post by: Dave Willis on July 12, 2013, 08:07:58 pm
A lawnmower is an incredibly dangerous piece of equipment so is a chainsaw and yet if used correctly they must be deemed save, after all anyone can buy one over the counter and chop themselves to bits.
The poor guy who died should have assessed the risk and refused if he had any concerns over the state of the equipment provided.
The pub owner probably thought the ladders were fine too. Very unfortunate for all that blame had to be found.