Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: windows_chepstow on January 15, 2007, 05:43:51 pm
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I've passed this window cleaner once before while driving in my car. He had a little set of dodgy looking ladders over his shoulder and a bucket and was walking by the side of a main road; he obviously didn't have any motorised transport. I didn't stop to talk then, but today I saw him cleaning an account I recently dropped.
This is what I saw:
1. A set of ladders that are something like what Aldis would sell. They were one piece, but have a hinge in the middle. I'd be surprised if they could comfortably reach a first floor window without having to stand on one of the top three rungs. He doesn't drive, and (give him his due; he's obviously not lazy) lives a long way from this account.
2. The normal range of tea-towels and cheap washing up liquid you see some new guys start with.
He was a bit sheepish me me; obviously since he was cleaning one of my accounts (the last time I did these were in August 06 and the unprofessional I am, I hadn't let them know I'd stopped comming); my offer of help wasn't taken up. (I asked him if he wanted any help to learn the 'ropes').
Also, he's got a speech impediment and his social skills were lacking. Putting it 'kindly', he's got some sort of 'learning disability'.
But the thing is, given the ladders he was using; I think it's not going to be long before he has a fall and hurts himself. Hopefully he'll give it up before this happens; but the first time I saw this guy was during the Summer; so I think he's got some 'gumption' in him and will stick at it; for a while at least.
I could be all wrong. Those little bendy ladders might be safe and the speach impediment and lack of social skills could be some sort of disability that doesn't affect his common-sense; but I personally think he's just an accident waiting to happen and there's nothing I can do about it.
I think this is a definate case of introducing licensing into the English window cleaning industy; since hopefully the cost of one would deter those who're obviously putting themselves at risk.
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Hello Tosh,
I hear your concerns for the chap. Next time you see him ask him if he would be interested in working for some window cleaner on this site as an employee and learn the trade safely as any employer would love an honest grafter who is committed and reliable. It's just a suggestion.
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Bloody good luck to him. But what's with tea-towels?
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Are you sure it wasnt squeeky you were talking to? ;D ;D ;D
Brett ;D
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Are you sure it wasnt squeeky you were talking to? ;D ;D ;D
Brett ;D
Was thinking that my self but you beat me to the post! ;D
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Tosh, we see some scary things. I was driving on Saturday, the car in front was a window cleaners. He had an applicator sleeve covering the rear wiper on his estate car. No harm in that, What frightened me was the state of his ladders.
He had four double alloy ladders on the rack, so he must be employing at least one other guy. Two of the ladders looked OK, but the other two were scary.
One had the remnants of the plastic/rubber feet. The other had none whatsoever.
You could see were the bottom of the aluminium was curled up.
This guy was well into middle age, and should have had the sense to know better.
If an employee was to fall with that ladder, that guy could be facing serious charges.
I have seen other window cleaners with no feet on their ladders too. Death wish or what? Dai
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Are you sure it wasnt squeeky you were talking to? ;D ;D ;D
Brett ;D
Guys! >:(
Squeaks has sorted out his ladders and he's a million miles away from the impression I gained from this new window cleaner. I honestly feel sorry/frightened for him (not Squeaks).
Two of the ladders looked OK, but the other two were scary.
One had the remnants of the plastic/rubber feet. The other had none whatsoever.
You could see were the bottom of the aluminium was curled up.
Dai
Dai,
I see that all the time. I starting to think it's generally considered normal, or a 'badge' of how 'ard we work', when I see window cleaners with just bent alluminium where feet should be.
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Talking of feet mine are starting to get a bit bald, where can get replacements?
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Thankyou Tosh.
Brest and Smeary Vision, bugger off!
I think I know who you mean.
He lives down in my estate somewhere, and my local newsagent I chat to said he was cleaning windows now.
Tall gormless looking thing?
Major drug addict, that's why he doesn't talk properly.
Absolute smelly loser.
He won't stick at it longer than his next fix. ::)
Then again, you might be talking about someone else! ;D
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Tall gormless looking thing?
Major drug addict, that's why he doesn't talk properly.
Yes, tall and gormless! :-\
I didn't realise he was drug addict; I just thought he had some sort of disability, which he obviously has.
I still can't help feeling sorry for the poor lad though.
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If he's a drug addict, it's his customers you should feel sorry for.................there the one paying for his habit. ::)
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Well that makes your point a bit more I guess Tosh. Nothing stopping him doing it in an unregulated industry.
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Thankyou Tosh.
Brest and Smeary Vision, bugger off!
I think I know who you mean.
He lives down in my estate somewhere, and my local newsagent I chat to said he was cleaning windows now.
Tall gormless looking thing?
Major drug addict, that's why he doesn't talk properly.
Absolute smelly loser.
He won't stick at it longer than his next fix. ::)
Then again, you might be talking about someone else! ;D
Squawky. been waiting to get you back for the van remark ;) ;D
regards
Brest ;D
If this chap has got learning difficulties its good that someones worried about him has he got any family you could have a word with? before he has a serious accident. On the other hand if hes taking drugs and going up a ladder ive got no sympathy.
I see loads of window cleaners every week with dodgy ladders and i dont suppose theyre on drugs or got learning problems theyre just ignorant to safety. For the price of a decent ladder to save you from injury or worse its a small price to pay
yes i think there should be some kind of licence for w/c
Brett
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if he is a drug addict, fair play to him for trying to earn his next fix, its got to be better than mugging some old lady / robbing houses
hasnt it ?? ??
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good point matt
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You have no way of telling if he is window cleaning IN PLACE of mugging old woman, have you?
YOU have NO IDEA about being an addict, DO YOU?
Ask the addict before you SPOUT OFF!
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erm ............... was that aimed at anyone in particular. ???
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having been burgaled by a drug addict i would prefer them to work or are they on the prowl to burgle?
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You have no way of telling if he is window cleaning IN PLACE of mugging old woman, have you?
YOU have NO IDEA about being an addict, DO YOU?
Ask the addict before you SPOUT OFF!
if this is in reply to my post, then YES i do know , a very good mate ( who is now clean ) was a addict
so does that ANSWER your rather rude and pointless post
WHY WOULD HE BE WORKING TO FUND HIS HABBIT, IF HE CAN MAKE IT MUCH EASIER AND QUICKER ROBBING
SO DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR ON ABOUT ?? ?? ??
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Peace, people, peace!
When a nerve has been touched we react without thinking ...
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Oh and ive also worked on council estates and got to know a few addicts aswell and NONE of them would work, why would they when they can go shop lifting etc etc
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steady children, we don't need to get into a debate about druggies, that is a subject for the chat side of the forum.
But anyone on drugs or booze should not be working in a hazardous job, just like driving a car, they are an accident waiting to happen.
Ian
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When I lived down in Portsmouth every week I had a guy come in asking for a job. He had extreme learning difficulties, anyway after about 6 months of this I took him on part time eyeing the spuds cleaning the yard and generaly doing the jobs no one else wanted to do . It was hard work at first but the bloke was solid gold, on an hourly rate I paid him more then any else taking him on was one of the most rewarding things I ever done.
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when i was in the building game, our company took on this older guy who had a mental breakdown when his mum died :(
he was a chippy aswell, so he started off working on jobs i was running, he was really slow, anyways, he was then sent out to do maintanace work on coucil properties, he did too good a job, every job was really well done BUT he took hours and hours too long :( thus we lost money on this council work
he was due to be fired and i told the boss " he can work with me and i will speed him up and teach him our what we expect " , well he did, it was very hard work, in the end he was put in the stores as a storeman, he left because when he didnt have anything to do in the sotres he was expected to clean the vans, he wouldnt as he was a tradesman
nice enough bloke, i felt good saving his job for a few months aswell :)
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You have no way of telling if he is window cleaning IN PLACE of mugging old woman, have you?
YOU have NO IDEA about being an addict, DO YOU?
Ask the addict before you SPOUT OFF!
With respect Jacky, you don't know either. Maybe he is doing it in place of mugging, maybe he isn't.
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You have no way of telling if he is window cleaning IN PLACE of mugging old woman, have you?
YOU have NO IDEA about being an addict, DO YOU?
Ask the addict before you SPOUT OFF!
With respect Jacky, you don't know either. Maybe he is doing it in place of mugging, maybe he isn't.
unless its him they are taking about, thus he got all defensive
Jacky, if it is you, i have some old scrims you can have, better than tea-towels, i am sure a few other will donate a few bits of tat to you
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When I lived down in Portsmouth every week I had a guy come in asking for a job. He had extreme learning difficulties, anyway after about 6 months of this I took him on part time eyeing the spuds cleaning the yard and generaly doing the jobs no one else wanted to do . It was hard work at first but the bloke was solid gold, on an hourly rate I paid him more then any else taking him on was one of the most rewarding things I ever done.
Sean,
That's good and I'm all for mentally disabled working. The Israeli army is the only army in the world that recruits downsyndrome soldiers. Obviously they only get jobs suited to their abilities and I think good on them.
But this guy is an accident waiting to happen; man, you should see his ladders; he seems quite determined to stick at it too; which worries me.
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Tosh, I'm 99% sure he's on the dole.
Apparently he's in Threshers buying loads of Stella on the same day each time.
As well as fags and Rizlas...
::)
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Has anyone done a search for this chap on crimestoppers yet? This chap is causing such a commotion and he's probably unaware of all of us chatting about him. Tosh, next time you see him tell him about this topic and ask him does he or doesn't he as a lot of us are intrigued now!
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Yeah, and tell him, if he is mugging old ladies "we wana av a word wiv im" ;D