Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: tradman on August 20, 2008, 07:49:22 am
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hi guys,
the gutter cleaning m/c's are meant to replace ladders and access equipment due to h&s policies of commercial / industrial properties. but i have heard that upto 30' its a struggle to get up and above that its a definite 2 man job. this is fine if you're a sole trader, but what about the manual lifting at work directive that stipulates quite categorically that for weights above 20kgs alternatives have to be sought? now then, as we are only talking about low heights there are plenty of alternatives eg cherry pickers, mobile ally towers etc etc. now there are situations i can imagine where the gutter vac is the only choice therefore a risk assessment is possible. but these are probably rare. how do we get around this problem with employees? how do we make sure we don't set ourselves up for 'no win no fees' unscrupulous employees?
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no comments?
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nobody. glynn? could do with opinions before i waste more time budgeting
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i have to say a good point, im not sure what they weigh and have never handled one but im sure they must be able to lighten them.
My first 45 foot pole weighs a ton bought it three years ago and now my sl2 must be 10times lighter.
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A very good point there......
You will find the DIY gutter vac comes in at under 5kg at 60ft and can be used by 1 man at that height.
The Omnmivac is well under the 20kg... Probably comes in at not much more than 10kg (without the secondery support pole)..... Can't see the actual weights on Glyns site.....
Its the multiplying effect of the length that makes them heavy to use and control. Except for the Upkeeper.... Thats just simply to heavy and almost uncontrolable..
Regards
Mr H
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thats my point. whilst the kit may or may not weigh less than the 20kg limit, the directive stipulates that it must be lifted with the technique laid down in the manual lifting acop (approved code of practice). so it seems to me that by my employees using a gutter vac, they would be more at risk therefore a satisfactory risk assessment could not be satisfied, i.e., the risk would not be reduced or eliminated, therefore other methods should be sought to 'reduce the risk as far as is reasonably practicable'. the only way to reduce the risk is to use 2 operators therefore any savings by using a gutter vac comparable to say ladders or an alloy tower would be negligible, but ladders are allowed to be used as long used correctly and not for more than each climb lasting more than 20 mins, therefore ladders are a cost effective and safer alternative as long as correct safety accessories are used (microlite for example), but the gutter vac's are being sold as safe alternatives to ladders.....AAAARRRRGGGGHHHH. i'm confused to the point of gutter vac's. please help
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The guttervac tubing weighs approximatly the same as a powerpole of the same length. I dont have the weights to hand this evening but certainly less than 10Kg, and I will post them tommorow.
I guess it all depends on what trade you are used to doing, to how hard you think it is to use.
We have demonstrated to interested tradesmen such as landscape gardeners, farmers, paving contractors,roof tilers, scaffolding contractors etc who all thought the poles were realy light and easy to manovere.
Long term Wfp users that are used to cleaning windows at 30'+ dont find the weight an issue at all and a trad window cleaner that is used to carrying a proper wooden or aluminium trade ladder from house to house would find using the guttervac pole very easy indeed.
As a matter of interest I will also post the weight of one of my double 18' aluminium ladders that was used for many years day in day out upto 10 years ago.
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