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UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Chris Cottrell on July 07, 2009, 10:40:09 pm

Title: Safety wires on flat roofs
Post by: Chris Cottrell on July 07, 2009, 10:40:09 pm

I have just taken on a contract that involves working from a flat roof ( I should add this is commercial and the flat roof is approx 25-30ft up with no railings ) the company has no safety wires up there so whos responsilbe for having them installed would it be me as im going to use them or should they install them as its their building?

Title: Re: Safety wires on flat roofs
Post by: Sapphire Window Cleaning on July 07, 2009, 10:41:53 pm

How high is the flat roof from the ground?

Title: Re: Safety wires on flat roofs
Post by: Chris Cottrell on July 07, 2009, 10:48:58 pm

25ft ish

Title: Re: Safety wires on flat roofs
Post by: wfp master on July 07, 2009, 10:49:30 pm

25 ft to 30ft thats what it says  ;)

Title: Re: Safety wires on flat roofs
Post by: Chris Cottrell on July 07, 2009, 10:52:34 pm

height really is immaterial the fact remains there are no railings and no wires and there should be some kind of fall arrest system in operation

Title: Re: Safety wires on flat roofs
Post by: johns window kleen on July 07, 2009, 10:59:53 pm

Chris from my previous insurance risk experience, it's the owners of the building who are responsible for putting in the required safety systems and devices,such as fire escapes,and disabled ramps etc,etc. Otherwise they can be found liable for not providing a safe system of work if something goes wrong.

Presumably they asked you for a quote, and you gave one, but didnt raise this issue beforehand.

Title: Re: Safety wires on flat roofs
Post by: Chris Cottrell on July 07, 2009, 11:19:07 pm

I did provide a quote and did raise this issue with them and I included in my method and risk ass that works will not go ahead if these systems were not installed to which they responded with what ever needs to be done just tell us but there was no mention of whos was responsible for this or who is expected to foot the bill

Title: Re: Safety wires on flat roofs
Post by: johns window kleen on July 07, 2009, 11:23:35 pm

I am pretty certain it's their building and their responsibility to install, and pay for ,whatever devices are needed for you to work in relative safety.

Title: Re: Safety wires on flat roofs
Post by: GWCS on July 08, 2009, 12:57:27 am

Yes they are responsible.

They are also responsible for you are the contractor, only reason they hire you is they dont have their own guys, and also dont have to pay to train them.

Title: Re: Safety wires on flat roofs
Post by: bluez on July 08, 2009, 09:22:27 am

It is unlikely that fitting fall arrest devices to a roof at this height is the best solution (not to mention the most economically viable) to carrying out window cleaning unless there are other access issues involved IME.

Is it not possible to carryout the work involved from a MEWP in this area. Your client wont thank you if after they have spent 5k fitting a fall arrest system it turns out that it was not essential need for the system.

Any pics?

Title: Re: Safety wires on flat roofs
Post by: ronnie paton on July 08, 2009, 08:17:01 pm

they should get a health and saftey consultant for that, and then you should quote to do the job

Title: Re: Safety wires on flat roofs
Post by: Dean Taberner on July 08, 2009, 08:41:47 pm

Chris,

How far are the windows from the edge of the roof?

Dean