[Smurf]

I bet the poor chap was not expecting that 
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/11955408/Window-cleaner-falls-to-his-death-from-third-storey-of-Grade-II-listed-building.html

[Joey Eastwood]

Ouch!! Sounds like he was cleaning outside from inside, never a good idea in my experience

[dazmond]

unbelievable.

i guess he wasnt using a trad pole with pads/squeegee and mop then?

[dazmond]

just re read it again.so he was cleaning the OUTSIDE of the window while balancing on the ledge from the inside with no safety harness even though there was eyebolts in place?

[G Griffin]

Some lovely comments and eye rolling.
Someone died, didn't they?

[Smurf]

Unfortunately the quickest way is not always the safest way and the poor chap found out the hard way.
He had probably been working that way for years but sadly it caught up with him in the end. Like so many lose their lives or sustain life changing injuries every year by dare I say it bad working practices.

 

[G Griffin]

Unfortunately the quickest way is not always the safest way and the poor chap found out the hard way.
He had probably been working that way for years but sadly it caught up with him in the end. Like so many lose their lives or sustain life changing injuries every year by dare I say it bad working practices.

I know all that.
But moralising and eye rolling on here won't change it. And I doubt he's found anything out.

[Smurf]

Sorry I don't understand your point?

[G Griffin]

It was dangerous. He knew it was dangerous.
He died because of his mistake but some want to smugly point out his obvious mistake.
His death makes some people feel a little better about themselves.
Carry on.

[Smurf]

There is nothing being smug about it really as it just highlights what a waste of life just trying to earn a few bob taking risks can be and he should have known better and the company he worked for too. Like so many risk life and limb when it can be avoided in this day and age as it's a wakeup call for all windy's out there surely?

[G Griffin]

I feel sorry for the bloke and his family.
Despite his H&S failings.
That's it really.

[Smurf]

I feel sorry for the bloke and his family.
Despite his H&S failings.
That's it really.

Indeed don't we all or I would not have started this thread

[G Griffin]

I feel sorry for the bloke and his family.
Despite his H&S failings.
That's it really.

Indeed don't we all or I would not have started this thread

Yeah,  course we do.
I got a different feeling, at first, but re read the thread and you're right.
Good night.

[Mike #1]

Very Sad , Company was fined did H&S Executive pocket that money or does it go to his family if he had any ,  but not ordered to pay compensation to a possible grieving family .

[Spruce]

I doubt that anyone will get anything out of this IMHO Mike.

Its a Ltd Company so company directors aren't normally held responsible for the Company's debts.

Their financial status summary of this company doesn't look good.
https://companycheck.co.uk/company/06323731/BLADES-LONDON-LTD/financial-accounts

I understand that we don't know the actual facts of this case. What the paper reports could be totally different to what actually happened. Blades appears to be a company working in the cleaning industry specialising in rope access and abseiling, so they will have method and procedure statements in place for all the jobs they do. 

What I don't understand is why the company is held fully responsible for the actions of their employee under British law. Surely the employee must take the brunt of the responsibility for his own actions. The company can't police the actions of each employee 100% of the time to ensure they are working to H&S practises. I'm sure that as a ltd company they would have had a safety procedure in place for the cleaning of this property which wouldn't have included hanging off the ledge without a safety harness. I would be pretty sure that the cleaner had the equipment, but it was quicker not to use it.

As cleaners we have a general method statement for each  commercial property we clean. On one particular property where the public is involved we reassess the safety situation on an ongoing basis. We even come back and do one set of windows after the leisure centre closes at 9pm on a Friday night so as not to endanger the public. I'm sure we all do this.
 

[jimlaffo]

Some lovely comments and eye rolling.
Someone died, didn't they?

Well said.

[Mike #1]

I doubt that anyone will get anything out of this IMHO Mike.

Its a Ltd Company so company directors aren't normally held responsible for the Company's debts.

Their financial status summary of this company doesn't look good.
https://companycheck.co.uk/company/06323731/BLADES-LONDON-LTD/financial-accounts

I understand that we don't know the actual facts of this case. What the paper reports could be totally different to what actually happened. Blades appears to be a company working in the cleaning industry specialising in rope access and abseiling, so they will have method and procedure statements in place for all the jobs they do. 

What I don't understand is why the company is held fully responsible for the actions of their employee under British law. Surely the employee must take the brunt of the responsibility for his own actions. The company can't police the actions of each employee 100% of the time to ensure they are working to H&S practises. I'm sure that as a ltd company they would have had a safety procedure in place for the cleaning of this property which wouldn't have included hanging off the ledge without a safety harness. I would be pretty sure that the cleaner had the equipment, but it was quicker not to use it.

As cleaners we have a general method statement for each  commercial property we clean. On one particular property where the public is involved we reassess the safety situation on an ongoing basis. We even come back and do one set of windows after the leisure centre closes at 9pm on a Friday night so as not to endanger the public. I'm sure we all do this.

Agreed i make it a priority to clean windows near entrances well before anyone turns up for work or after they have gone .

[slap bash]

I have seen that Blades van around my area on weekends.

[Smurf]

Not only do I feel sympathy for the chap and his family but also to the guy's that happened to be his friends and ultimately were held responsible for his death. Now that must be difficult for them to come to terms with as will be with them for the rest of their lives.