[Johnny B]

But they are illegal 

Go WFP

as longs you are competent, you have risk assessed the task in hand and you have considered further safety measures then whats the fuss.  but never be complacent

Exactly. Ladder are not the problem. Any accident arising from the use of the ladders is due to human error, not the ladder itself.

Yes, I have had some falls from my ladders, the last one from a height of 15 feet or so. Each time I was at fault, and was fortunate to walk away unscathed. This hasn't bred complacency, as each occasion was different, and I learned from each mistake that I made and have not repeated them.

John
 

[Nathanael Jones]

If ladders are only to be used for short duration work then what about painters and decorators, often see them working way above 9 metres on ladders that are not footed or tied, is it just us window cleaners that are getting picked on.

Window cleaners have a practicable alternative method that is as quick as ladders (mostly quicker), gives as good results (often better), and is available for a very small price really.

Painters & decorators (as well as many other trades that use ladders) don't have such a readily available alternative, and basically have no choice but to use ladders.

This is the distinction,.. so in most cases, going by the letter of the law, it is technically illegal for a window cleaner to use ladders full time. There is the odd job that isn't suitable for wfp & might be better completed using ladders (with a proper risk assessment, method statement & ladder safety devices), but in general wfp is a practicable alternative & should be used.

[John F]

yeah nathanael but what if ladder users dont give a toss about all that and just keep going. would you care?

[Johnny B]

I still fail to understand why anyone would really be bothered as to whether we use wfp or ladders. We should be free to choose, and each method suits some guys better than the other. Neither is wrong. Regrettably, we live in a world where humankind in general is self-centred and self-serving, and so who really (as in genuinely) cares if a guys falls off his ladder?     

Is there a safer method of getting from A to B than driving our cars/vans? Yes. We can walk and push our water tanks or ladders on a handcart from one job to the next. Is anyone going to do this though? No I thought not.



John

[KS Cleaning]

Far more people die from driving on the roads than falling from ladders, does that mean we should all walk to work from now on?

Far more people drive on the roads than use ladders,so your comparison isn't really accurate

[Nathanael Jones]

yeah nathanael but what if ladder users dont give a toss about all that and just keep going. would you care?

It does bother me to be honest because:

1. I've told my customers why I don't use ladders, and whenever they see the local guys who are aware of the law but still use ladders working away it could cause my customers to doubt my word or lessen the importance of the safety message behind it.
2. Because every member of the public who is aware of the law but still see's window cleaners using ladders regularly is going to have a lower opinion of the industry.
3. Its plain stupid to risk your life on ladders every day when the alternative is so good!

[H S and Son]

If your customers see a ginger bloke driving like a lunatic do they lower their opinion of all ginger peoples driving abilities?

[andrewlefkas]

Did trad for 20 years or so ,two years on wfp now but still have few trad ,use ladder slip mat and lots of common sense . always glad to get back to my WFP after a bit of ladder work AND I can put my gloves on in winter which is virtually impossible with ladder-squeegee work - does scare me though when I see some guy up a ladder over a spikey railing at an acute angle in the wet with no safety precautions -often feel like commenting but have resisted so far ,I am 53 and maybe Im so much more sensible with age - I certainly wouldnt climb onto a pitch roof ,do dormer on one side holding on with one hand , climb over apex and do dormer on other side like I used to do !I got away with it though ,plenty dont.

[Handyman Window Cleaning Services]

those dormas ae 2 men work every time on ladders. pitch roofs too steep.

but the picture shown on this topic the roof not steep enough in my opinion.

i was wondering how the photographer of the pic found the time to take the pic

[Johnny B]

Why don't we just mind our own businesses and just get on with running them our way. What's it got to do with anyone else anyway?

Nathanael said it really. He's more worried what his customers think when they see a tradder at work. Why worry when/if they are happy with his work? They won't be looking at/for anyone else to clean their windows. As I said, it's not that there is any genuine concern for the tradder. I've already said this, and yet no one has posted that they disagree.

Compare this to the chap who has bought a brand new Ford Fiesta, with his neighbour who runs a Morris Minor. Should the latter go out and buy a new car just because his old car doesn't have the latest safety technology? 

John

[Klean07]

those dormas ae 2 men work every time on ladders. pitch roofs too steep.

but the picture shown on this topic the roof not steep enough in my opinion.

i was wondering how the photographer of the pic found the time to take the pic

I'm a window cleaner. People that clean windows including yours truly only work part-time hours!! Don't they?

[John F]

yeah nathanael but what if ladder users dont give a toss about all that and just keep going. would you care?

It does bother me to be honest because:

1. I've told my customers why I don't use ladders, and whenever they see the local guys who are aware of the law but still use ladders working away it could cause my customers to doubt my word or lessen the importance of the safety message behind it.
2. Because every member of the public who is aware of the law but still see's window cleaners using ladders regularly is going to have a lower opinion of the industry.
3. Its plain stupid to risk your life on ladders every day when the alternative is so good!

never thought a person would admit it nathanael. thats why most of this wfp snobbery from some people exists. (i know your opinions and respect them and you) but they have told all who will listen that ladders are banned and its against the law to use them. then their customer see a trad guy and this blows the wfp guys story out of the water. makes them angry so they try to bully trads to swapping to wfp on here.

not saying you are a culprit nathanael. but the tripe that gets spouted on here needs showing up for what it is. like johnny b has said. shut up and mind your own business's. leave each person to work with what they want.

i dont give a monkeys who uses what. i just mind that my work gets done and i earn what i need. some on here need to stop the bully tactics and remember that god gave us 2 ears and 1 mouth. try using them in proportion.

[david watts]

  john f top post
as i have told you lot on here loads of times;been sacked off jobs loads of times
by custys that dont want wfp;and i would not do them with ladders;
as long as i make a wage i dont care who breaks their neck
just wont be me but you can fall off ladders you can also trip over hose
pros and cons

[andrew tapsell]

I do trad and wfp i make more money using wfp but i must say you get a more satisfaction doing trad and in my opinion it looks better. like matey said there are dangers in a lot of jobs . but they still get done . i dont go along with what a lot of what is said on here about wfp is better i think its the insecurities of some who use wfp. they know it takes a bit of time to get up to speed doing it trad where it took me 3 minutes to learn how to use a pole . and i dont get complaints on either.  trad rules but i dont care so long as i am earning. im not scared of a ladder.

[lcwalker]

I do trad and wfp i make more money using wfp but i must say you get a more satisfaction doing trad and in my opinion it looks better. like matey said there are dangers in a lot of jobs . but they still get done . i dont go along with what a lot of what is said on here about wfp is better i think its the insecurities of some who use wfp. they know it takes a bit of time to get up to speed doing it trad where it took me 3 minutes to learn how to use a pole . and i dont get complaints on either.  trad rules but i dont care so long as i am earning. im not scared of a ladder.

Your spot on i to do both i much preffer the trad result dry window, but have to admit the pole is much quicker it's saved me a few times on quotes ive messed up on, i dont like leaving them wet but when i drive past later they look very good and never had a complaint yet.But im like you as long as they are getting done and im earning either way will do me.