[Tom White]

What if my suitable alternative is to free-climb upto windows, and clean 'em.  Surely then, after considering free-climbing, finding it not suitable, I could then use ladders?

[idealrob]

You aren't allowed to use them for that if there is a viable alternative. So you would be arrested for using a ladder.
 

Should be, but won't be.

Health & safety only prosecute AFTER an accident. They like to kick you when you're down,..  :

Not  allways true, the first person to be prosecuted under WAHR was Michael Mills, and no accident occured, and cost him thousands, just for using an unsecured ladder to geting onto a flat roof

idealrob

[Pope vader]

http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2005/e05124.htm 

bit more than just using a ladder to get on to a flat roof

[elite mike]

yawn zzzzzzzzz 

[mci services]

lol chicken the roof wasn't even flat.

anyway I received funding a while back to put an employee on a safe ladder use course, approved by the council H&S guy.

Local company with thirty odd employees get inspected by H&S twice a year and all their lads use ladders and they do have a wfp van as well, they pass every time.

 

[Pope vader]

ladders arnt banned as long as used safely they are fine,  i am wfp by the way

[rosskesava]

What if my suitable alternative is to free-climb upto windows, and clean 'em.  Surely then, after considering free-climbing, finding it not suitable, I could then use ladders?

Er..... maybe free climbing isn't a recommended method to clean windows at height. What I meant was that in with your window cleaning equipment, you must have an extendable pole, on which you can put a mop/squeeegieeee, that is capable of reaching the windows you intend to clean using a ladder. Before you use the ladder, you must consider the alternative option you have. If you then decide the best option for the job is using a ladder, the that is in compliance with the WAHL.

If you don't have an extendable pole, or any alternative method of cleaning the windows, then you cannot have considered an alternative first so you are in breach of the WAHL.

Also, the ladder (or you) must have at least one method to stabilise and/or make the ladder 'safer'. So anyone who uses a ladder without rubber bits on the bottom is also breaking the law unless they have someone footing the ladder.

[idealrob]

The point i was making is that H & S dont just prosecute for accidents, the prosecute for breaches of health & safety law. Yes there are laws, that are enforsable, shame they dont do more considering the amount of officers they have, probably dealing with paperwork, than out on street

idealrob

[clearlyclean]

Only do ground floor windows as H&S regs forbid me to use a ladder or pole could fall and land on someone  :

[idealrob]

Only do ground floor windows as H&S regs forbid me to use a ladder or pole could fall and land on someone  :

They dont forbid, just say it must be secured, risk assesment etc, but how many ladders do you see secured, and some guidlines for safe use for wfp. And dont forget, some wfp w/c still have to get round the back, over gates etc

idealrob

[cat9921]

This is something we need to clear up

There is a difference between trad and ladders

trad is the way you clean the windows and ladders are what is used to do that.

now I have been a window cleaner for over 14 years and the last 6 been WFP

Now my first choice for cleaning windows is WFP but there are times when you need trad and there is times that you need a ladder so the answer is simple 

Use WFP most of the time and when it calls for the ladders use them NO one tool is better but they compliment one another

Adders

[Tom White]

Use WFP most of the time and when it calls for the ladders use them NO one tool is better but they compliment one another

Adders

Water fed pole is far better than ladders! 

By miles.

[Frankybadboy]

Use WFP most of the time and when it calls for the ladders use them NO one tool is better but they compliment one another

Adders

Water fed pole is far better than ladders! 

By miles.

never rubbish thing to say :

[zimzam]

wfp will be banned this summer once the drought kicks in.     

[bobby p]

me and my lads were semi- joking yesterday-  why not get a tall van ,that you could have a slide out horizontal ladder on the roof and then walk out on it to do the upper windows

we were driving behind a tall van at the time when this mad-idea came to be discussed

[Johnny B]

Being a die hard traddie, and also a classic vehicle fan, how about combining the two and buying a classic fire engine, complete with turntable ladder.

Could save a lot of time doing upstairs windows on one house, then swivelling the ladders to do the uppers across the road. 

John

[cozy]

Always full of good ideas this man 

[bobby p]

Being a die hard traddie, and also a classic vehicle fan, how about combining the two and buying a classic fire engine, complete with turntable ladder.

Could save a lot of time doing upstairs windows on one house, then swivelling the ladders to do the uppers across the road.  

John

if you had a town centre round,that idea of yours might work well on the high street. i love the swivelling ladder idea ! with a newbie on the tip while i work the hydraulics behind the cab.    

  today us lads yet again discussed the ladder on the roof of the tall van ,but  ladders being banned and all that,so latest idea is a staircase from a house instead,with carpet on it , with a 20 foot  landing  at the top of it,ornamental balustrade ,  jutting out of the van roof

[Johnny B]

Being a die hard traddie, and also a classic vehicle fan, how about combining the two and buying a classic fire engine, complete with turntable ladder.

Could save a lot of time doing upstairs windows on one house, then swivelling the ladders to do the uppers across the road.  

John

if you had a town centre round,that idea of yours might work well on the high street. i love the swivelling ladder idea ! with a newbie on the tip while i work the hydraulics behind the cab.    

  today us lads yet again discussed the ladder on the roof of the tall van ,but  ladders being banned and all that,so latest idea is a staircase from a house instead,with carpet on it , with a 20 foot  landing  at the top of it,ornamental balustrade ,  jutting out of the van roof

Very good Bobby P. I love it!

John.

[BORBRYCE]

Being a die hard traddie, and also a classic vehicle fan, how about combining the two and buying a classic fire engine, complete with turntable ladder.

Could save a lot of time doing upstairs windows on one house, then swivelling the ladders to do the uppers across the road. 

John

You are beginning to worry us now Johnny......You do realize a fire engine has a big water tank and a very long hosereel. Almost the perfect wfp vehicle