[Slacky]

Ive read two posts on here in the last few hours regarding injuries that were suffered whilst at work.

Thinking we rarely hear of these incidents; maybe most guys who suffer an injury probably want to keep it silent for fear of ridicule.

When I had been self-employed window cleaning for just 3 weeks I fell off a ladder, which was completely my own fault and in hindsight totally foolish,  and broke my leg and heel in 2 places. Meaning I couldn't work for 6 weeks.

I think it'd be interesting to hear of the accidents/incidents others have suffered. H & S is a part of this business probably talked about inadequately.

[Walter Mitty]

Although I've not suffered injury that's led to 3 days or more off, I have certainly had knocks that slowed me down for a few days - one even caused me to take the remaining half a day off as it shook me up and I felt unable to continue.  The most recent was only a few days ago - a manhole cover collapsed beneath me.  I know I'm overweight but not that much.

[Smudger]

Had 2 “accidents” neither have led to more than a day off work - first was fell 15 ft off the ladder thankfully landed on grass and bounced well - lots of bruises that’s when I decided wfp was the way to go !

Controlled fall off abungalow roof - was slippy and couldn’t get any grip so a slow slide down the tiles and over the edge - now always have lanyards and ropes or high access machine

My biggest time off has been since feb - 19mm diameter kidney stone - 2 op’s and now recovering from the effects of oramorph and co codamol - hope to be somewhere “fit” around Christmas - without staff I’d be homeless and no biz

Darran

[hotsteam]

Not really an accident, but sat on my wallet, with credit cards, business cards  and notes in it and stretched my sciatic nerve in my leg.
I could hardly bend to get in and out of the van, I had to see an osteopath to put it right.

Regards Hotsteam 

[Johnny B]

The only work related accident I had that led me to any 'time off' was when my ladders slid down and I ended up on my back on the customer's lawn. I was unhurt but the top half of the ladder was bent in half!

It was going to be my last house of the day anyway, so after some tea and sympathy with the customer and a trip to B&Q I was back at the house first thing the following morning.

John.

[robbo333]

None for me.
1 year trad with ladders and then 7 years wfp.
However, just bought a gutter vac, so thinking of replacing my old doubles with a set of triples (for swan necks etc).
You may be hearing from me again soon!

[dazmond]

None for me.
1 year trad with ladders and then 7 years wfp.
However, just bought a gutter vac, so thinking of replacing my old doubles with a set of triples (for swan necks etc).
You may be hearing from me again soon!

Don't joke about it mate......personally I think if your WFP then why risk your neck up a ladder clearing gutters?defo not for me....another 3 years and I'll be 50.....I took a lot of risks in my youth and fell off ladders twice...I might not be as lucky next time.....

[Stoots]

4 years in and no injuries

Broke plenty of stuff in peoples gardens but no bones

[dazmond]

I took a few days off once when I fell over some chairs looking up while wfpoling(bruised ribs)hurt like hell every time I coughed or laughed for weeks.....

Fell off ladders twice from 1st floor height but back at work the next day both times.....

Took nearly a month off with torn ankle ligaments playing football so doesn't count really as not work related....

[John Mart]

Not really an accident, but sat on my wallet, with credit cards, business cards  and notes in it and stretched my sciatic nerve in my leg.
I could hardly bend to get in and out of the van, I had to see an osteopath to put it right.

Regards Hotsteam 

Willy waving. 😂

[Clever Forum Name]

Fell off a roof and landed on frozen grass. Fractured my back in 4 places and had around 6 months off work.

I could have returned to work sooner but was in hospital for just under a month

[zesty]

Fell off ladder at upstairs height, thankfully only hurt my ankle. Miracle really.

Wfp is literally a life saver, when I look back at the 3 storey work I used to do off triple ladders, crazy.

[The Jester of Wibbly]

It's annoying when you pull a muscle in your back or shoulder on the job.   

[dazmond]

It's annoying when you pull a muscle in your back or shoulder on the job.   

i cant remember the last time this happened to me....working short hours and weight training 3 times a week helps a lot plus using xtreme poles and brushes.....the strength in my back and shoulders had improved immensely over the last 3 years of working out in the gym.....

[Gordon_Taylor]

Currently off work at the moment.

Fell off a covered walkway end of August, smashed my lower tibia which is now screwed back together with 5 screws, had fractures all the way up tibia.
I’m in a metal fixator cage till March then hopefully a walking boot after that.
The worst injury I had in the 23 years of window cleaning.

[Don Kee]

Currently off work at the moment.

Fell off a covered walkway end of August, smashed my lower tibia which is now screwed back together with 5 screws, had fractures all the way up tibia.
I’m in a metal fixator cage till March then hopefully a walking boot after that.
The worst injury I had in the 23 years of window cleaning.

You’d have been ok if you’d gone to the gym a few times a week and used xtreme poles and brushes.


(On a serious note, hope you have a speedy recovery mate!)

[dazmond]

Currently off work at the moment.

Fell off a covered walkway end of August, smashed my lower tibia which is now screwed back together with 5 screws, had fractures all the way up tibia.
I’m in a metal fixator cage till March then hopefully a walking boot after that.
The worst injury I had in the 23 years of window cleaning.

did you fall off a ladder?

[M & C Window Cleaning]

Biggest issue I’ve found with wfp is tripping due to looking up all the time. I misstepped in a customers garden 8 weeks ago which triggered a lower back spasm trapping the left femeral nerve at the same time and I couldn’t stand up for three weeks without crippling pain in my left leg.  This has happened twice in the last three years.
When I was a traddy though I smashed up my left ankle pretty badly whilst trying to get myself down off a balcony after my ladders blew down one windy March afternoon. That cost me nearly two years off in total due to follow up surgery I had to have to fuse the ankle six years later.

[Johnny B]

Some nasty injuries described here.

I have been extremely fortunate not to have been hurt when I have had the ladders slip or slide away.

I've had 4 or 5 incidents of the ladders going from under me in the 21 years I am in this game, and not once have I been hurt.

The fall which could have been very serious but which would have looked amusing to any eyewitnesses was the one where I was on a flat concrete ledge over a front door. I stepped back to check how clean the window was and fell backwards onto the concrete path below! I was wearing a builder's pouch which protected my lower spine when I landed on it.  Very embarrassing but I got up and walked away unscathed.

John

[Dave Willis]

I fell off a skirtingboard ladder. Luckily I landed on my wallet. If I hadn’t had heated seats to recover on I don’t know how I would have survived. I booked a five star holiday the very next day.

[david mark]

Love to meet the idiots who invented imprinted concrete deadly for trad guys .

[dazmond]

Some nasty injuries described here.

I have been extremely fortunate not to have been hurt when I have had the ladders slip or slide away.

I've had 4 or 5 incidents of the ladders going from under me in the 21 years I am in this game, and not once have I been hurt.

The fall which could have been very serious but which would have looked amusing to any eyewitnesses was the one where I was on a flat concrete ledge over a front door. I stepped back to check how clean the window was and fell backwards onto the concrete path below! I was wearing a builder's pouch which protected my lower spine when I landed on it.  Very embarrassing but I got up and walked away unscathed.

John

i cant understand why any window cleaner would remain on the ladders in this day and age when theres a much safer(and faster alternative).........

even the real die hard tradders near me have all switched to WFP now over the last year or two.......

[dazmond]

Love to meet the idiots who invented imprinted concrete deadly for trad guys .

thats how i fell of my ladders first time(slipped right down from first floor height)over 20 years ago now...it shook me up for a few mins.....landed on my heels.....

[Gordon_Taylor]

Currently off work at the moment.

Fell off a covered walkway end of August, smashed my lower tibia which is now screwed back together with 5 screws, had fractures all the way up tibia.
I’m in a metal fixator cage till March then hopefully a walking boot after that.
The worst injury I had in the 23 years of window cleaning.

You’d have been ok if you’d gone to the gym a few times a week and used xtreme poles and brushes.


(On a serious note, hope you have a speedy recovery mate!)

Cheers Fella, if I had the physique of mo farah it might have helped!!!

[Gordon_Taylor]

Currently off work at the moment.

Fell off a covered walkway end of August, smashed my lower tibia which is now screwed back together with 5 screws, had fractures all the way up tibia.
I’m in a metal fixator cage till March then hopefully a walking boot after that.
The worst injury I had in the 23 years of window cleaning.

did you fall off a ladder?

No, like I say I was on a flat covered walkway, actually using water fed and just lost my footing,  next thing I know I’m on the deck.

[P @ F]

Only had one 3 floor fall in my time !
It was a standard house but I also went down the basement stairwell for good measure 
Why did it happen ?
Because I was dumb and rushing , normaly I would lash the ladder to the basement railing , on this time I forgot the little rope and could not be bothered to go get it from the car , once up top I felt the ladder jump twice , then it went with a vengeance , it was one of them moments when you freeze and just hold tight for the ride 
I got lucky as on the way down I ripped out a hanging basket which slowed me down a bit , I then hit the top of the railing with my knee and continued head first into the basement, still holding the ladder which I  might add saved my head from busting open on the concrete .
All I suffered was a bruise on my knee , a very lucky boy that day !

[dazmond]

Currently off work at the moment.

Fell off a covered walkway end of August, smashed my lower tibia which is now screwed back together with 5 screws, had fractures all the way up tibia.
I’m in a metal fixator cage till March then hopefully a walking boot after that.
The worst injury I had in the 23 years of window cleaning.

did you fall off a ladder?

No, like I say I was on a flat covered walkway, actually using water fed and just lost my footing,  next thing I know I’m on the deck.

hope your on the mend mate......seriously though try a bit of weight training when your feeling  better....no doubt the doctor has already suggested it....its good for the bones....keeps them strong as we age.....

[P @ F]

Daz , I dont really think hes gonna be rushing out to pump iron mate , if the doc has mentioned anything it would probably be more along the lines of light physio for 6 months !
You really are a Bullet proof Monk aint ya 

[dazmond]

Daz , I dont really think hes gonna be rushing out to pump iron mate , if the doc has mentioned anything it would probably be more along the lines of light physio for 6 months !
You really are a Bullet proof Monk aint ya 

ive fell off ladders twice and landed on my heels both times from 1st floor height....i was fine but i know guys who ve shattered their heels and had to have metal pins in their ankles and one guy who fractured his spine...second time i went for a back x ray and i was fine......there must be some truth in it.....

[Gordon_Taylor]

Currently off work at the moment.

Fell off a covered walkway end of August, smashed my lower tibia which is now screwed back together with 5 screws, had fractures all the way up tibia.
I’m in a metal fixator cage till March then hopefully a walking boot after that.
The worst injury I had in the 23 years of window cleaning.

did you fall off a ladder?

No, like I say I was on a flat covered walkway, actually using water fed and just lost my footing,  next thing I know I’m on the deck.

hope your on the mend mate......seriously though try a bit of weight training when your feeling  better....no doubt the doctor has already suggested it....its good for the bones....keeps them strong as we age.....

Many thanks,

I’ve actually gone back to the gym this week under the advice of the physio, I’ve been training in gyms for years so it’s lije my second home, I know my limits but it certainly been a good change of scenery.
Although some of the looks I got when walking around the gym on crutches were priceless, where’s there’s a will there’s a way.

[P @ F]

Dont think I even know what a gym looks like inside , big bits of metal laying about I hear 

[dazmond]

Dont think I even know what a gym looks like inside , big bits of metal laying about I hear 

your missing out big time......what could be more satisfying than slowly(over years) building a stronger body,adding muscle,stronger bone mass and generally improving our health....

it also improves mood drastically after a good 60-90 min workout......i  go 3 times a week usually.......

so 3 or 4 hours out of a week to add extra health and vitality is priceless......

[Dave Willis]

Doesn’t beat Retail Therapy though does it Dazmond? 😀

[Johnny B]

Some nasty injuries described here.

I have been extremely fortunate not to have been hurt when I have had the ladders slip or slide away.

I've had 4 or 5 incidents of the ladders going from under me in the 21 years I am in this game, and not once have I been hurt.

The fall which could have been very serious but which would have looked amusing to any eyewitnesses was the one where I was on a flat concrete ledge over a front door. I stepped back to check how clean the window was and fell backwards onto the concrete path below! I was wearing a builder's pouch which protected my lower spine when I landed on it.  Very embarrassing but I got up and walked away unscathed.

John

i cant understand why any window cleaner would remain on the ladders in this day and age when theres a much safer(and faster alternative).........

even the real die hard tradders near me have all switched to WFP now over the last year or two.......

I'm happy being trad. The last fall I described was not from a ladder, it was from a flat concrete roof. And my last incident was years ago, not that I am in any way complacent.

I am very, very careful and not like some who used to run up and down ladders. I take my time and plod away at my customary (slower than) snail's pace.

I have genuinely given much thought to going wfp but I know that it would frustrate the hell out of me with snagged hoses, dragging hoses through dog poo, and not least carting hundreds of litres of water around. On top of that I wouldn't take kindly to spending hundred on new poles etc., which brings me to my point: I would have to earn more to service wfp equipment than I am now to keep my trad gear in order. And I'm not money driven so I'm not looking to make any more than I need. So I have conceded that on those bases wfp really isn't for me.

John

[P @ F]

John , If you are making good money now then why not make the leap , you will make more and safer .
Depending on the round type of course .

[P @ F]

Could you spend a day out with a WFP'er to see whats what ?
Way better than running out and buying on a whim .

[Johnny B]

John , If you are making good money now then why not make the leap , you will make more and safer .
Depending on the round type of course .

I didn't say I was making good money, I said I was making enough 😊 I really don't want to change though as I love what I do and how I do it. I appreciate the suggestion though.

John

[P @ F]

Just a thought , if it isnt your bag then it isnt your bag !
I just went out and got a 175 litre system that fitted into an estate , cost me £700 , could do it cheaper now I reckon .

[Frankybadboy]

i fell off a bike once 


9months off work and another 6months get me back working full time

[P @ F]

Lets not forget , It was quite a fall Franky 

[M & C Window Cleaning]

I also resisted wfp due to the fact I liked the simplicity of cleaning windows traditionally, even after I broke my ankle. However, after thirty years it took it's toll on my body particularly my back, legs and knees. After the surgery on my bad ankle in 2006 I had no choice but to give wfp a go or give up a job I really enjoyed. Within a week I wished I'd done it long before.
I use a trolley and barrels and work from my car as this has proved to be the best method for me and is  perfect for my round.
It's very different to tradding but I really enjoy it.

[Johnny B]

I also resisted wfp due to the fact I liked the simplicity of cleaning windows traditionally, even after I broke my ankle. However, after thirty years it took it's toll on my body particularly my back, legs and knees. After the surgery on my bad ankle in 2006 I had no choice but to give wfp a go or give up a job I really enjoyed. Within a week I wished I'd done it long before.
I use a trolley and barrels and work from my car as this has proved to be the best method for me and is  perfect for my round.
It's very different to tradding but I really enjoy it.

That's a fair comment, and if I were to change my mind and go wfp, I would go the trolley and barrel route too.

At the moment, at 56 years of age and nearly 22 years in this game I am in good enough nick to cope easily with trad work, so will continue this way until that changes.

John

[Frankybadboy]

Lets not forget , It was quite a fall Franky 

yep and over three years on i still feel the effects from it,cold weather doesnt help

but all i can say is thank god for insurance 

[Slacky]

And the people who donated to your cause when it happened.

[dazmond]

And the people who donated to your cause when it happened.

yeah we all chipped in...i sent him £20 and all he ever does is give me grief on here! ......he s got a lot grumpier since his accident too...

[Frankybadboy]

And the people who donated to your cause when it happened.

yes and thank you,insurance took just short of 3 years to pay out

[Frankybadboy]

And the people who donated to your cause when it happened.

yeah we all chipped in...i sent him £20 and all he ever does is give me grief on here! ......he s got a lot grumpier since his accident too...

see if you was like slacky and put in £40 then you don't get ,moaned at

and joking a side i feel i have as well,being in pain every day does take its toll,and the daily does of tablets dont help either,and has i get older i am going to get worst