[mark f]

wfp isnt any quicker for me on the whole on houses. If your slow on a ladder as many window cleaners are, and you have priced accordingly then your on a winner  to go wfp. But if your quick on a ladder like me then although the actual cleaning of a window is quicker, on the whole im not quicker. but it still has its benifits for sure. e.g leaded and awkward windows.

[EasyClean]

I know we are are a miniscule percentage of the actual window cleaning profession, but has ANYONE heard of a WFPer being prosecuted by a member of the public for tripping over their hoses or slipping on water... : : :

I know of another WFP user who didn't display trip hazard signs whilst working on several large blocks of flats. He had also let his public liability insurance expire by ignorance. I will not name this chap as he wouldn't appreciate me naming him. One of the old residents tripped on his hose and fell hitting her head right on the sharp corner edge of a brick wall gushing her head and falling down unconscious and was rushed off in an ambulance. The window cleaner involved ceased trading because he was being taken to court by the housing association where the work was being carried out. SO, a word of warning: always display warning signs, be aware of potential hazards to members of the public and never let your public liability insurance lapse.!!!!

[steve k]

if that were true...the details...and there would be some in the press...would have made their way onto the various forums...If you cannot prove it, I really don`t believe it happened.

I know the potential exists but I think too many people tie themselves up worrying too much.

[EasyClean]

It did happen! I'm not a liar!

[matt]

I know we are are a miniscule percentage of the actual window cleaning profession, but has ANYONE heard of a WFPer being prosecuted by a member of the public for tripping over their hoses or slipping on water... : : :

I know of another WFP user who didn't display trip hazard signs whilst working on several large blocks of flats. He had also let his public liability insurance expire by ignorance. I will not name this chap as he wouldn't appreciate me naming him. One of the old residents tripped on his hose and fell hitting her head right on the sharp corner edge of a brick wall gushing her head and falling down unconscious and was rushed off in an ambulance. The window cleaner involved ceased trading because he was being taken to court by the housing association where the work was being carried out. SO, a word of warning: always display warning signs, be aware of potential hazards to members of the public and never let your public liability insurance lapse.!!!!

this is why i prefere a trolley system, only 10 M of pipe and most of thats up the pole

[Adam Boss]

Steve K, when you did a day in pictures your hose was extended by at least 50m and not a warning sign in sight !! this was a residential area now that is not good H&S is it.

[steve k]

I wouldnt put a warning sign up...and if anyone from H+S walked by and enquired, I would explain that:

1- I dont have a written risk assessment as I do not need one as a sole trader
2- I lay my hose along the gutter as much as possible with 4-5 ft crossing any pavement area
3- I use bright blue hose as a visual warning
4- the area has very low level of pedestrian traffic
5- the reason I am using WFP is to comply with work at heights regs
6- the work is very short duration and any trip hazard is LOW risk
7- they would walk away happy that I had minimised risks

2 years now of sensible risk observation and monitoring my working areas...not one near miss involving my WFP hose!!!

That account above reads like a Casualty" script...
Show me the proof...

[Chris Cottrell]

Steve K

but schools have already banned the playing of conkers in schools!

my son got sent to the head teacher today cause bother is a naughty word apparently

hmmm  I think i could show them a few stronger words

[s.hughes]

It would be great if someone tripped over a hazard sign. Its not like they could have you for putting it there

[*foxman]

There's always a first time.  We both know a local window cleaner, very experienced, whose had a few falls; the worst being when he had two broken ankles (SG), and he's done lots of other stuff too.

Well he must be a bit thick then!! Once bitten twice shy. Experience doesn't mean a thing if you don't learn from it, if you've ever come off a ladder it's your own stupidity thats at fault not the ladders. Anyone who has come off knows thats the real reason, ladders are only as safe as the person using them.

[Paul Coleman]

It would be great if someone tripped over a hazard sign. Its not like they could have you for putting it there

Funny you should say that but when I was doing a general cleaning job in an office, some guy tripped over my wet floor sign.  He used to walk along reading his paperwork.  Not only that but he did it a few times.  I thought he might have figured it out after the first time.

[Sir Squeaky]

Well he must be a bit thick then!! Once bitten twice shy. Experience doesn't mean a thing if you don't learn from it, if you've ever come off a ladder it's your own stupidity thats at fault not the ladders. Anyone who has come off knows thats the real reason, ladders are only as safe as the person using them.

Absolutely spot on Foxy.

I never worried about it, and never thought I would.
It's just carelessness.

[M & C Window Cleaning]

It would be great if someone tripped over a hazard sign. Its not like they could have you for putting it there

Funny how things put in place to help can actually cause problems.

Not quite the same thing I know, but I've had a couple of older folk on my round that have become disabled as a result of falling over facilities that have been put in place to help those already disabled. In one case it was a ramp with a step at one end for the able bodied and in the other just a ramp.

As for w/cleaners and ladders though, I nearly had a heart attack a couple of years back, watching another local w/cleaner working on the back of a three story town house. The ground floor had a small extension of about 5' to increase the size of the kitchen. He was cleaning the top floor with his ladders on the extension and the feet were within inches of the edge. How he even got on the ladder was a mystery.