[gewindows]

What do guys think of putting a printed note through custards doors once theyve cleaned their windows in icy weather, something like:

We are delighted to confirm that your windows have been cleaned today.

However due to the inclement weather we are finding it necessary to sweep any excess water from pathways and patios etc in addition to salting them.

There still remains a slight although continuing possibility of slippage; we therefore advise you to use caution and if possible avoid using these areas until they have dried entirely.

Many thanks

Bla bla bla window cleaners.

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[matt]

it would look great when handed to a judge in court

you are allmost admitting liability for falls

infact i would go as far as inviting people to pretend to fall for a " no-win no-fee claim "

if you know the water will freeze, dont clean

[johnny_h]

it would look great when handed to a judge in court

you are allmost admitting liability for falls

infact i would go as far as inviting people to pretend to fall for a " no-win no-fee claim "

if you know the water will freeze, dont clean


well said !! and why not post a blank cheque while your there save going to court

[pingu]

In the way the world should be...that is perfect but I suspect in the unlikely event 'something' occurs I imagine a lawyer would be very happy to have that placed in their hands...

Does anyone here have access to one of the window cleaners unions/federations? lawyers this might be a very good question to present them.

Cheers
Dave.

[Dennis Taylor]

Matt that seems a pretty good idea, at least you've done all you can to reduce the risk by salting and then warning them of any possible dangers by leaving them a note ( as long as they read it or deny ever recieving it at all )
Short of coning everything off or not doing them at all i can't see what else you could do.

Dennis

[tompoole]

think you are just leaving yourself open, if they fall they have it in writing that its a good chance its your fault , can c the claims now.
If you need to work in freezing conditions just buy more salt , throw it down and thats it, if asked about how you work in freezing conditions give them one of your risk assesments or method statement, then you are covered,

[JSMC]

similar thing happened in my old work 2 years back. we had some heavy frost but wasn't that bad. A person was wlaking through yard and fell. 10 mins later people oout with salt covering yard.

basically admitting liability

[Ian Rochester]

There was an article on the local news yesterday, a woman fell on the ice and broke her arm, she happened to be a lawyer of some sort, when she was interviewed she stated that by law businesses and councils are responsible for taking all reasonable steps to ensure the safety of staff and passers-by and as the path wasn't properly gritted she was entitled to take them to court for damages.....she wasn't going to, but she could have.

Your defence would go something like this

"Yes milord, I knew I was throwing copious amounts of water onto the pavement, yes I knew it was going to freeze immediately, but I left a warning note for the occupier, how was I to know that she was out and would slip and break her arm/leg before getting into the house to read my warning note!"

[niceandclean]

" On your own land, it is a different matter. You owe visitors a duty under the Occupiers Liability Act 1984 to take reasonable care to ensure that they are reasonably safe. This means that if you know someone (such as the postman) is likely to walk up your garden path, and you also know that the garden path is slippery, you must take reasonable steps to clear the path of snow and grit it if necessary"

Mark Loveday is a barrister at Tanfield Chambers, 2-5 Warwick Court, London WC1R 5DJ. 020-7421 5300

I call all my customers the night/2 nights before to inform them that i am coming. How would i stand if i slipped and fell?

Plus they know i am coming, they know how i clean, i tell them we salt, how would i stand if the customer fell and tried to sue me?

[matt]

the important thing here is not if they will win, its the fact that the compo culture society we live in means you will have costs for a lawyer ( law firm ) as its very easy to phone a no-win no-fee outfit, you can even text them and they call you back

is it worth the risk  ?? ? ? ?

[gewindows]

Okay guys, I hear you; to me though its ALSO saying they're being negligent by ignoring your advise. 

There was that business a while ago about kids on school outings going to farms and the possibility of them catching diseases because they stroke the animals; but so long as the farm has signs up saying not to do that then theyre covered.

How about in your defence you came up with:

'Theyre employing me, they have asked me to clean their windows regularly,  for financial reward, its a contract'.

[BORBRYCE]

Manage your buisness with proper financial foresight and you wont even think about typing that madness.

[gewindows]

I do thankyou Ronnie.

There is nothing wrong with this thread or anything in it.

[gewindows]

Additionally when you go into a supermarket and theyre cleaning the floors, wet remember!

They put up 'Caution Wet Floor' signs to ensure customer safety and prevent claims being made against them.

Can previous posters tell me what is the legal difference between that and what I have suggested please?

[gewindows]

Sorry to bore you all, been doing a bit of research. The text below is taken from an injury lawyers website, in it he appears to be saying that if you do what can be reasonably expected of you and notify the custard that the floor is likely to be wet then you arent liable should a custard have an accident.

The water that had led to the slip was a result of the cleaner cleaning the floor and accidentally spilling some liquid, but they had put no signs to say that the floor was wet.

http://www.compensationclaims4u.com/claim-types/slips_trips_falls.php

[Steve_c]

I think its quite a good idea.

[gewindows]

Mr Brice was awarded £1,895.41 after his accident at a train station. He was walking along the platform when he slipped on the wet floor and fell, injuring the muscles and hamstring in his leg.  Cleaners had wet the floor without displaying any warning signs. Mr Brice's thank you letter read: "Thank you for forwarding the cheque for £1,895.41 in settlement of my claim. I would also like to thank you and your staff for the excellent service and help I have received over this claim which has now reached a satisfactory conclusion. I have also noted your comments regarding my file of papers. Once again, thank you all very much".

http://www.thompsons.law.co.uk/Other-Accidents/slip-trip-injury-compensation-claims.htm#am_i_entitled_slip_trip_fall_compensation_claim

[Nathanael Jones]

Gardiners recommend salting:

http://www.gardinerpolesystems.co.uk/acatalog/Cold_Weather_Precautions.html

[mci services]

Gardiners recommend salting:

http://www.gardinerpolesystems.co.uk/acatalog/Cold_Weather_Precautions.html

so does the hse it clearly states if your work is going to cause a slip hazard then one method is to grit the iced area

[BORBRYCE]

Yes milord, I knew I was throwing copious amounts of water onto the pavement, yes I knew it was going to freeze immediately, but I left a warning note for the occupier, how was I to know that she was out and would slip and break her arm/leg before getting into the house to read my warning note!"

Matt, your missing the points.
1. How many times do we hear wfp opperators saying "if custy dont care about my safety, they can get someone else to clean" I havent come across you saying that but I will guess you have thought it. What you are suggesting is hypocritical.

2. You really are putting custies at risk by cleaning by wfp when it is freezing at ground level, even if you do have good intentions by leaving a note of sorts. As the quote above by Ian Rochester states, they may not see it till its too late.

3 A guy with your inteligence should not be putting himself in such a position in the first place that he feels he has to go and clean windies in those conditions.