[gerard mcmanus]

I have been window cleaning for a few years now, and have never had anyone official ask me whether or not I had a licence let alone talk to me about how to use a ladder.

Its seems that there is allot of focus on correct use and do's and dont's of using a ladder with regards to legislation. But has it ever really affected you in your day to day lives.

Now I wouldn't want anyone to be lacksydasical when using a ladder. Our policy is not above second floor or 20 feet, properly levelled and on a good grip-able surface, ladder mats used on marble floors etc and never for instance on ice or wet decking. Three points of contact at all times.

So just a quick yes/no if you have or haven't had anyone speak to you about proper use of a ladder, who was an official e.g. Health and safety officer or from the council.

Now I mean just walked up to you on the street, not meeting with HS after an accident or fall from a ladder, as its pretty much given if an employee had an accident they would do a little digging.

[Ian W]

Never seen anyone. I am surprised that they don't do more spot checks.

[actualcleaning]

No

[gerard mcmanus]

thanks for your reply actualcleaning but also vote as well if you dont mind, thanks  :

[Londoner]

No, never been spoken to but then I am WFP now anyway. I do however know of two cases where people have been nicked for using ladders. The first one was some painters painting some flats in Gayton Road Harrow and the second one was a couple of blokes fixing new guttering to a house in South Oxhey. The two cases are only a couple of miles apart but different councils so I would imagine different H&S departments.

[gerard mcmanus]

ah but not window cleaning though. I have seen a guy going up to a second floor window on a ladder here to fix sealant on the window in the worst weather I have seen in maybe two years. I mean gale force winds torrential rain, parked cars and vans rattling with the gusts. This guy did have someone footing the ladder, but it wouldn't do a sodding bit of good if it blew, 12/13 stone guy ontop of a 20/25 feet ladder in heavy gales, I would bet big arn'y in his hay day wouldn't hold that.

I do think there will be one or two who will say yes and would be interested to here the outcome, but most I think like me wouldn't have seen a pen pusher out of there office they wrote the legislation.

The absolutly stunning thing was I told one of my customers about this and there reply was yeah but if someone has water coming in there window it has to be done. My jaw nearly hit the floor, someone has to risk there life because water is coming in someone's window.

[actualcleaning]

thanks for your reply actualcleaning but also vote as well if you dont mind, thanks  :

Come on it is early....lol

[Sunshine/Cleaning]

With the number of Window Cleaners/Painters/Gutter Repairers etc to H&S officials most interaction will be reactive and not proactive.

In other words it will only be after the accident that H&S get involved.

[gewindows]

There was a documentary about H &S on the box about a year or so ago. The number of inspectors that are out on the road was mentioned, cant remember it now, but it was ludicrous, something like 400 throughout England.

[daz1977]

i think that the h and s will crackdown more on commercial and public building (council, schools etc) wc using ladders rather that joe blogs cleaning a house

[jonnyald]

i think that the h and s will crackdown more on commercial and public building (council, schools etc) wc using ladders rather that joe blogs cleaning a house

agree, if i was a H&/S bloke i would want to focus on the big stuff, catch out a big firm and later get a feather in my cap from the top floor boys  and shimmy my way up the promotion ladder

[Phild]

Reading the thread it's obvious no-one is doing Builders Initial cleans as using a ladder on a construction site these days is like being a pensioner on a Club 18 -30 holiday.

Our staff have to use podium steps if they are working only a couple of feet off the floor, stepladders have to have handrails then there is PASMA certification if you erect a mobile tower plus some sites dictate the use of scafftags so only your staff can use them then if you need to get higher than a tower and need a cherry-picker you need IPAF certification....

I know it's 'Elf 'nd Safety but sometimes you feel as if the world has gone mad.

Phil D

[Sir Squeaky]

No, and I doubt anyone would.
I've chatted to someone from H&S whilst up a ladder above a shop in the high street an the middle of the day.

[JamesTurnbull]

all of our commercial insist WFP, and No ladders to be used.

[gerard mcmanus]

23% is higher than I thought it would be, anyone care to tell us more. What happened, did you get a fine, verbal ear bashing, licences revoked, nicked?

[Jeff Brimble]

My CC dont have time to check before an accident, but god help you after you have had one.

[gerard mcmanus]

My CC dont have time to check before an accident, but god help you after you have had one.

Thats kind of a point as well, is it because they are now working in McD's. Then again if you have an accident how do they find out afterwards if you don't tell them? Different if someone puts it in the paper, but if you though health and safety was going to come down on you while your in hospital with the broken leg, wouldn't you just say you were painting house or something, or fell down some stairs.

[Jeff Brimble]

They dont give a monkeys about you, its the dammage you cause to someone else that they will prosecute you for, even if you have PL Insurance.

[weetot]

Someone walked into my ladder at 6.15am one morning, and i nearly fell off the bleeder.  Coned off and everything and they still managed to walk into it. 

Sorry back to original post, i vote no, but was thrown off a site by their own H&S people for having 2nd rung missing on a wooden ladder.  Does that count?

[Sir Squeaky]

No, and I doubt anyone would.
I've chatted to someone from H&S whilst up a ladder above a shop in the high street an the middle of the day.

What were you doing up a ladder in the high street in the middle of the day?

What would have happened if a drunk bashed into you?  Or that blind bloke who walks about with a cane (I've reversed over his cane once  ) bumped into you, or someone was absent minded and in a hurry?

Shouldn't you plan you work so you don't have to be up a ladder in the high street during the middle of the day; say do it early in the morning where there's not many people about about?

I was working Tosh, remember that?
A few people did bash into me, I shouted at them usually.

I do remember some old biddy in an invalid car got her mirror stuck around my ladder, then when I said "hang on love!" she started trying to reverse...it was a bit sketchy for a minute...

Everyone worked in the middle of the day a few years ago, before we all became poofs.