Blackpool Window Cleaners is City & Guilds qualified in ‘Working at Heights’. This enables us to offer a safer working practise.
Whether it’s using a water fed pole or a set of ladders, working at height can be hazardous. However, with the safe and proper use of equipment we are able to reduce the risks.
Portable ladders have traditionally been used by window cleaners mainly for cleaning windows on ground, first and second floors. Most falls to window cleaners involve the use of portable ladders.
In recent years figures for accidents reported to HSE and local authorities show that between two and seven window cleaners have been killed each year in Great Britain and about 20-30 suffer major injuries as a result of falls involving ladders. Many more suffer less serious injuries that result in several days off work. These accidents are usually due to the misuse of a ladder or error by the operative; very few are caused by faults in ladders. Misuse includes such activities as over-reaching, stepping off the ladder and working from window sills and ledges with no safeguards; working from sloping roofs; and working from excessively long, unsecured ladders. Economic pressures mean that many window cleaners have to accept such practises as unavoidable risks of the job.
For more information on working at height visit www.hse.gov.uk/
Many domestic properties have had an extension or conservatory built which leaves many back windows out of reach for ladders and so using a water fed pole not only makes working safer and more cost effective, it can get to windows ladders can’t.
We know insurance firms will do whatever is necessary not to pay out a claim if there has not been any adequate equipment training.
With Blackpool Window Cleaners you can be sure our public liability insurance is 100% valid as we are trained to use water fed poles and traditional tools.