Services
We offer a full window cleaning for both domestic and commercial customers. We have a reach and wash system enabling us to clean windows up to 60 feet high without the need for ladders.
- Private contracts
- Contract work
- Initial cleans
- Builders
- Shops
- Schools and collages
- Private nursing homes
- Conservatory
- Roof cleaning
- Power washing
- Gutter cleaning
Health and Safety
Below are our health and safety policies. We also have £5 million public liability insurance.
Blades Risk Assessment
Window cleaning from Portable Ladders
Hazards
- Fall from ladder
- Ladder slipping sideways at upper resting point
- Ladder twisting or flipping
- Ladder slipping outwards at base
- Ladder fails i.e. breaks, snaps
- Ladder looses contact with upper resting point (falls backwards)
- Operative dropping tools, equipment from height
- Overhead electrical hazards
- Slipping on greasy, icy, wet surfaces
- Failure or movement of surface ladder placed on i.e. sinking in mud
- Danger through unattended ladders
- Over exposure of operative to sun
- Inclement weather
- Injury through manual handling
Persons exposed to hazards
- Company employees
- Site employees/staff
- Anyone with cause to visit site during cleaning operations
- Members of public where there is public access
Specific Risk Groups
- Children
- Elderly/Infirm
- Mentally handicapped
Actions already taken to reduce risks
- Ladders are only used where it is unsuitable or not reasonably practicable to use other safer methods of access
- Fully trained and regularly assessed operatives
- Ongoing safety training program
- All ladders fitted with anti-slip feet
- Ladders when extended above ground floor will be secured to the building by tying/lashing, L.S.D. or other means of equivalent effectiveness
- Ladders are footed whenever reasonably practicable and always where stability requires
- Ladder register
- Regular documented safety inspections of all ladders
- All operatives issued with personal tool/equipment holders
- All operatives issued with appropriate PPE
- Warning signs displaying at all times
- Ladders are not left unattended
- Operatives supervised at all times
- The use of safety Equipment is specified on individual worksheets as necessary
Assessment of Residual Risk
Minimal/Acceptable
Further action required
None – Monitor and review on due date
Date set for review
Review Date entered into diary
Signed
Position
Date
Ref: RA Ladder
Blades RISK ASSESSMENT
SUSPENDED AND POWERED ACCESS
CRADLE AND MEWPS (MOBILE ELEVATING WORK PLATFORMS) or (CHERRY PICKERS)
Hazards
- Fall from height/cradle/mewp
- Failure of access equipment
- Operatives dropping personal tools/equipment
- Dislodging parts of building during cleaning
- Failure/collapse of ground mewp is placed upon
- Medical condition of operative, which may require rescue or evacuation procedure
- Emergency situation i.e. bomb scare/fire drill requiring evacuation
- Power failure
- Adverse weather conditions
- Fall from height whilst accessing cradle across roof
- Failure of fall arrest equipment i.e. harness/lanyard or anchor point in event of fall
- Position of mewp in relation to vehicle and pedestrian traffic
Persons exposed to hazards.
- Company employees
- Site employee’s and staff
- Anyone with cause to visit site during cleaning operations
- General public where there is public access
Specific risk groups
Where public access
- Children
- Elderly and Infirm
- Mentally Handicapped
- People with learning difficulties
Employees with medical conditions and / or i.e.
- Heart Conditions
- Asthma
- Fear of height
- Alcohol
- Substance Abuse
Other Issues
- Lone working
- Rescue Policy
Actions already taken to reduce risk/control measures
- Fully trained and regularly assessed operatives – paper records
- On going company safety training programme
- Provision of safety harness, lanyards for fall arrest
- Provision of personal tool/equipment holders and lanyards to secure tool’s/equipment i.e. squeegees to person
- Current test / inspection details / access equipment on file
- Access equipment on file
- Current survey of external building condition and permission of building owners/controllers to proceed with works i.e. permit to work scheme
- Medical suitability of operatives assessed at interview stage and on going company occupational health programme (does not need to be complicated) i.e. yearly medical and on going monitoring
- Communications between cradle, mewp and ground team or office or reception on building
Evacuation procedure in place for
a) Power failure
b) Medial Problem
c) Emergency Situation
- Safe system in place to access cradle i.e. latchway system
- Display of warning signs
- Temporary traffic lights and highway controls
- Safe working loads of access equipment
Assessment of residual risk
Minimal/Acceptable
Further action required
Should be – none – monitor and review on due date or as required
Date set for review
Review date entered to diary
Signed
Position
Date
Blades RISK ASSESSMENT
HIGH LEVEL WINDOW CLEANING USING WATERFED POLES
Hazards
- Operative work related upper limb disorders through incorrect use.
- Pole being dropped or blowing over
- Trip hazards for Operative due to site conditions whilst looking up and general site conditions.
- Trip hazards for Public over trailing hosepipes.
- Hazards to Public and property from poles being dropped or blowing over.
- Falling objects caused by pole failure
- Falling objects caused by dislodged building parts
- Added danger of Operative falling from height from flat roof area
- Overhead electrical hazards
- People exposed to Hazards
- Company employees
- Site Staff
- Anyone with cause to visit site during cleaning operations
- General Public where they have access.
Specific Risk Groups
- Maybe: Children
- Elderly/Infirm
- People with Learning disabilities
Actions taken to reduce risk
- Fully trained and regularly assessed Operatives
- Provision and use of Warning Signs, Cones
- Provision and use of Matting to cover Hosepipes
- Safe working areas marked out
- Site surveys/risk assessments to identify overhead electric hazards and other site conditions.
- Operatives are informed of site conditions and relevant procedures by specific site work instruction.
- Specific procedures for work above roofs.
Further action required
None
Monitor and review on due date.
Date set for review
Review date entered to diary
Signed
Position
Date
Blades RISK ASSESSMENT
MANUAL HANDLING
Manual Handling Hazards
- Heavy loads + poor posture
- Back injury
Injury to muscles and tendons particularly where handling involves bending and twisting for instance – lifting ladders from floor and placing on roof rack
- Many cleaning duties
- Slips trips and falls when carrying heavy objects
- Cuts/Abrasions to skin from sharp edges of the object being handled
- Dropping or falling of ladders/access equipment being handled/erected
PERSONAL EXPOSED TO HAZARDS
- J.A. Lee Employees
- Site Employees
- Anyone with cause to visit the site during cleaning operations
- General public
Specific risk groups
- Children
- Elderly or Infirm
- Mentally Handicapped people
Action already taken to reduce risk
- Manual handling of items is kept to a minimum as far as is reasonably practicable
- Tools and equipment purchased are the correct ones for the job
- All operatives are trained in manual handling techniques good posture and footing
- Work is arranged so items can be handled as close to the body as possible to avoid reaching or twisting
- Personal protective equipment is issued to all employees.
Assessment of residual risk
Minimal/acceptable
Further action required
None at present – Monitor and review on due date
Date set for review
Review date entered to diary
Signed
Position
Date
Information for employees
Risk arises due to poor posture when handling, the possibility of falls of employees, sharp edges and material. When the following precautions are taken the risk should be nominal and controlled.
- Items must be stacked on firm, level ground close to where they will be used.
- Lifting aids (rather than manual handling) should be used as much as possible, particularly for heavier items or when items are lifted above shoulder height
- Use correct manual handling techniques i.e.: avoid twisting and over stretching and ensure a secure foot placement on even ground
- Ensure the work area is free from obstacles and the ground is not uneven, slippery or unstable
- Employees and managerial staff must be given adequate information and training on the correct systems and procedures to be used to ensure safe manual handling
- Adequate personal protective equipment should be work by employees.
REF: RA7
Blades METHOD STATEMENT
Windows will be cleaned using water and a neutral detergent (data sheet enclosed) this will be applied to the glass using a non scratch lambswool applicator and removed using a rubber “squeegee blade”. Scrim cloth will be used for “detailing” (drying off around the edge of the glass) and towelling cloths will be used to remove excess moisture from windowsills.
Windows up to 9 metres from ground level will be accessed using portable ladders and telescopic poles. Ladders when extended above ground floor height will be secured to the building by either fitting Ladder Stability Devices to the ladder or lashing the ladder to approved “fitted” ladder tying rings. Ladders will be footed whenever practicable and always when stability requires. Ladders can also be secured at the lower resting point by the use of LSD (Laddermate).
Where it is necessary windows above roofs will be accessed from the roof following the company’s specific code of practice for work above roofs and using any installed fall arrest line systems and necessary fall arrest harnesss and lanyards.
Windows above 9 metres meters will be accessed using mechanical access methods i.e. mobile elevating work platforms or from inside the building. For either of these means of access operatives will wear and use safety harnesses and lanyards and clip into suitably recognised and tested fall arrest point prior to positioning themselves where there is a risk of a fall.
Mobile elevating work platforms and other means of mechanical access will only be operated by sufficiently competent persons (who have attended CITB, IPAF or other suitably approved courses) or are under the immediate supervision of a qualified operative and trainer.
Waterfed Pole systems
Windows up to 15 Metres may also be cleaned using telescopic waterfed poles and de-ionised water which will be applied to glazing, frames and cladding using non scratch brushes. The window and frames will then be rinsed using pure de-ionised water, and left to dry naturally. Operatives will work from the ground or other position of safety and a safe working area will be established with warning signs displayed at all times.
All work will be carried out in line with
- Health and safety at work act 1974
- H.S.E. Information Sheets:
- Misc. 611 Safety in window cleaning using suspended and powered access equipment
- Misc. 612 Safety in window cleaning using rope access techniques.
- Misc. 613 – Safety in window cleaning using portable ladders.
- Workplace health safety and welfare regulations 1992
- The management of health and safety at work regulations 1999
- The manual handling operations regulations 1992 – ACOP 98
- The control of substances hazardous to health regulations 1999
- The provision and use of work equipment regulations 1998
- The personal protective equipment at work regulations 1992
- Reporting of injuries diseases and dangerous occurrences regulations. (RIDDOR) 1995
- British standard BS8213 Part 2 1991 Windows doors and roof lights
- Our own company risk assessment, detailing hazards involved with the work and the actions the company has taken to reduce risk.
- Work at height Regulations 2005
REF: RA20
A POLICY ON LONE WORKING WHILST WINDOW CLEANING
Lone workers as defined by the H.S.E. are those who work by themselves without close or direct supervision.
No window cleaner should work solo in any area or location that would involve increased risk to their safety.
No window cleaner should work solo
- On any mobile elevating work platform on any kind
- On any eyebolt work or work when fall arrest systems are used
- On any work involving roped access
- On Tower Scaffolds
- On portable ladder over 6 metres
- On cradle systems fixed, mechanical or manually rigged
- On bosons chair work
- On travelling ladders or gantries
- If working as a team on a single site regular checks should be made on any lone worker
- If dropped on a job to work solo, intervals between contact should not exceed one hour
- If working solo for a full shift or day, a one-hour contact system by phone should be established.
FURTHER READING PAGE
- Road Traffic Act 1998
- Road Vehicle (construction and use) Regulations
- BS EN: 12195 Load restraint regulations
- Control of substances hazardous to health (COSHH) Regulations 2002
- Approved code of practice (L8): The control of legionella Bacteria in Water systems 2000
- Workplace health, safety and welfare regulations 1992
- Manual handling operation regulations 1992
- PUWER: Provision and use of work equipment regulations
- HASAWA: Health and safety at work act 1974
- MANAGEMENT REGS: Management of health and safety at work regs
- PPE REGS: Personal Protective equipment regulations
- Inspecting fall arrest equipment made from wedding or rope leaflet INDG HSE Books 2002
- Management of health and safety at work
- Management of health and safety at work regulations 1999. Approved code of practice and guidance L21
- Safe use of lifting equipment. Lifting operations and lifting equipment regulations 1998. Approved code of practice and guidance L113 Books 1998 ISBN) 7176 1628 2
- Safe use of work equipment. Provision and use of work equipment regulations 1998. Approved code of practice and guidance L22 (Second Edition) HSE Books 1998 ISBN 0 7176 1626 6
- Use of fall protection equipment with mobile elevating work platforms. Miscellaneous information sheet MISC 14 HSE Books
- Approved code of practice and guidance L22 HSE Books 1998 ISBN 07176 1626 6
- Work at Height Regulations 2005 (WAHR)
- A safety guide from the Federation of Window Cleaners 2006
- Walk up Walk down ladder safety video FWC 1998
