Award winning Hillingdon station gets cleaned up
February 1st 2004

Regular commuters travelling up the A40 into west London will be only too familiar with the award winning Hillingdon Underground Station. One of Metronets most expensive assets, this imposing structure comprises a 200 metre glass covered walkway across the carpark while the main station area is constructed with three glass canopies of varying heights.

Cleaning this prestigious station has always proved a difficult and costly task until Croydon based PH Cleaning Services were recommended for the job following their work at Gloucester Road tube station. Partner, Glyn Howard, explains The cleaning operation, including set up time, had to be carried out within a two hour time frame between 2.00 and 4.00 am when trains had stopped running and the power turned off.

Working to a tight pre-planned schedule, PH Cleaning were actually able to complete the cleaning operation with three men workingfast and efficientlyover twenty nights.

PH Cleaning used the Omnipole high reach pole system and purified water (without the use of chemicals) accessing the roof via a cherry picker and range of telescopic omnipoles. In fact, to simplify the operation, Omnipole designed and built a new task specific, easy to balance light weight pole which could reach directly overhead to a height of 50ft.

Not only was the cleaning operation a challenge, but PH Cleaning Services had to adhere to Metronet Rail SSLs stringent methods of work and health and safety procedures.

Continues Glyn Howard, We had to provide thorough and correct documentation and certification, tested and certified equipment, signage and worksite barriers. Transferring the cherry picker from one side of the station to the other involved a police escort and closure of the main A40.

Not only was the job carried out without incident but PH Cleaning were commended and received the Good Practice rating for their Safety and Environmental Supervision of the site. This was as a result of their excellent planning and professionally safe system of work. No use of chemicals, of course, meant no adverse environmental impact. PH Cleaning have since been invited to tender for the cleaning of several other underground stations.

More articles from Omnipole Systems Ltd: