Progress? What progress?
October 1st 2005

At the turn of the last century the directors of a well-known producer of horse drawn carriages met together with farriers and other equestrian experts to discuss ways of protecting their trade in light of Henry Ford's model 'T'. The outcome of the meeting was to go back to the drawing board and design the most luxurious horse drawn carriage ever built! Within twelve months the business, whose name no one remembers, went out of business. Craig Mawlam, British Window Cleaning Academy, examines parallels with this and the window cleaning industry

Recently, and by complete co-incidence I attended a similar meeting close to the turn of this century. The topic of discussion was the recently implemented Working at Height Regulations and how they have affected the trade of Window Cleaners. Just as the directors of the infamous horse drawn carriage manufacturer faced insurmountable odds, the pro ladder group sat resolutely as King Canute.

Since Ionic Systems introduced the Reach & Wash(tm) System in 1997 thousands of safety conscious, proactive Window Cleaning businessmen voluntarily adopted this safer system of work. Working from the safety of the ground they quickly realised for themselves that two men using Reach & Wash(tm) poles could indeed do the work of six working from ladders. The timing could not have been better, ever since the introduction of the Health, Safety & Welfare Regulations of 1992 (enforceable since 1995) many commercial building occupiers have implemented ladder bans in their area of responsibility. Their customers wanted them to adopt safer systems of work, they have complied and they have prospered.

No body, especially me disputes that ladders continue to be a necessary access tool for the professional Window Cleaner, but the fact is that despite introducing ladder restrictions in 1992 the number of ladder related accidents has not reduced. It's little wonder then that the recently introduced WAHR have further tightened safe practice in the hope that even tighter restrictions will reduce the appalling statistics. I predict that in a further ten years, if ladder accident statistics have not improved then the Window Cleaning industry may well face a complete ladder ban!

Recently there has been a lot of impacted soilage spoken about waterfed poles. Personally I preferred it when choosing to adopt a safer system of work was a choice advanced by commercial pressure rather than a matter of compliance. The WAHR's are now embedded in UK law and it is clear that a Window Cleaner may not choose to work at height when it is reasonably practicable to carry out the work otherwise than at height. It's no longer a choice, if you permit someone to work at height tomorrow when the task could have been carried out from the safety of the ground, then you are breaking the law. If you permit work at height when you could have employed a safer alternative and an accident occurs as a result, then the law is clear and it is complimented by such legislation as the corporate manslaughter bill.

I started my Window Cleaning career twenty years ago on houses and ended up with a Blue Chip customer base abseiling on the biggest commercial properties before eventually becoming the premier supplier of waterfed pole systems. From my experience I know that the group that contributes most to the ladder accident statistics are the residential Window Cleaners. No disrespect from me, but lone workers in convoluted surroundings many of whom are new to the trade with little experience, training or guidance who fall beyond the control of mainstream Health & Safety legislation will continue to have an adverse affect on statistics. What they do next may well impact upon all Window Cleaners who need to use ladders in situations where there is no reasonably practicable alternative.

All Window Cleaners could easily comply with the WAHR's tomorrow.

Ladders are only really permitted to a height of six metres anyway, with a little practise telescopic poles with conventional squeegees and applicators or tools specially designed for the job such as Unger's "Visa- Versa" or Ettore's 'Back-flip' or the 'ledger' for recessed windows can be used to great effect from the safety of the ground. Waterfed poles replace the need to work at height in a variety of situations other than just ladders.

For some the WAHR's have become a "Ladders v Waterfed poles" issue, for me its quite simple, its about complying with a law that will safeguard Window Cleaners lives and allow them to ply their trade safely even when ladders are the only option.

It is my personal opinion that the Window Cleaning industry needs to focus upon how it will control its accident statistics in the future. The benefits will be long term but accepting that the WAHR's are a good thing for Window Cleaners will be a good start. Finding ways to implement training, safety audits and standards to ensure safe practise prevails will pay dividends in protecting life, reducing insurance premiums, enhancing the professional image and respect for the hard working Window Cleaning industry.

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