High tech methods for high level cleaning

Matthew Johnson, managing director of CAM Specialist Support reviews the latest methods for window cleaning and other working at height operations

Cleaning and maintaining the windows and additional high areas of office buildings, shopping centres or sports stadiums is a job for a working at height specialist with all the right gear and skills. It's common knowledge that cleaning the outside of high storey buildings is no job for a rooky with a ladder and bucket.

Fortunately, as with most other trades,working at height technology has moved on substantially.New, safer and more technically advanced methods of window cleaning and other working at height operations have been developed since the Work at Height Regulations 2005, amended by the Work at Height (Amendment) Regulations 2007 came into force.

One of the key legal requirements of the regulations is for competent,well trained people to plan, organise, supervise and carry out work at height.The regulations "apply to all work at height where there is a risk of a fall liable to cause personal injury." Technically advanced methods of working at height The majority of window cleaners working at commercial buildings have replaced cleaning with ladders in favour of water-fed pole systems for work of up to 60 feet.

Water fed pole systems make window cleaning easier and safer, because windows can be cleaned effectively, and faster, whilst the operator stays on the ground using a water tank. Rushing up and down a ladder, and moving the ladder from window to window, was used most of the time in traditional window cleaning. Staying on the ground and simply moving the water-fed pole and its hose to the next set of windows is much quicker - and carbon fibre poles are much lighter to move than a ladder.

Modern window cleaning is carried out using water that has passed through a sophisticated filtration system - this prevents smearing and can eliminate the risk of algae growing on the panes.

This can be carried out using compact on site portable filtration systems.Normally, window cleaning requires the delivery of thousands of litres of pure water to the site, and this can have an environmental cost in terms of vehicle emissions.No transport of water means no environmental cost and a reduced carbon footprint.

In addition to window cleaning, there are a much broader range of complex building support services which involves the need to work at high levels.This includes gutter clearances, bird proofing, roof repairs, cleaning of extractor vents and building inspections including surveys and specialist reports. In addition to water fed pole systems, technically advanced suspended access equipment such as cradles, mobile elevated work platforms, temporary scaffolds and rope access enable buildings to be cleaned and maintained safely.

Risk assessments and emergency planning The Work at Height regulations include planning for emergencies and rescue situations, which has made operating at height safer and more professional. Risk assessment should always be carried out to ensure the safest way of working and any rescue plan should be site specific and detailed. CAM Specialist Support has been working with a diverse range of companies to anticipate and prevent their particular potential working at height risks. By its very nature, a rescue plan is only called upon in an emergency, so contractors must carry out regular practice sessions and refresher training to ensure that their operatives will react swiftly and appropriately should an emergency situation arise.

Accredited training There are a number of associations that promote a safe environment for the operation of specialist work at height equipment such as the Industrial Rope Access Trade Association (IRATA), the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) for powered equipment and PASMA, the lead trade association in Europe for the mobile access tower industry. Duty holders should choose a reputable provider which holds these training accreditations, indicating that it has invested heavily in training and safety.

In summary, industry best practice is providing safer methods of cleaning and maintaining facilities whilst working at height, ensuring that the cleaning industry meets complex building support requirements with expertise and trained, professional staff.