According to the HSE, between 2002 and 2003, 67 people died and nearly 4,000 suffered a serious injury as a result of a fall from ladders and other instruments of height. The use of ladders can be dangerous and we do not use them on site at all. Working at height is the biggest killer of window cleaners in the UK. In April of 2005, the Working at Height Regulations became law.

This new legislation puts the onus on you, the customer, as controller of the work, to ensure that any work carried out is not done at height if it is safer to do so from the ground.

HSE Proposals for Working at Height Regulations, the consultative document issued by the Health and Safety Executive Commission, states: ‘pole-cleaning systems may be used for cleaning windows so that the work can be carried out from the ground.’

www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg401.pdf

Our responsibilities both to your employees and other users of your sites and premises as well as to our own employees are of paramount importance.

Here is how we apply these safety measures:

For your Safety

A thorough analysis of every site is undertaken before any work is carried out. Any permanent obstructions or items of particular concern are recorded in a file specific to each of your sites. This standard practice ensures that our workers are aware of any potential hazards.

This would include:

• Power Lines
• Pedestrian Access points
• Footpaths
• Nearby Power Lines (Under 5 Metres from work area)
• Telephone lines entering a building
• Potentially slippery surfaces

Protective measures might well include:

• Cordoning off areas where work is being carried out.
• The use of high visibility warning signs and cones to ensure that people avoid walking too close to our workmen.
• The use of “Trip Hazard” signs when and where necessary.
• Under certain circumstances it is only practical to access a building outside of work hours; this can be arranged where necessary.

All of our vans are equipped with these standard safety tools and their use is considered obligatory by our staff. We pride ourselves in knowing that every necessary precaution is taken to ensure that both you and those using your sites are kept safe.

For Our Safety

All of our site operatives undergo in-house training. They will accompany more experienced workers to gain insight into best practice and techniques before being allowed to clean sites on their own. Each employee is made aware of the Health and Safety issues relating to his work. Regular meetings with management ensure that our employees can voice any concerns and that any new directives from the Health and Safety Executive can be discussed.

All of our equipment is regularly inspected to ensure that it is in perfect working order. A log is kept to ensure that the inspections have been carried out and will be countersigned at regular intervals by a manager. This fundamental routine puts less strain on all of our workers and ensures that you receive the best results possible.

A programme of ongoing training and reminders of best practice ensures that the Health and Safety of our team is kept to the forefront of our concerns.

A1 Window Cleaners are committed to the Health and Safety for all and are constantly monitoring, reviewing and improving our procedures to reduce any possible hazards that may arise in the work place. We are very proud of our 100% track record with no accidents or incidents throughout our company’s history.

Due to the recent changes in the working at height directive, the Health & Safety Executive recognises Water fed poles are an excellent way to comply with the new government regulations for window cleaners. As window cleaning is a hazardous activity with the obvious risk of falling from height using ladders. Enjoy the assurance that comes with knowing that some accidents simply won’t be allowed to happen. Ensure that your company is operating within the law and choose ladder free window cleaning, there really is no safer way to clean high-level windows.

We are well aware of our legal obligations and regard safety as the most important factor within our business. Before any contract or cleaning task commences, full and comprehensive risk assessment is carried out and submitted to the client.

Did you know that 1 in 3 companies are unaware that they are inadequately insured, therefore not covered?  At A1 we are well aware of this statistic which is why we constantly monitor our company’s activities and implement our insurance appropriately. We have a tailor made insurance package by one of the world’s most respected and largest insurers,

All staff, vehicles, equipment and members of the public are covered and every year our insurance is assessed. It is company policy to provide a copy of our insurance certificate along with all relevant health and safety documentation with every quotation we provide.

More info on window cleaning from the HSE can be found at this link: http://www.hse.gov.uk/falls/window.htm