Safety Concerns For Window Cleaners

There are plenty of safety concerns for window cleaners. Creating a safety plan based on Prevention through Design will help mitigate those concerns.

Whether an employee of the building maintenance department or an independent contractor, there are plenty of safety concerns for window cleaners. Prevention through design is a new standard of workplace safety, especially for individuals exposed to specific safety hazards regularly at commercial buildings.

You can get the guideline on including methods of prevention using design concepts in the Prevention through Design Guidelines for Addressing Occupational Hazards and Risks in Design and Redesign Process. These guidelines are used within a system of occupational safety and health management.

The standard's purpose is to complement existing safety procedures and protocols, as introduced as ANSI/ASSE Z5903-2011 in 2011. Therefore, a professional window cleaner should plan to prevent accidents: this is the most significant step to take.  As Benjamin Franklin said, “Failing to plan, is planning to fail.”

The professional window cleaning contractor can include several elements when writing the work safety plan to prevent injury or accidents. The elements include training, equipment, and assessment, which are significant for companies offering window cleaning services.

1. The Equipment

Window cleaner safety starts with the equipment: these are the tools the contractor brings to the site to aid in the performance and safety of the window cleaning services.

Window cleaning services are less active during the winter months in many parts of the country.  Even in areas where they can work nearly year-round due to warmer weather, they can still find some time to conduct an equipment inspection and in-house inventory. By ensuring you have equipment that meets standards and codes and is in safe working condition, you will be planning for the upcoming busy season, you will be practicing one method of Prevention through Design.

Additionally, spring will be here sooner than you think. Once the season is in full swing you won’t have time to take your equipment and tools out of service.  Now is a great time to inspect all your tools and equipment for signs of wear and tear.  Especially the basics like hoses, ladders, extension poles, and water-fed poles.

Once you have inspected each piece of equipment, log and date its condition. You can use electronic inspection sheets with pictures of each piece of equipment. Having good records will help immensely as you create and modify your plans for mishap prevention.

High-rise building contractors can use this time to manage inventory of equipment like ropes, d-rings, seat boards, cables, work platforms, and others. If you notice any equipment that needs repair, consider renewing it. This applies to any worn equipment.

Never assume that a piece of old equipment will suffice without causing damage or injury. Also, ensure you have plenty of barricades and danger signs and rope and suspension line protectors to enhance your window cleaning safety.

2. The Training

Once you have inspected and documented every tool you have, it is time to ensure every window washer is fully trained on using these tools correctly. Use the slow season to gather and organize your training materials.

You can also get training resources online from the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and The International Window Cleaning Association (IWCA) alliance. IWCA even has documents you can download and use for your monthly safety meetings or train your company members.

3. The Site Assessments

The final step in your window cleaning safety work plans, and probably the most important, is to conduct a site assessment for each building where the professional contractor might work. Visit every location you and your crew plan to work to identify the hazards and then determine how to avoid them.

Usually, a professional window cleaner will encounter less than a dozen hazards on one typical site. Nonetheless, each identified issue should be addressed, especially in the slow season when there's time to tend to each concern.

Some of the hazards window washers experience at a typical site regardless of the services they offer include:

• Condition of the equipment
• Overhead obstacles
• Obstacles on the ground
• Falling
• Weather
• Electrical supply lines
• Anchor points and suspension rigging
• People (the general public)

This site assessment and the written work plan is called a Job Hazard Assessment (JHA) and is a requirement of OSHA. Also, developing a written work plan helps the site supervisor manage their window cleaners in high season when they cannot attend every job. Your plan is also a great working example of Prevention through Design.

Effects Of Prevention Through Design

Create a plan for conducting your site assessments, maintaining your equipment, and training your crew. These strategies have proven successful for contractors for at least the last couple of decades.

Accidents and fatalities have been reduced by over 30 percent in the last 20+ years due in large part to the American National Standard, the 1-14.1. As window washers have adopted these guidelines, the positive effects continue to manifest.

You can be part of this ongoing solution by incorporating these preventative measures and providing training, site assessments, a work plan, and equipment inspections.

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