Have you ever thought about how dangerous it is to clean windows? Even though it seems like a simple task, it can be very dangerous if the right safety steps aren’t taken.
From falling to getting electrocuted, the risks are real and can be very bad.
As a window cleaner, you need to know why risk assessment is important and how it can save your life.
In this article, I’ll talk about the safety of window cleaning and the best ways to do a thorough risk assessment.
So, let’s get a cup of coffee and get started!
Window Cleaning Safety and Risk Assessment
Identifying Potential Hazards
The first step of a risk assessment is to figure out what the risks are.
This can be done by making a list of all the possible risks that could come up when cleaning windows in a certain place.
Work at height, using ladders, and working near power lines can all be dangerous.
It’s important to think about all possible dangers so that the right steps can be taken to control them.
Evaluating Risks and Implementing Precautions
Once the dangers have been found, the risks they pose can be evaluated and the right steps can be taken to keep them from happening.
The Work at Height Regulations of 2005 say that any work done at a height must be properly planned, supervised, and done by people who know what they are doing.
This means using the right tools when working at a high level.
When planning and setting up window cleaning tasks, it’s important to talk to the client about everything, since they know their business best.
To lower the risks, everyone needs to work together to come up with a coordinated plan that everyone agrees on.
Updating the Risk Assessment
Window cleaners should do a risk assessment every time they start working in a new place, and they should keep the risk assessment up to date if anything about the work changes.
The Cornell University Window Washing Program sets up rules and procedures to keep employees and contractors safe when they clean windows on public buildings at Cornell.
The New York State Department of Labor and the Cornell Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS) Department may both need to approve a company’s Window Washing Plan (NYS DOL).
Benefits of Risk Assessment
Working in line with the results of a risk assessment will make window cleaners and their employees safer on the job.
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 make risk assessment a must, not a choice.
If there hasn’t been a risk assessment, and an accident happens, it can cause a lot of trouble, especially if employees are hurt.
Suitable Access Equipment and Fall Arrest Equipment
When cleaning windows at a high level is unavoidable, the right access equipment must be set up, and extra steps must be taken to limit the distance of a fall and its effects by using the right type of fall arrest equipment.
It’s important to talk to the client about all window-cleaning tasks because they know their business best.
Working together to come up with a coordinated plan is the best way to reduce risks.
Steps to Completing a Risk Assessment
A window cleaning business can reduce the chances of something going wrong by doing a risk assessment.
A risk assessment needs to be done in five steps, which are:
- Identifying all potential hazards
- Deciding who’s at risk of being harmed and how
- Evaluating the risks and deciding on precautions
- Recording the findings and implementing them
- Reviewing the risk assessment and updating it if necessary.
In the end, risk assessment is an important step in making sure that window cleaners are safe.
By finding potential hazards and figuring out how dangerous they are, the right steps can be taken to control them.
Window cleaners should do a risk assessment every time they start working in a new place, and they should keep it up to date if anything about the work changes.
Window cleaners and their staff will be safer at work if they follow the results of a risk assessment.
Potential Hazards and Mitigation Strategies
Window Cleaning: Mitigating Risks through Proper Risk Assessment
Cleaning windows is a dangerous job, especially when you have to work from very high places.
Falls from height are one of the main reasons why people die on the job in the UK, and many more people get hurt, sometimes seriously.
Falls, bad weather, not using personal protective equipment (PPE) right, obstacles above, and electric lines are all things that can happen when cleaning windows.
Methods for Cleaning Windows
Most people use ladders, rope access, cradles, traveling ladders, or bosun’s chairs to clean their windows.
But the law says that when ladders are used, employers must make sure that their workers and other people in the area are not in danger.
When you work as a professional window cleaner, you spend a lot of time outside, so you need to be aware of dangers like falls, slips, trips, and strains from overreaching.
Risk Assessment
Safety training is the first step that needs to be taken in the window-cleaning business to cut down on the number of accidents.
Before every job, a risk assessment needs to be done to figure out what the risks are and how they can be kept to a minimum.
The International Window Cleaning Association has put out a field guide to help window cleaners spot safety risks, avoid common ones, and know what their safety rights are on the job site.
Cleaning windows can be dangerous, but it can be avoided with the right health and safety checks and the right tools.
Steps to Mitigate Risks
By taking a few steps, window cleaning companies can lessen the risks that are found in a risk assessment.
The first step is to figure out what kinds of risks are involved in cleaning windows, such as working at heights or using chemicals.
The second step is to figure out who and how is at risk, like the person doing the work or the general public.
The third step is to assess the risks and decide what safety measures need to be taken, such as using fall-arrest equipment or providing the right equipment for getting to the work site.
If the risks are high, something should be done to lower them before the work goes on.
The fourth step is to write down the important things that were found during the risk assessment.
Working with Clients
It is important to talk to the client about all window cleaning tasks, since they know their business well.
To lower the risks, everyone needs to work together to come up with a coordinated plan that everyone agrees on.
For every window cleaning job, the choice of access equipment will depend on how high the windows are, how the site is set up, how long and how much work needs to be done, and how often the windows need to be cleaned.
Employee Training and Insurance
A key part of a risk management plan is also insurance for a janitorial business.
Insurance can protect a window cleaning business from costly claims, like damage to a customer’s property or injury to a third party.
It’s also important to train employees so they can spot potential dangers and know how to handle equipment and harsh cleaning chemicals.
Ensuring Safety Regulations in Window Cleaning Risk Assessment
When it comes to window cleaning, safety regulations are crucial to consider.
Risk assessment is an essential part of the process, and it involves identifying potential hazards and taking steps to minimize or eliminate them.
Safety regulations are put in place to protect workers and the public from harm, and failure to comply with them can result in serious consequences.
Window cleaning companies must adhere to safety regulations, such as using appropriate equipment, providing adequate training, and following proper procedures.
By doing so, they can ensure the safety of their workers and the public while also avoiding legal and financial repercussions.
Safety regulations are not only relevant but necessary in window cleaning risk assessment to ensure a safe and successful outcome.
For more information:
Window Cleaning Safety Regulations: Hazards, Equipment & Best Practices
Factors to Consider in Risk Assessment
Identifying Risks
The first step in doing a risk assessment is to list the risks that come with cleaning windows.
This means taking into account the height of the building, the length and size of the work, and how often access is needed.
By figuring out what the risks are, it’s easier to figure out what hazards need to be fixed and what controls should be put in place to lower the risks.
Choosing the Right Access Equipment
Choosing the right access equipment is very important for making sure that workers are safe.
The choice of access equipment will depend on the height that needs to be crossed, the conditions of the site, the length and size of the work, and how often access is needed.
If cleaning windows at a high level can’t be avoided, the right equipment must be set up.
When using a safe place to work does not eliminate the risk of falling, extra steps must be taken to reduce the distance and severity of any fall by using the right type of fall arrest equipment.
Working with the Client
It is important to talk to the client about all window cleaning tasks, since they know their business well.
To lower the risks, everyone needs to work together to come up with a coordinated plan that everyone agrees on.
The risk assessment should think about how long the work is likely to take, how easy it is to get to, and whether or not there is already a safe place to work from.
The risk assessment should also take into account how well the workers know how to do things like controlled descent and how to use a back-up system.
Regular Review of the Risk Assessment
Sources say that every time a window cleaner starts work at a new location, a risk assessment should be done.
This is because the dangers and risks of each place may be different.
Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) tells employers that they need to do risk assessments.
Window cleaners should not only do a risk assessment at the start of a job, but they should also keep it up to date and look at it often.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) says that the assessment should be re-done when there are changes in the workplace that affect the risk assessment, such as new dangers or changes in the working conditions.
Identifying Potential Hazards and Risks
Window cleaners need to know about all the possible dangers and risks that come with their jobs, like working at heights or using chemicals to clean.
The risks should be looked at, and steps should be taken to reduce them as much as possible.
The HSE suggests using safe places to work that are already there, like cleaning from inside a window or from a balcony, and if necessary, getting the right access equipment.
In order to keep window cleaners safe on the job, it is important to do a risk assessment.
It should be done every time a new place is worked on, kept up-to-date, and looked at often to make sure risks are kept to a minimum.
Window cleaners can make sure they are safe on the job by figuring out the risks, choosing the right access equipment, working with the client, and reviewing the risk assessment often.
Safety Equipment and Training
Ensuring Safety in Window Cleaning: A Comprehensive Guide to Risk Assessment
Cleaning windows is a dangerous job that requires workers to use personal protective equipment (PPE) to keep themselves safe.
When cleaning windows, people wear safety helmets and hard hats, gloves, protective shoes and clothes, clothing that makes them easy to see, protective eyewear, and a protective jacket.
When using chemicals, workers may also need to wear masks that help them breathe.
Employers are required by law to give their workers the right safety gear to make sure that the things they do don’t put them at too much risk.
Workers must also be trained in the right way to work at heights.
Minimizing Risk of Accidents
Window cleaners should avoid working at heights as much as possible to avoid accidents.
For example, they could use telescopic water-fed poles or clean windows from the inside.
If workers have to work at height, they should first try to find a safe place to work that is already there, like cleaning from inside windows or a balcony.
If there isn’t a safe place already, the right access equipment must be made.
Safety Training for High-Rise Window Cleaners
When they’re at work, window cleaners who work on high-rise buildings face a number of safety risks.
So, they need to go through a lot of safety training to make sure they are safe.
The International Window Cleaning Association (IWCA) has a program called Safety Training that teaches professional window cleaners everything they need to know about safety.
The program goes over things like OSHA rules, fall protection, rope descending systems, the right way to rig, and rescue methods.
Attendees who finish the program get a Safety Training Certificate from the IWCA, which is known across the country as the best Window Cleaning Safety Association.
Ongoing Training and Continuous Evaluation
In addition to the IWCA Safety Training Program, window cleaners should get ongoing training and evaluation to make sure that the right person is doing the right job.
Before cleaning windows, workers must also check the weather, because bad weather can quickly become a safety hazard.
High winds, extreme heat or cold, rain, and lightning are all examples of things that can make things dangerous.
When the wind speed is 15 miles per hour or more, people should be careful.
Employer Responsibility
Employers must come up with and provide a safe way to clean windows so that workers and the public can stay safe and healthy.
No matter what kind of tools and equipment are used on the job, employers must make sure that the tools and equipment are in good shape before they are used.
The employer must also make sure that employees are properly trained in a language they fully understand.
There is no training that OSHA recommends or requires for people who clean windows on high-rise buildings.
But to make sure they are safe, window cleaners should have the right training and qualifications.
In the end, cleaning windows is a dangerous job that needs a proper risk assessment and safety measures to keep workers and the public safe.
Employers must make sure their workers are safe while working at height by giving them the right safety gear, ongoing training, and regular evaluations.
Window cleaners must also be careful and check the weather before every job to make sure nothing goes wrong.
If we follow these rules, we can make sure that cleaning windows is done safely and quickly.
Common Mistakes and Accident Prevention
Steps in Conducting a Risk Assessment
In order to do a risk assessment for window cleaning, you need to do the following:
Find the risks: The first step is to find out what risks are involved in cleaning windows.
This means making a list of all the possible dangers that could happen when cleaning windows in a certain place, no matter how small they seem.
Decide Who is at Risk and How: This step is about figuring out who could be hurt by the risks you found in step one and how.
Evaluate risks and decide on precautions.
This means figuring out how likely and bad the harm is and what can be done to reduce or get rid of the risk.
Record Important Results: The fourth step is to write down the results of the risk assessment that are important.
A risk assessment is required by the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and is needed to make sure the safety of employees and anyone else who may be affected by the work being done.
Rope Access Techniques
For window cleaning companies that use rope access techniques, it is important that they have both a designated supervisor and a person with experience or training in the kind of work the company plans to do.
Using rope access to clean windows requires at least three practical skills: a controlled descent, the use of a back-up system, and a short ascent.
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidance on using rope access methods and controlling risks is also important for window cleaning companies to know.
Common Mistakes in Window Cleaning
Cleaning windows can be dangerous if it’s not done right.
People often make mistakes when they clean their windows that can lead to accidents.
These things are:
Misusing the Scraper: If the scraper is not used correctly, it can scratch or break the windows.
Using Too Much Washing Fluid: Streaks can appear on the windows if you use too much washing fluid.
To keep windows from getting broken, it’s important to clean them with the right tools and methods.
Using the Wrong Cleaning Cloths: You shouldn’t use lint-based or fibrous cloths to clean your windows because the fibers can get stuck on the glass and scratch or damage it.
Instead, you should use cloths made of cotton or microfiber.
Not cleaning windows in a safe way: Accidents can happen when you clean windows, so it’s important to take the right steps to keep everyone safe.
This means protecting yourself from falls, having a plan in case of an emergency, and using safety gear like gloves, eye protection, and a respirator.
Cleaning Windows in the Wrong Weather: If you clean windows when it’s too hot or sunny, the cleaning solution can dry too quickly and leave streaks.
It’s best to clean windows when it’s cloudy or cooler outside.
Conclusion
In the end, risk assessment is a very important part of cleaning windows safely.
It’s important to look for possible dangers and take the steps needed to avoid accidents and injuries.
But it’s also important to remember that you can’t get rid of all risks.
Cleaning windows is inherently dangerous, and it’s up to each person to decide if the benefits are more important than the risks.
In our daily lives, we often take risks without even realizing it.
We drive cars, walk across busy streets, and eat and drink things that might be bad for our health.
Window cleaning is just one of the risks we take to keep our homes and businesses in good shape.
So, the next time you see a window cleaner working on a high-rise building, think about how dangerous it is for them to do their job and keep our cities looking nice.
And remember that risk assessment is important, but sometimes we just have to take a leap of faith and trust in our own skills and the safety measures that are already in place.
Looking for a new Magnetic window cleaner?
Choosing a gadget can be very difficult if you know nothing about the technology.
Some will pay for features they do not need while others may not consider what they really want.
So I created this quick, newbie guide to help you focus on what is really important to you:
The Best Magnetic Window Cleaner (For You!)
Links and references
- 1. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines on laboratory safety
- 2. American Chemical Society (ACS) guidelines for chemical laboratory safety
- 3. Study on ergonomic evaluation and design of tools in cleaning
My article on the topic:
