Crucial Things to Consider When Cleaning Windows at Height
Window cleaning at height is a job that usually exposes people to the risk of falling, which must be prevented at all costs. For that reason, cleaning services often put in place various safety and operating measures to ensure that any dangers associated with window cleaning at height are effectively managed.
If you wish to venture into the business of window cleaning at heights, here are some important factors you'll need to consider.
Choice of access and safety equipment
Working conditions when cleaning windows at height are never the same for different jobs; each job site comes with its own unique set of challenges. To start with, not all heights are the same; meaning that you will need a different type of access equipment for every job. Also, the severity of the fall, in case an accident happens, tends to increase as people work higher up the building. This underscores the importance of providing employees with the best safety equipment when working from the various heights.
For single-story and double-story buildings, boom lifts or scissor lifts can allow easy reachability to the windows, while for high-rise buildings, workers may have to be strapped with access ropes as they clean the windows from the topmost floor of the building heading downwards. Access equipment and fall preventive equipment should be frequently checked and maintained to ensure they are in topnotch condition at all times. For lower heights, portable ladders should be good enough for the job.
Operating procedures
Even with the right access and safety equipment, it is important that all people cleaning windows working at height be fully understand the importance of working within the set framework. This is because state and local governments often set guidelines that must be followed during the job to ensure safety and efficiency. All workers should be provided with training on proper use of the equipment and continually reminded about the importance of following work-related guidelines, especially before the cleaning exercises begins. This way, compliance with existing policies and procedures will be top-of-mind as the workers embark on the job.
What is more, you should always devise ways of rescuing a worker in the event of a work-related mishap. For instance, how do you evacuate a worker from a scissor boom that malfunctions while they are working at heights? Make sure you can anticipate and plan for such types of emergencies and communicate with your workers on how such a situation will be handled so that they can avoid unnecessary panic.