Laws on window cleaning in the UK?
Window cleaners must comply with British legislation governing the safety precautions performed when cleaning windows at a height. The window cleaner Tunbridge Wells team adheres to all applicable health and safety regulations. But what are the laws on window cleaning in the UK? The 1974 Health and Safety govern the guidelines at Work Act (HSW Act). The law specifies the following:
“Employers to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of their employees’. They must also ensure that those affected by their activities are not exposed to risk.”
Regulatory compliance and responsibility
Employers and anyone in control of work-at-height activities are required under the Work at Height Regulations 2005 to ensure that work is properly planned, supervised, and carried out by competent people. If window cleaning from a high place can’t be avoided, you should first think about working from an already safe place. For example, you could clean from inside the windows or a balcony. If you can’t find a safe place to work, you’ll need access to equipment. When planning and organising window cleaning, it’s necessary to prevent labour at height whenever possible. An example could be utilising telescopic water-fed poles or cleaning windows from the inside. If you don’t eliminate the risk of falling by either of these methods, you need to take extra steps to ensure that any fall is as short and as safe as possible by using the proper fall arrest equipment.
Utilisation of equipment for working at height
If you want to do work at more than 4 meters, you can’t use ladders as a platform (13 feet). Ladders can only be used to make sure you can get to windows higher than four meters. It is the main reason most window cleaners in the United Kingdom use water-fed poles. Water-fed poles are extremely safe and great for getting into hard places to get to. Most of the time, they will be able to reach up to 20 meters (65 feet) from the ground.
Compliance with COSHH regulations
Control of Chemicals Hazardous to Health (COSHH) regulations require you to safeguard your staff from the dangers of cleaning products and other potentially harmful compounds. A safety data sheet must accompany any hazardous products that are purchased. A risk assessment must be made using the sheet’s information. Then systems must be put in place to minimise or eliminate the risk. Your employed window cleaners in Tunbridge Wells must be well-versed in the safe handling of these chemicals.
Effective communication with clients
Before you begin cleaning a client’s windows, it is important to have a conversation with them about a variety of topics. The most effective technique to reduce the potential for harm is to collaborate with one another in the creation of a strategy that can win everyone’s backing. Your client will be aware, for instance, if the design of the window or structure makes it possible to safely clean the windows from the inside, which indicates that there is no risk of falling from a height.
Training requirements for working at heights
All people who work at height must have the skills, knowledge, and experience to do their job well. An abseiling window cleaner will need different skills, knowledge, and experience than someone who only cleans windows on the ground floor. The type of work they are doing will affect the skills and knowledge they need.
Commitment to safety standards
Here at Pro Window Cleaning Tunbridge Wells, we follow these guidelines for every job we take. This is because the safety of our staff and clients is our top priority! We regularly monitor new legislation and incorporate it as quickly as possible into our operating practices.