November 3, 2003—The UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published new guidance in the form of a series of free information sheets on safety in window cleaning. The guidelines are aimed at window cleaning companies, but will be of relevance to designers, owners, and those involved in maintenance of buildings. Every year in the UK, several window cleaners die at work and many more are seriously injured, according to the HSE.
The three sheets, prepared jointly by representatives of HSE, local authorities, and the National Federation of Master Window and General Cleaners, set out what both HSE and the industry agree are reasonable standards of control that comply with current legal requirements. The new guidance includes information on: use of ladders; use of cradles and mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPS)—”cherry pickers;” and rope access techniques.
Copies of Preventing falls from boom-type mobile elevating work platforms (HSE Information Sheet MISC614); Safety in window cleaning using suspended and powered access equipment (HSE Information Sheet MISC611); Safety in window cleaning using rope access techniques (HSE Information Sheet MISC612); and Safety in window cleaning using portable ladders (HSE Information Sheet MISC613) are available free from HSE Books, PO Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 2WA, tel: 01787 881 165 or fax: 01787 313 995. Copies can also be downloaded from the HSE Web site. Information on the falls from height priority program is also available on the HSE Web site.
