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30-412: Window Cleaner or variation may refer to: Window cleaner or window washer, a person who cleans windows Hard-surface cleaner , a class of product used to clean windows The Window Cleaner (song), a British comedic song by George Formby, first performed in 1936 The Window Cleaner (film) , a 1968 British short film Window Cleaners (film),

60-624: A "Myth of the Month" section on its website between 2007 and 2010, which it described as "exposing the various myths about 'health and safety'". This has become a political issue in the UK. The Lord Young report , published in October 2010, recommended various reforms aiming "to free businesses from unnecessary bureaucratic burdens and the fear of having to pay out unjustified damages claims and legal fees." The HSE focuses regulation of health and safety in

90-589: A 1940 Donald Duck animated short film by Disney See also [ edit ] Window (disambiguation) Cleaner (disambiguation) Topics referred to by the same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Window Cleaner . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Window_Cleaner&oldid=932333445 " Category : Disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description

120-584: A number of well-recognised precautions are taken, ladders will remain a common tool for many jobs. The Working at Height Regulations came into force in 2005 and does not ban ladders but merely restricts their use to safe methods, i.e. foot it by person or with a ladder stopper: 4.2.2. The feet of portable ladders must be prevented from slipping during use by securing the stiles at or near their upper or lower ends, by any anti-slip device or by any other arrangement of equivalent effectiveness. Ladders used for access must be long enough to protrude sufficiently beyond

150-646: A research role into occupational risks in the United Kingdom . It is a non-departmental public body with its headquarters in Bootle , England. In Northern Ireland , these duties lie with the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland . The HSE was created by the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 , and has since absorbed earlier regulatory bodies such as the Factory Inspectorate and

180-680: A scaffold fell at the Equitable Life Building. In 1993 Local 32BJ, the New York window cleaners' union, launched an apprentice training program, increasing job safety among its members, although increasing numbers of New York window cleaners are non-unionized. Unlike in Scotland, there is no government licensing in the United States, England or Wales - this means anyone can claim to be a window cleaner. Window cleaning

210-628: A window is not easily accessible using one type of equipment then it is advisable to combine different tools to be able to clean it properly. Direct access to a window obtained by egress from that window. This method is still used at the Empire State Building in New York City . Windows that needed cleaning became higher as buildings became higher. A trade in window cleaning developed, for instance, in New York City in

240-416: Is considered the most dangerous job in the UK. Several window cleaners die each year, and many are injured. Many window cleaning businesses are claiming that laws are about to come into force due to European Directive 2001/45/EC that will make ladders illegal for window cleaners. However, the government denies this stipulation, as ladder use for window cleaning is "low risk and short duration": To clarify

270-440: Is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Window cleaner Commercial work is contracted variously from in-person transactions for cash or barter, to formal tender processes. Regulations, licensing, technique, equipment and compensation vary nationally and regionally. Methods of access and equipment related to both access and cleaning vary nationally and regionally. If

300-445: Is one of the best known. Films about window cleaners include The Window Cleaner (1968) and Confessions of a Window Cleaner (1978). Journalists sometimes comment on the peculiarities of the trade. Health and Safety Executive The Health and Safety Executive ( HSE ) is a British public body responsible for the encouragement, regulation and enforcement of workplace health, safety and welfare . It has additionally adopted

330-423: Is rather awkward: "For some jobs, a mobile elevating work platform will be the best option. However, for many jobs, especially on domestic and small commercial buildings, risk assessment will demonstrate that because of the short duration of the work and features on the building that cannot be altered, ladders are the only realistic option." Although Water Fed Pole (WFP) systems are meant to be safer than ladders,

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360-629: The Buncefield fire ) for the HSE, other government agencies and the private sector. HM Inspectorate of Mines is responsible for the correct implementation and inspection of safe working procedures within all UK mine workings. It is based in Sheffield , South Yorkshire . The Offshore Safety Division (OSD) was established as a division within HSE in April 1991. This was in response to recommendations of

390-447: The Health and Safety Executive has said that they spill large amounts of water which either the window cleaner or their client could slip on. Another issue is how "green" window cleaning companies are seen to be. During the spring of 2006 Defra considered banning the non-essential use of water and extending their already tight restrictions to prevent the use of water-fed safer which reach up to 60 ft. Window cleaners could return to

420-683: The Railway Inspectorate though the Railway Inspectorate was transferred to the Office of Rail and Road in April 2006. The HSE is sponsored by the Department for Work and Pensions . As part of its work, HSE investigates industrial accidents, small and large, including major incidents such as the explosion and fire at Buncefield in 2005. Though it formerly reported to the Health and Safety Commission , on 1 April 2008,

450-632: The Cullen Inquiry into the Piper Alpha disaster on 6 July 1988. At the time of the disaster, the Department of Energy (DEn) was responsible for both production and offshore safety; this was perceived as entailing a conflict of interests. Dr Tony Barrell, Director of HSE's Technology and Air Pollution Division was appointed Chief Executive of OSD, having previously been seconded to the DEn to lead

480-644: The HSE include Based in Buxton , Derbyshire, the Health and Safety Executive Science Division (HSL- Health & Safety Laboratory) employs over 350 people including scientists, engineers, psychologists, social scientists, health professionals, and technical specialists. It was established in 1921 under the Safety in Mines Research Board to carry out large-scale tests related to mining hazards. Following

510-446: The HSE is that their regulations are over-broad, suffocating, and part of a nanny state . The Daily Telegraph has claimed that the HSE is part of a " compensation culture ," that it is undemocratic and unaccountable, and that its rules are costing jobs. However, the HSE denies this, saying that much of the criticism is misplaced because it relates to matters outside the HSE's remit. The HSE also responded to criticism by publishing

540-521: The Health and Safety Commission merged on 1 April 2008. Chairs: Chief Executives: Some of the criticism of HSE has been that its procedures are inadequate to protect safety. For example, the public enquiry by Lord Gill into the Stockline Plastics factory explosion criticised the HSE for "inadequate appreciation of the risks associated with buried LPG pipework…and a failure properly to carry out check visits". However, most criticism of

570-564: The Railway Inspectorate was transferred to the Office of Rail Regulation (now the Office of Rail and Road). The Executive is responsible for the Employment Medical Advisory Service , which operates as part of its Field Operations Directorate. Local authorities are responsible for the enforcement of health and safety legislation in shops, offices, and other parts of the service sector. Agencies belonging to

600-568: The Safety Case Regulations; a thorough review of existing safety legislation and the move towards a goal setting regulatory regime. OSD became part of the HSE's new Hazardous Installations Directorate in 1999; it became part of the new Energy Division in 2013. The HSE currently administers the Occupational Safety & Health Consultants Register ( OSHCR ), a central register of registered safety consultants within

630-556: The United Kingdom. The intention of the HSE is to pass responsibility of operating the register to the relevant trade & professional bodies once the register is up and running. The HSE currently administers the Building Safety Regulator (BSR), a regulator of safety standards in buildings. List of directors general: The HSE and the Health and Safety Commission merged on 1 April 2008. The HSE and

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660-757: The World Trade Center at the time of the September 11 attacks . Jan Demczur, Polish employee working in the North Tower , survived and helped save five other people who had been trapped in an elevator with him. Roko Camaj and Fabian Soto, working in the South Tower , were killed. Risks include slipping on water or soap, and falling from heights. In 1932 in New York, an average of one out of every two hundred window cleaners were killed per year. On May 29, 1962, four window cleaners were killed when

690-407: The access platform, unless other measures have been taken to ensure a firm handhold. Interlocking ladders and extension ladders must be used so that the different sections are prevented from moving relative to one another. Mobile ladders must be prevented from moving before they are stepped on. The HSE favours the use of scaffold towers, i.e. temporary workstations, for window cleaning but says this

720-532: The area of minimizing the need for labor in this industry by use of technology. The availability of technology such as the pressure washer has made it more efficient. More recently, in high tech societies the use of fully automated robotic window cleaners, also for houses, is starting to become common. Window cleaning and window cleaners are the subject of songs, films and comment, often with comic intent. Examples include George Formby 's comic song " The Window Cleaner ", also known as "When I'm Cleaning Windows"

750-418: The bucket-and-mop method, because Health and Safety Working at Heights allows such for temporary access. Many window cleaners and window cleaning companies argue that their usage of water is minimal in comparison with water usages of large industry and energy companies, and that their water usage accounts for a small percentage of overall water consumption in developed countries. Much progress has been made in

780-829: The formation of the HSE, in 1975 the facilities became a Safety Engineering Laboratory and an Explosion and Flame Research Laboratory, operating as part of the Research Laboratories Service Division of the HSE. In 1995 the HSL was formed, including the Buxton site and laboratories in Sheffield. In 2004 the Sheffield activities moved to Buxton, and the University of Sheffield took over the Sheffield laboratory site. It now operates as an agency carrying out scientific research and investigations (e.g. on

810-524: The late 19th century when early skyscrapers were being built. The height increased the risk to the washers. At first, washers cleaned skyscraper windows by standing on the window ledge and holding onto the frame. Later, leather safety belts attached to anchor bolts were introduced and then scaffolds. For example, the Otis Elevator Company built an electrically operated scaffold for use at Lever House . Three window cleaners were working at

840-422: The situation HSE is not attempting to ban ladders or stepladders, but ladders should not be the automatic first choice of access. They should only be used after a suitable assessment of the alternatives and the prevailing site conditions. The selection process for access equipment is coming under increasing scrutiny at HSE inspections. This guidance clarifies that for short duration work like window cleaning, provided

870-466: The transfer of responsibilities. At the same time, Ministerial oversight was transferred from the DEn to the Department of Employment. The Offshore Safety Act 1992 made the Mineral Workings (Offshore Installations) Act 1971 and its subsidiary Regulations relevant statutory provisions of the Health and Safety at work etc., Act 1974. The OSD's initial responsibilities included the establishment of

900-579: The two bodies merged. The Executive's duties are to: The Executive is further obliged to keep the Secretary of State informed of its plans and ensure alignment with the policies of the Secretary of State, giving effect to any directions given to it. The Secretary of State can give directions to the Executive. The Railway Inspectorate was transferred to HSE in 1990. On 1 April 2006, the Executive ceased to have responsibility for railway safety, when

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