Working for window cleaners
February 27th 2008 The FWC is an Employers Trade Association established in 1947 to conduct a wide range of activities in support of its members. Like most trade industry bodies, the FWC represents its members’ interests to interested parties, including the government, which includes practical and constructive comments with regard to any new or existing health and safety regulations. Indeed the FWC, alongside the British Cleaning Council and the CSSA, regularly participate as members of the HSE Cleaning Industry Liaison Forum, which is coordinated by the Health & Safety Executive. The FWC provides training in the form of IOSH accredited courses, DVD’s and extensive safety information.
IOSH accredited courses include ‘IOSH Working Safely’ and the soon to be launched accredited course for the ‘Safe use of Ladders and Water-Fed Pole Systems’. FWC members enjoy many benefits (see information panel below for full details) and the Federation regularly communicates with the industry, and specifically its members, through media such as the FWC’s quarterly publication,Window Talk, and its website, both of which offer all the latest industry information, news and equipment offers for members.
Following the floods we have encountered this year and last, and the unceasing rain we appear to have all through the year, the idea that drought orders will be applied in 2008 might seem unlikely, but window cleaners have to be prepared for such an eventuality - which is where the FWC can help.
The FWC have previously worked with the government and water companies with regard to the drought orders during 2006, providing information to influence their decision as to whether the window cleaning industry could continue to use water-fed pole systems during a drought order.The FWC helped to educate and influence the key decision makers by identifying the issues that would occur with any possible banning of the use of water-fed pole systems at times of drought.
Clearly window cleaners can use traditional methods to clean ground floor windows, and with the use of telescopic poles can clean a proportion of upper floor windows, but this is not the answer for all. There are many instances, such as window types or obstructions, when telescopic poles and squeegees are not the answer to cleaning upper-floor windows. The introduction of water-fed pole systems have addressed these instances, and have enabled the window cleaning industry to operate efficiently, safely and within the Work at Height Regulations (WAHR). Currently the government propose to update the 62- year-old drought legislation, which currently only restricts the use of hosepipes for watering gardens and washing cars. The update allows the water companies to enforce a "discretionary use" ban, outlawing virtually all- activities involving hosepipes. Water-fed poles would be included within this proposal, with a spokesman for the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs confirmed that window cleaners could still revert to a bucket and sponge".
Whilst accepting that within the WAHR, the industry should go through the hierarchy of risk management to decide on methods of access, the danger is that window cleaners will simply resort to using ladders and this would have a disastrous effect on safe-working and could result in more accidents.
The FWC is recommending that professional window cleaners are exempted from drought orders, so that they can continue to operate safely and in line with the WAHR. Obviously it does support sensible use of water with waste being minimised by using only the most modern and effective water-fed pole systems. It is worth noting that water-fed pole systems are also environmentally friendly, as they mostly remove the need for using detergents when cleaning glass. More articles from Federation of Window Cleaners: | 
