Window Cleaning News

The Ontario Ministry of Labour found widespread lapses in workplace safety in a 90-day blitz targeting construction sites. The safety study was prompted by a Christmas Eve accident that claimed the lives of four maintenance workers. The men fell 13 storeys to their death when the scaffolding they were working from snapped. Labour Minister Peter Fonseca said he was shaken by the accident. He said the blitz targeted so-called "bad apples," companies with a history of violations. He said safety needs to become the concern of everyone in the construction industry.
“What we found was completely unacceptable I have to say," said Fonseca. "Our inspectors cannot be everywhere at all times. So we need everybody to participate, that means the general public, that's workers, that's our health and safety partners, that's labour, that is employers, that is everyone." During the three-month blitz, inspectors visited more than 2,800 job sites, checking for hazards related to working from heights. A quarter of those sites were shut down immediately. In all, more than 3,400 orders were issued for such violations as poor guardrail maintenance and faulty systems for protecting workers from falls. Many inspectors found serious lapses around worker training. Ministry officials told CBC News they will continue to expand measures to prevent workplace accidents, including setting up a 1-800 number for people to report unsafe work sites. A panel will also be established to examine the issue of mandatory worker training in Ontario.
Results of the blitz: Inspectors issued 3,421 fall-related orders during the blitz. Missing or incorrect use or maintenance of guardrails (853), suspended scaffolds (629) and fall protection systems (442) accounted for more than one-half of the orders. Orders were also issued for violations involving worker training and records (296), ladders (294), stairs (237), elevating work platforms (101), suspended scaffolds and boatswain's chairs (76), window cleaning (54) and other matters such as flat roofing work, platforms, runways and ramps (439).

Window cleaner who fell 18ft from college roof feared he might never walk again. A window cleaner who feel 18ft from a roof breaking eight ribs and a vertebrae in his back has urged workers to follow health and safety procedures. James Theaker (pictured), 50, said he was told by paramedics that it is only thanks to falling onto a bicycle rack positioned outside the entrance to Lincoln College on Monks Road that he is here today. Although the bicycle rack caused him to break a vertebrae in his back, it was also said to break his fall, saving his life. Mr Theaker's accident occurred on November 4, 2008 and resulted in him not returning to work until July. The dad-of-three works for A Nicoll & Son Ltd, based in Allenby Road Industrial Estate in Crofton Drive, Lincoln, and was cleaning windows above Lincoln College's main reception when he fell. The college was fined £1,500 at Lincoln Magistrates' Court on Tuesday after being prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive for failing to complete a thorough risk assessment for contractors. The court heard that the college should have had health and safety regulations in place to ensure Mr Theaker either washed the windows using a pole from the ground or accessed the roof via a door on the first floor. A Nicoll & Son Ltd was fined £2,500 at Lincoln Magistrates' Court on October 28 after pleading guilty to breaking health and safety at work regulations following the incident. Previous blog.


Above: Note to waterfed pole companies at any trade show i.e. ISSA/Interclean. This work of art from German-born Mariele Neudecker could really help the window cleaner choose that pole if they could just use it first!

46% of UK small business has no website: Sometimes you see a press release that's just company puff. Other times you find something you weren't expecting - like the revelation that 46% of the UK's smallest businesses don't have a website, according to 1&1 Internet. The initial reaction is to start making excuses. If they're very small then maybe they can't spare the time to develop one. There are of course micro businesses that don't need a website. 15 years or so when websites first began my window cleaner asked me whether he should get one; we quickly concluded that he'd be better off spending his time and money on leaflets for local potential customers than putting a website together that might attract interest from areas he had no intention of serving.
There are other examples, though, when it's crazy not to have something online. Two nights ago my wife and I decided to eat Chinese. We have a favourite restaurant so we Googled it and found...no menu. We found another and were able to choose our food online, order it and have it delivered. I'll leave you to guess who got the business that day.

Investigators Witness Fall Hazards, Fine Construction Firm $47K: OSHA has cited Acies Group LLC for three repeat violations and one serious violation related to fall hazards at a construction worksite in Lebanon, N.J. Proposed penalties total $47,000. The agency initiated an investigation on Jan. 19 as part of a local emphasis program focused on fall hazards in the construction industry after investigators observed workers being exposed to fall hazards as high as 24 feet while performing masonry work on the exterior of a building. The serious violation was for failure to provide workers with a fall arrest harness with a lanyard. OSHA issues a serious citation when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result and the employer knew, or should have known, of the hazard. Detailed information on scaffold hazards and safe work practices, including an interactive e-tool, is available online here.

Consulting Is Now Available For Window Cleaning Business Owners: Although the recession has taken its toll on many people across the country with unemployment sky high and the housing/financial markets falling apart, there is hope as was so eloquently explained to me in a recent sit-down interview with Steve Wright, the author and creator of the popular “How To Start Your Own Residential Window Washing Business” program. According to Mr. Wright, “window cleaning business owners are thriving. Glass is all over the place and it’s always getting dirty. That’s why the demand is so high.”
“If done correctly and you target the right people with your window cleaning service”, explains Steve, “you’ll have more business than you can handle.” He continues by saying “it is important though to make sure you target the right people with your service because if you don’t, you’re not going to get the response that you’re expecting. Too many window cleaners go after the wrong people. Just because everyone has a home with windows doesn’t mean that they’ll pay for your services.”
He mentioned to this reporter that because of some of the mistakes he has seen made by window cleaners, this is why he decided to introduce consulting as part of his how to start a window cleaning business program in addition to sending regular newsletters to window cleaners. Mr Wright says that he’s looking forward to working more closely with window cleaners as they ramp up their businesses. It can be said that anyone can start their own window cleaning business (or any business for that matter) on their own without any assistance or input by anyone else, and Steve points out that this is most definitely true, but he does add that “by latching onto to someone who has spent 15 years in the industry and following a proven roadmap, it helps save time, eliminates mistakes, and ensures maximum success.”

How often and how thoroughly do people really clean their homes? With a new season in the air and the dreaded ritual of spring cleaning on the horizon, your ShelterPop editors decided to investigate just how often people actually clean their homes. According to Milwaukee-based Merry Maids' franchise owner, Cori Huston, two weeks is the longest stretch of time that most adults are willing to live in a dirty home. However, for those of us without housecleaning services, it seems that we're willing to go much, much longer without picking up a cleaning rag or pushing a vacuum, according to recent surveys from major house cleaning product companies. But it seems that windows get the least respect in the cleaning hierarchy-it's a daunting task for most people and a recent cleaning survey sponsored by Windex showed 80 percent never take on the dirty deed of window washing.

Volkswagen's next-generation 2012 Passat is expected to give the Passat some much needed panache, Volkswagen will be pulling out all the stops to make the next-generation a technological showcase, with features that should have the traditional German luxury marques feeling a little worried. Expected to debut in late 2011 as a 2012 model, the next-generation Passat is tipped to feature a host of new technologies, including a wiperless window cleaning system.

Daniel Radcliffe is getting in shape for his upcoming Broadway role. The Harry Potter star is to bare his torso for the musical How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, in which he'll appear in some shirtless scenes as a window cleaner. A friend told The Sun: "Daniel wants to completely re-sculpt his body. He's lost nearly 6kg in the past month. He's stopped drinking, knocked the cigarettes on the head and is watching every mouthful."

Goldfish move case dropped: An investigation into a volunteer who rescued goldfish from the ornamental pond at the University Hospital of Wales has been dropped. The Echo reported how Clive Roberts (pictured) faced the prospect of prosecution by the Environment Agency Wales after he took 60 fish from the hospital pond. The 58-year-old window cleaner, who has volunteered at the hospital for 12 years, rescued the fish while the pond was undergoing maintenance and took them to his home in Adamsdown for safe keeping. But an investigation into the illegal removal of fish was launched when the Environment Agency received a complaint. Mr Roberts had been due to be interviewed under caution about the offence. But the case has now been dropped. “It is a huge relief for me,” Mr Roberts said. An Environment Agency spokesman said: “Once we had established the facts we were satisfied that no offence had been committed and will not be taking this matter any further. “Moving fish short distances between garden ponds is not something we take formal action over.”

A family whose home was destroyed by a gas explosion have finally been allowed to move back into their house. Pensioners Derek and Margaret Roberts and their son David (pictured), 42, of Stanley Street, Mold, are still suffering the effects of the terrifying blast that blew their home to pieces in 2008. After 18 months of living in hotels and rented accommodation, the family say they are relieved to be home. The family were at home on the morning of December 1, 2008 when David lit a cigarette sparking a massive explosion that blew out the windows and doors and brought the house crashing down around them. David, who was engulfed in flames, dug himself out of the rubble while his parents managed to scramble out. Moments before the blast, which was caused by a gas leak, Derek, 66, had got out of his chair while Margaret, 63, who was emptying the bins, decided not to take the rubbish out until later – actions they believe saved their lives. Window cleaner David suffered severe burns to his hands and has only recently returned to work. Derek and Margaret also suffered severe hearing loss. “David is still having counselling and medication,” said Derek. “We are all still on medication.” First reported here.

Claire Finch was tried for running a brothel in a sleepy village in Bedfordshire, but even the judge was smiling when she was cleared. The 49-year-old was arrested and charged with brothel keeping, a crime under the Sexual Offences Act of 1956 that carries a maximum prison sentence of seven years. Although women are legally entitled to sell sex individually, if they club together they risk a charge of brothel keeping for whoever has their name on the lease. Claire Finch is now working alone, within the parameters of the law but her mortgage is in arrears and she has fallen behind on tax. She feels more vulnerable as well. This week, she asked the window cleaner to stick around for a couple of hours in case a new client got nasty.

Downtown Vernon merchants are getting into the spring spirit as they hold the inaugural Sparkle Day. On Wednesday, merchants with brooms, dust pans, window cleaner and scrub brushes will be cleaning the front of their buildings and sidewalk area. “Sparkle Day will give businesses the opportunity to make the downtown area more visually appealing for customers,” said Earl Hansen, executive director. The event will also focus on downtown benches that must be restained. Youth from the local Katimavik group will assist with this part of the project, with supplies provided by the city. New banners and hanging baskets will also be hung from lampposts.

Six area towns, through which a popular hiking and biking trail runs, are joining to attract tourists, boost business and pursue beautification efforts. The initiatives will range from window-washing brigades for downtown buildings to educating potential developers about historic tax credits, area residents and business. It is important that each of the communities participate in the joint project -- to become partners, not competitors, in economic development. Because once would-be visitors learn about all that is available along the trail, it is certain they will be attracted to the region rather than singular attractions.

It’s called Faith in Action weekend. Volunteers from both the church and the community will be joining together for such projects as collecting food donations at local supermarkets, free car washes, business window washing, a project at the animal shelter, senior citizen yard work, and a children’s project, to name a few.

....which begs the question - if businesses don't have a regular widow cleaning program, should they even be doing business? Or are taxes so high that window cleaning is unaffordable?

A former Olympic boxing champion is set to receive a different kind of award this week, for learning to read and write in his early 40s. Given little encouragement at school, Bob Wells, 48, who lives in Carshalton, followed in his father's footsteps and concentrated on a boxing career. By the time he was 22, Mr Wells had won the super heavyweight bronze medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and taken on Lennox Lewis.
He later made a living by running his own window cleaning business, getting others to help him with the accounts and invoicing. By 45, Mr Wells was hoping to retire to teach amateur boxing full time, but a tragic chain of events was to change his life forever. Struck on the back of the head by the mirror of a bus, Mr Wells suffered severe head and spinal injuries, which led to a long bout of depression. He said: “For four months I never got out of bed. I didn't know what day it was.”
When he did eventually get back to work he was diagnosed first with septicaemia and later with MRSA. He became registered disabled and suffered from both depression and alcoholism. Unable to go back to his window cleaning business, Mr Wells released that if he couldn't read or write he wouldn't be able to find new work and begin putting his life back together. So he signed up for numeracy and literacy courses at the Sutton College of Learning for Adults.
He said: “Having the balls to go to SCOLA and say 'I can't read or write and I can't add up or take away', was the hardest thing I have done.” Just a few years later, Mr Wells now gives public readings of his own short stories and has recently completed a course to become a volunteer at the 2012 Olympics. Next week he will be presented with an Outstanding Individual Learner in London Award by the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education. He said: “The help SCOLA have given me has been second to none.” “It has changed my life.” Also here.

Window Washer Sought In Theft: HARTFORD - A man hired to wash the windows of a dentist's office at 377 Franklin Avenue stole an employee's wallet this afternoon and ran away, police said.
The victim said the man is the neighborhood window washer and goes by "Al" or "Rich." He is described as a bald white male in his mid 30's. He is 5-feet-9-inches, 150 pounds. He wore a black T-shirt and camouflage pants. Police say the victim, an employee at the dentist's office, saw the window washer grab her purse and look through the pockets of employees' jackets. She confronted him and a struggle ensued. He fled with the victim's wallet, which contained $80, and was last seen heading west on Preston Street, police said.