Three Window Cleaning Reports

Program Helps Carlsbad Small Businesses Grow: While many small businesses are facing tough times, a set of programs at the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce is offering help. The Small Business Success Program is helping businesses like Fish Window Cleaning. Kolan Hairston and his wife Lupe own the franchise and said the economy began to take its toll in late 2008. "We saw ourselves go backwards probably 30 percent over the course of the year," said Kolan Hairston. Now, the Hairstons say things are better. They've hired two more people, bringing the number of their employees to seven. So, more people are getting their windows cleaned.

They said the programs at the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce as well as meeting with other business owners have helped. "We're held to what we do or what we won't do," said Lupe Hairston. "If we didn't do something somebody else will say, "Hey, why didn't you do that? Follow up with your marketing or follow up with your people." The programs offer advice on marketing, business plans, financing and more.

There is advice on marketing, business plans, financing, and more. "[The programs help] find different ways to grow your business, different ways to promote your business, that kind of thing," said Kolan Hairston. Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce CEO Ted Owen said about 80 percent of the chamber's 1,700 member businesses take part in the programs. "The number one step is owning up to the fact that you don't know what you're doing, and it's difficult for people to say that," said Owen. Owen said it's important for business owners to get together and share experiences. "Like-minded people who have the same goals... can get together and teach each other everything they know," he said.

Don't be a fall guy - Hire a window washer by Angie Hicks: Washing your home's windows can seem like a simple enough task — until you precariously perch yourself on a ladder, stretch to reach high areas, and fight through the bugs, bees and trees. Clean windows can enhance your home's appearance, but actually getting them streak-free can be challenging, and for homeowners with hard-to-reach windows, it can be downright dangerous.

"I always ask, 'How long would it take you and how much is your safety worth?' " said Tiffany Maron, owner of Squeegee Squad in Riverview. "It's a hard job. It's time consuming. It's dirty, and even when they're done, it still may not look as good, even if they spent twice the amount of time as we would have." Maron and Tom Cruickshank of The Window Cleaning Experts Inc. in Tarpon Springs recommend a home's windows be cleaned by a professional at least once a year. "Once a year, you've got to get the pollen off," Maron said. "We've got saltwater, especially waterfront homes, and the debris on the glass can etch into it. It takes the top layer off it and makes it look foggy after a while. If you don't get it off consistently, it'll wreck the glass."

Professionals should do more than just clean the glass. The frame, seals and tracks should be cleaned as well. "We do a thorough cleaning of the glass and frames around the glass, which involves opening windows, cleaning out the track area as well as the seals," Cruikshank said. "We go up on ladders to get hard-to-reach windows. Most people that aren't used to that wouldn't be able to do it. Once we do it, it's done right and you don't have to worry about it."

Cruikshank and Maron both prefer a squeegee and dish soap and water to paper towels and window cleaner. "We don't use any harsh chemicals," Cruikshank said. "We use squeegees to (clean) the glass and a dry cloth to buff out the glass so it shines."

Window cleaners typically charge by the number of windows, the time estimated to do the job and the complexity of the job. You can save money by cleaning the lower-level windows yourself and leaving the hard-to-reach windows to a professional. If you clean your windows yourself, do it during a cool, cloudier time of day. The hot sun dries windows faster, which can lead to streaking.

"We're pretty creative with getting up to those hard-to-reach places," Maron said. "We can get to a place that in certain homes you could never get to. Florida has a lot of tricky windows between pool cages, tall houses, and waterfronts."

If you hire a professional, first research the company's history. Ask for references, proof of liability insurance and worker's compensation. "There are a lot of uninsured people doing work out there that maybe can do it for less money, but if they get hurt or break something, the homeowner is ultimately responsible for it," Maron said.

Angie Hicks is the founder of Angie's List.

Four elements of an effective fall protection program: Earlier this year, the Ontario Ministry of Labour completed a 90-day provincial compliance and enforcement campaign to ensure employers and workers were complying with the regulations laid out in the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA). The goal of the campaign, part of the Safe at Work Ontario strategy to strengthen workplace safety, was to promote long-term compliance and decrease injury and fatality rates. The focus of the campaign was fall-related hazards at provincially-regulated construction sites, diving operations and window cleaning activities. Ministry inspectors visited sites to assess whether workplace parties were complying with regulations, adequate measures and procedures for the safe use of equipment were in place, and workers using fall protection systems were adequately trained.

The results of the blitz underscore the need for more awareness and training surrounding fall protection in the construction industry. Of the 7,313 total field visits conducted, 3,912 were at construction sites where fall hazards were identified. Inspectors visited 2,821 different construction projects during the campaign. A total of 784 stop-work orders, 3,421 orders and 121 summonses were issued for fall-related hazards. More than half of the orders issued were for violations related to missing or improper use or maintenance of guardrails, non-suspended scaffolds and fall protection systems. All sectors of the construction industry were issued orders during the campaign, including industrial, commercial and institutional (ICI); building construction; single-family housing; and apartment and multi-family housing.

In the preliminary report issued in May, the ministry concluded that the results of the campaign indicate several issues. First, the fact that 80 percent of the summonses were issued to supervisors indicates that there is a lack of adequate supervision on construction projects. Second, the type of violations observed indicates that work measures and procedures needed to keep workers safe were not in place. Third, a comprehensive look at the data suggests that workers and supervisors are not aware or adequately trained in fall-related hazards and general safe work measures and procedures.

Each of these issues can be remedied with a comprehensive fall protection program. The program is a combination of a written plan that defines the company’s policy, assigns responsibilities and lays out how fall hazards will be addressed, and the company’s implementation of the plan, including ongoing employee education and training.

Analysis. A key step in the development of the plan is a fall hazard analysis. This survey analyzes each fall hazard that will be encountered on a job site, how the hazard will be controlled, and the type of fall protection and rescue equipment to be used when an employee is exposed to the hazard.

Fall hazards can be controlled in a number of ways, with preference given to engineering out the hazard or changing work procedures so that employees are not exposed to the hazard. In the construction industry, these methods are usually not possible, so the next step is to implement passive fall protection systems such as guardrails and covers. Where this is not possible, a fall restraint system should be considered. A fall restraint system prevents a worker’s center of gravity from reaching the fall hazard. A fall arrest system should be implemented if none of the above methods are suitable. A fall arrest system is designed to stop a fall in progress.

Rescue Plan. For every fall hazard that is controlled, a rescue plan must be in place. This will address the procedure and equipment to be used to rescue a fallen worker, and must be specific to each hazard identified in the fall hazard analysis.

The fall protection plan should account for and delegate responsibilities for equipment inspection, record keeping, maintenance, equipment replacement, incident reporting, enforcement, accident investigation and training.

Training. The OHSA requires workers to be adequately trained in the proper use of fall protection equipment. To maximize comprehension, training should be conducted through a combination of classroom and hands-on work.

Employees should be taught how to recognize and control fall hazards and how to use written fall protection procedures. They should have an understanding of federal and provincial fall protection regulations, employee roles and responsibilities under these regulations and the company’s program, and post-fall rescue procedures. Practical instruction should include how to select, inspect, use, store and maintain fall protection and rescue equipment.

Worker training must be documented, and these records must be kept and made available to Ministry of Labour inspectors upon request.

Training should not be the last time employees are reminded of the importance of fall protection equipment. Constant reminders during toolbox talks as well as regular refresher training are keys to maintaining a high degree of safety consciousness among employees. Refresher training should be conducted at least every two years, but should be done more frequently if work procedures change or new fall protection or rescue equipment is implemented.

Non-compliance policy. If compliance continues to be a problem, consider implementing a policy that punishes non-compliance. This policy could range from no-tolerance to a tiered policy with varying consequences after each offense. Consequences from non-compliance could include dismissal from the job, sending the employee home without pay, asking the employee to pay a fine, or something a bit more creative. Make sure any policy is well-defined, consistently enforced and in line with provincial labour laws.

Developing a fall protection program and ensuring that workers are appropriately trained are the first steps in combating compliance problems in the construction industry. Ontario is also implementing several measures to improve safety on construction sites. These measures include strict enforcement targeting repeat offenders and shutting down construction projects when workers’ lives are in danger, increased focus on training and supervision during inspections, a public campaign to increase awareness of safety in different languages, and a telephone line for workers and the general public to report suspected unsafe work practices.

Minister of Labour Peter Fonseca states: “We cannot and will not stand by as worker safety is compromised. This is a shared responsibility, so I challenge employers, labour groups and workers to make sure that everyone returns home safe and sound after work.” Fonseca is right. There’s no better incentive to stay safe than the privilege of returning home to your family at the end of the day.