Could This Be The Ultimate Window Cleaning Van?

Window cleaning firm takes delivery of first Ford Transit Custom. Click to enlarge.

The first new Ford Transit Custom sold in the UK has been put to work by a high-tech window cleaning service. Andrew Wilkinson, owner of H2O Cleaning Contractors in Lincoln, bought - and drove away the same day - a Ford Transit Custom from Evans Halshaw Ford dealership, making him the first customer to take delivery of the van. The Transit Custom is well-suited to independent vehicle operators' offering strong residual values, and boasts a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating and class-leading load-carrying ability. The vehicle comes with the improved 2.2-litre Duratorq TDCi engine available with Auto-Start-Stop, which provides class-leading fuel economy and CO2 emissions from 178g/km.

Outstanding load space and access. Access to load space is unparalleled too, as the Transit Custom has the widest side load door opening of any vehicle of its type, a remarkable opening height and the lowest rear access step. The sliding doors also have a new checking mechanism which holds them securely open for loading.

Wilkinson said: "I am very impressed with how the Ford Transit Custom has been engineered and the large payload it can carry, meeting our need to carry a half-tonne water tank in the back. It drives more like a car than a van and the fuel economy I'm getting is excellent." David Petts, Ford Britain Transit marketing manager, said: "The new Transit Custom offers a complete package to a wide range of customers and we are delighted to add H2O Cleaning to them. Its fresh looks, innovative design features and attention to detail, combined with its car-like interior and driving dynamics make it an attractive purchase."

The Transit Custom is the first of several Ford commercial vehicle models to be introduced that will form a whole new line-up by 2014. It features a number of new loadspace features such as the load-through hatch in the bulkhead for extra-long items, and the integrated roof rack which can be folded away when not in use. The driver also benefits from the latest Ford technologies such as Lane Keeping Aid and Ford SYNC.

Takes items up to 3m long. Click to enlarge.

Unique, load-through storage area: The Transit Custom has a unique feature designed to extend its load space. A full height, full width bulkhead divides the load area from the passenger cabin and this bulkhead has a flip-up panel at floor level. This means you can load items up to 3m long through the rear doors and into an extended storage area under the van’s dual passenger seats, even in the short wheelbase version. This smart feature enables you to keep valuable materials inside your vehicle, rather than on display on the roof.

Integrated roof rack. Click to enlarge.

Integrated Roof Rack improves convenience, economy and noise: A unique, innovative roof rack simply folds flat when not in use. As well as saving you the hassle of bolting on and taking off a conventional rack, it lets you pass under 2m height restrictions (except for the 3,300 kilo Gross Vehicle Mass model). It also helps save fuel because of reduced drag, and gives you a quieter ride with less wind noise.

Easier reversing with a rear view camera: Bollards, bins, low walls… the Rear View Camera shows whatever’s behind you on a screen built into your rear view mirror. Not only can it help you see things you might miss, but it also helps you park, by displaying virtual lines to guide you into the smallest space. For added convenience, it activates automatically when you select reverse gear.

European Window Cleaners: No Risk Assessment - Employers Fined

Client jointly responsible for window cleaner safety - Building owner fined following fall of cleaning contractor employee:

Lincoln College has today been fined £1,500 after a window cleaner fell 4m suffering broken ribs and a serious back injury. James Theaker aged 50, from Lincoln, was employed by A Nicoll & Son Ltd, when he was contracted to clean windows at Lincoln College on 4 November 2008. Mr Theaker accessed the roof of the main reception building using a ladder. He fell whilst leaning against the building to clean nearby windows. He spent a week in hospital and off work for months and can now only carry out restricted duties.
Lincoln College pleaded guilty to breaching the MHSW Regulations 1999 by failing to conduct a sufficient risk assessment. The college was also ordered to pay £9,500 towards prosecution costs. The prosecution follows an early hearing at which window cleaning contractor A Nicoll & Son Ltd pleaded guilty for its role in the incident and was ordered to pay over £5,000 in fines and prosecution costs.

The Judge points out duties of building occupiers: District Judge Richard Blake said: “It is important that those who occupy buildings and employ contractors assess the risks to ensure best work practices are adhered to.” Following the hearing, HSE Inspector Judith McNulty-Green said: “Mr Theaker has suffered life-changing injuries as a result of his fall. Lincoln College had a legal duty to check its contractors had proper procedures in place but failed to do so. “Employers and organisations that hire contract staff have a joint responsibility to ensure the safety of all staff who work on site, to avoid serious incidents such as this.”

Risk assessment from the "The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999"

3. - (1) Every employer shall make a suitable and sufficient assessment of -

(a) the risks to the health and safety of his employees to which they are exposed whilst they are at work; and
(b) the risks to the health and safety of persons not in his employment arising out of or in connection with the conduct by him of his undertaking, for the purpose of identifying the measures he needs to take to comply with the requirements and prohibitions imposed upon him by or under the relevant statutory provisions and by Part II of the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997.

(2) Every self-employed person shall make a suitable and sufficient assessment of -
(a) the risks to his own health and safety to which he is exposed whilst he is at work; and
(b) the risks to the health and safety of persons not in his employment arising out of or in connection with the conduct by him of his undertaking, for the purpose of identifying the measures he needs to take to comply with the requirements and prohibitions imposed upon him by or under the relevant statutory provisions.

(3) Any assessment such as is referred to in paragraph (1) or (2) shall be reviewed by the employer or self-employed person who made it if -
(a) there is reason to suspect that it is no longer valid; or
(b) there has been a significant change in the matters to which it relates; and where as a result of any such review changes to an assessment are required, the employer or self-employed person concerned shall make them.

(4) An employer shall not employ a young person unless he has, in relation to risks to the health and safety of young persons, made or reviewed an assessment in accordance with paragraphs (1) and (5).

(5) In making or reviewing the assessment, an employer who employs or is to employ a young person shall take particular account of -
(a) the inexperience, lack of awareness of risks and immaturity of young persons;
(b) the fitting-out and layout of the workplace and the workstation;
(c) the nature, degree and duration of exposure to physical, biological and chemical agents;
(d) the form, range, and use of work equipment and the way in which it is handled;
(e) the organisation of processes and activities;
(f) the extent of the health and safety training provided or to be provided to young persons; and
(g) risks from agents, processes and work listed in the Annex to Council Directive 94/33/EC[8] on the protection of young people at work.

(6) Where the employer employs five or more employees, he shall record -
(a) the significant findings of the assessment; and
(b) any group of his employees identified by it as being especially at risk.



How do I carry out a risk assessment?

Questions to ask!

HSE Prosecutes Window Cleaning Company UK

Firm fined after window cleaner fell from roof: A window-cleaning firm from Lincoln has been ordered to pay out more than £5,000 after one of its employees fell from a roof, breaking eight ribs. A Nicoll & Son Limited, which is based in Allenby Road Industrial Estate in Crofton Drive, Lincoln, was charged with breaking Health and Safety at Work regulations. The city's magistrates' court was told how James Theaker, 50, was cleaning windows at Lincoln College, with two other employees, when the accident happened in November last year. Mr Theaker had climbed onto a flat section of roof at the college to clean windows of a neighbouring building, when he reached over and fell. The court heard that he plummeted 13ft to the ground, where his fall was broken by metal railings.

Directors of the company, Susan and Alistair Nicoll, pleaded guilty to contravening health and safety regulations. Health and Safety Executive inspector Judith McNulty-Green was prosecuting in the case. She told magistrates: "Work at that height should be properly planned and supervised and should be undertaken safely. "The instructions given to the team were detailed about the location of the job, but were not detailed about the method of cleaning. "The employees had not been told that they should have used a harness."

The court heard that the workers had been using the pole-washing system – where water is pumped up extendable poles to clean high windows. But several windows could not be reached using this method. So Mr Theaker climbed onto the roof, without the use of a harness to prevent him falling.

Peter Smith, mitigating, told the court that the company has never broken a health and safety regulation before. A Nicoll & Son Limited was fined £2,500 and ordered to pay £2,948 in court costs – meaning it will now have to pay a total of £5,448. Representatives from Lincoln College are due at Lincoln Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, November 10 to face charges of breaking Health and Safety at Work regulations in relation to the same case.

HSE urges employers to keep those working at height safe: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has today prosecuted a Lincoln firm after one of its workers fell four metres from a roof, breaking eight ribs and sustaining a back injury. James Theaker, 50, from Lincoln was employed by A Nicoll & Son Limited to clean windows at Lincoln College in Monks Road, Lincoln, when the incident happened on 4 November 2008. Mr Theaker had climbed onto a flat roof at the college to clean the windows of a neighbouring building, when he over reached and fell. A Nicoll & Son Limited of Crofton Drive, Allenby Road Industrial Estate, Lincoln today (27 October) pleaded guilty to breaching regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 for failing to ensure cleaning work was properly planned and supervised. The company was fined £2,500 and ordered to pay £2,948.20p in costs by Lincoln Magistrates' Court.

HSE Inspector Judith McNulty-Green said: "More than 3,200 employees suffer from major injuries as a result of falls from height in the workplace each year. "These injuries can shatter lives. It is crucial to remember that even when a risk assessment has taken place, it is only effective if the information is passed onto staff and supervision ensures that they undertake the work safely."

Regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 states: "Every employer shall ensure that work at height is properly planned, appropriately supervised and carried out in a manner which is so far as is reasonably practicable safe."Information on working at height is available on the HSE website.