Scottish Window Cleaning License Clampdown

Licences are approved and issued by the council while Police Scotland conducts background checks on applicants.

West Fifers warned after four window cleaners are charged: West Fifers have been warned after four people were charged for operating as window cleaners without licences. Fife Council took enforcement action against the four after a complaint was made bout unlicensed window cleaners operating in the West Fife area.

Councillor Bob Young, chair of the regulation and licensing committee, explained, “We place a lot of trust in those we employ to carry out work at our homes. "They are often working while we are away so it’s very important that they are fully trustworthy. “Our enforcement officer recently took action against four individuals in West Fife who were charged by police for operating as window cleaners without licences.

We will continue to work closely with Police Scotland and other agencies in the coming months to ensure the public are protected from any unlicensed traders.” West Fifers are now being urged to be wary of unlicensed window cleaners operating across Fife. The council is highlighting the risks of employing people who are unlicensed and is encouraging householders and businesses to look at their window cleaner’s licence.

Licences are approved and issued by the council while Police Scotland conducts background checks on applicants. To protect householders and in case of accidents, it is a condition of holding a licence that window cleaners have adequate public liability insurance. They are also required to carry their licence ID at all times. A council spokeswoman said, “Window cleaners, as part of their application for a licence, must show that they have public liability insurance to cover them while operating. "When you are checking a licence it should have a photograph of the holder, the Fife Council logo and a hologram along with dates of its validity.”

Beware of unlicensed window cleaners: FIFE Council is asking people in the Cowdenbeath - Lochgelly area to be aware of any unlicensed window cleaners operating across the Kingdom. The Council is highlighting the risks of employing people who are unlicensed and is encouraging householders and businesses to look at their window cleaner’s licence. Licences are approved and issued by Fife Council and Police Scotland, conducts background checks on the applicants.

To protect householders and in case of accidents, it is a condition of holding a licence that window cleaners have adequate public liability insurance. They are also required to carry their licence ID at all times. Councillor Bob Young, chair of the Regulation and Licensing committee explained, “We place a lot of trust in those we employ to carry out work at our homes. “They are often working while we are away so it’s very important that they are fully trustworthy. Our enforcement officer recently took action against four individuals in West Fife who were charged by police for operating as window cleaners without licences. “We will continue to work closely with Police Scotland and other agencies in the coming months to ensure the public are protected from any unlicensed traders.”

Fife Council issues licences for a number of business sectors to keep the public safe and to make sure the right people are providing services safely to the public. These include Taxi Driver Licences, Street Traders, Second Hand Dealers, Skin Piercing and Tattooing and Charitable Collections.

The Scottish Licensed Window Cleaners Network (SLWCN) was launched on the 1st March 2006. We are an independently run, self-funding, internet-based network. The SLWCN is dedicated to raising the profile and standard of the window cleaning industry in Scotland. 

Smashed Leg For Window Cleaner

A ‘singing’ window cleaner who smashed his leg to smithereens in a shock fall has thanked kind hearted neighbours for saving his life.

Window cleaner smashes leg in horror fall: A ‘singing’ window cleaner who smashed his leg to smithereens in a shock fall has thanked kind hearted neighbours for saving his life. Father-of-four Craig Galloway had been working in Dunnikier Estate on Friday afternoon, the day before his birthday, when he tumbled 14 feet from a ladder onto a concrete path. “They didn’t just help me, they probably saved my life. “The pain was so intense, I really believe my heart could have stopped,” he said. “I’m so thankful.”

The 34-year-old from Cowdenbeath had been working on a ‘two-up, two-down’ property on Turnberry Drive just after 2.00 p.m. on Friday when the bottom of his ladder ‘pinged out’ from underneath him. “I didn’t actually feel anything at first, but when I tried to stand up I looked down and saw this open wound with a bone hanging out. I just went into shock,” said Craig. “My wrist had hit a fence on the way down but my right leg took the brunt of the impact -and the last time I checked I weighed 16 and half stone!”

The property owners were on holiday and Craig lay stranded behind plant pots. “I had to hop out to be seen but there was nothing connecting my leg to my ankle - my shoe was filled with blood and my sock had caught on the bone. My leg was just flapping about and the pain was excruciating,” he said. “I just kept shouting ‘help, help, I need an ambulance, hoping somebody would come before I passed out.”

First on the scene was a young boy who phoned for an ambulance and a lady who ran across the road to help. “I do her windows and I wear headphones and sing when I work. I’m really rubbish and she kept joking about my singing to keep me conscious! An older man came too and I knew by his expression that it was bad.”

That night Craig underwent a five-hour operation at Victoria Hospital - the first of many to rebuild his leg. Surgeons explained he had broken his wrist and ankle and his tibula and fibula had “shattered into hundreds of pieces.”  Craig, who had worked as a window cleaner for 12 years without injury, explained his job was now finished. “The doctors told me some bones have turned to mush. A full recovery will take at least a year. My leg will never heal to the point where it has the strength to bear that kind of weight on it again,” he said.

Thanking hospital staff for their care, Craig revealed the accident had forced him to re-evaluate all aspects of his life, including his relationship with partner Lynne Anderson. “It makes you realise what’s important,” he said. “That’s me and the other half talking about getting married now.” He added:“She and my mum deserve a medal for taking care of me.”

A Window Cleaner Named Pu & Unlicensed Scottish Shiners

It's really high," said Pu, a window cleaner.

The real-life spidermen: Many of us know all about the Spiderman movies. But did you know there are some real spidermen out there, braving some truly jaw-dropping heights? Cleaning skyscrapers is truly a job for superheroes. At the Canton Tower, in Guangzhou, the highest tower in China, these real-life spidermen took the risks up there just to give the thousands of tourists a better view.

Mission impossible? No. Tom Cruise? No. But these "Spidermen" are still superheroes to many. Working up at the 108th floor, we find one very experienced "Spiderman", Pu Xianlin. "I was very afraid the first time I stood on the roof and looked down. It's really high," said Pu, a window cleaner for the Canton Tower. There are ropes and boards to keep them safe. But the "spidermen" use their hands to walk, with special suction pads to fix themselves to the glass. The swinging ropes make the job even more dangerous.

A cleaner may not be a lofty job in many people's eyes. But Pu Xianlin's son thinks his father is a brave superhero. "When I take my son out, I tell him I've washed this building and that one. He always gets exited and tells me he feels proud of me," Pu said. Pu Xianlin says he takes a photo at every building he cleans. He may not always be able to afford the high ticket prices, but he can at least show his son some stunning pictures.

Three days of action to close the net on town’s rogue traders: Officers from Kirkcaldy North Community Team and Fife Council Trading Standards joined forces recently to target rogue traders. Last week the combined team came together for a three day enforcement operation and went out on patrol in the Kirkcaldy, Kinghorn and Burntisland areas. As a result, they detected four traders working as unlicensed window cleaners.

They stopped and questioned workmen and traders to make sure they were complying with the relevant legislation. Sergeant Scott Murray from Kirkcaldy Police Station told The Press: “The focus of this operation was to bring together different practitioners to share experiences, knowledge and legislated powers to tackle criminals who are a risk to our communities.” Geoff Bates, service manager, Fife Council protective services, said: “Joint working by police and trading standards is an effective way of targeting rogue doorstep tradesmen and bogus callers. ‘‘We have also been able to advise legitimate traders on how to comply with trading laws.”

During the three day period, contractors working on private properties were approached and the majority of those questioned were found to be bona fide traders providing a professional service. However, four people were discovered operating as unlicensed window cleaners and reports are being compiled in relation to each case. Sergeant Murray said: “This may seem a trivial offence, but a potentially an un-vetted person could be peering into homes whilst cleaning windows. By ensuring cleaners are licensed, it provides some measure of re-assurance they are fit and proper people to carry out the work.”

Fife Council operates a Trusted Trader scheme which lists businesses that have agreed to trade fairly. Sergeant Murray added: “The focus of our work is keeping people safe and this operation was a great success for both the protection of the community and for the recognition of professional tradesmen.”