Life On The Up + Window Cleaners Stories

Cheng Jian Wen, one of the window cleaners who keep the Shanghai World Financial Centre sparkling.

Life on the Up, short film about the window cleaners of the Shanghai World Financial Centre (SWFC) - Dangling from great heights, a Shanghai window cleaner's story. This short film by Stephen Wright captures the experiences of a window cleaner who works on tall buildings in Shanghai. 30 year-old Cheng Jian Wen has worked on tall buildings for four years since coming to Shanghai. He took this job as he wants his children to succeed and for his wife to not live a tough life. Since filming of 'Life on the Up', Cheng Jian Wen has returned to his hometown to pursue his dream of opening his own shop.

Bryan Matthews in the "StartUp Smart" awards for 2013.

Rope Pro High Access Services

Founders: Bryan Matthews (Above) and Greg Matthews

Revenue: $655,000

Started: 2009

Head Office: Victoria

Employees: 6

Industry: Property and business services

Few people would ever consider starting a high rise ropes business, let alone be able to brave the sheer heights faced daily, but Bryan Matthews was inspired by his own passion for rock climbing. “I enjoyed rock climbing as a hobby and became interested in completing difficult tasks in an unusual environment. The challenge drives my team as well as the variety of work we do,” Bryan says.

The company was only founded in 2009, but it offers 15 years of combined experience in a wide range of industries such as height safety and twin-rope access, aerial ropeway maintenance and rescue and high angle rescue. It offers a variety of services such as rigging work, structural inspection and maintenance of ropes and high rise window cleaning. The Rope Pro team can also abseil from buildings and bridges to access difficult environments.

The company cost $5,000 to start and the founders own 50% of the company. Bryan says Rope Pro is distinguished from the rest of the market because they do not rely on costly overheads such as eliminating scaffolding, cranes and elevated work platforms. Bryan says the greatest challenge in establishing the business was getting the name out to potential clients. From this experience he says he learnt the importance of hard work. “Work hard, do what you say you’re going to do, be honest and set a high standard of professionalism,” he says.

He says the name is now recognised throughout the rope access industry “for professionalism, safety, honesty and reliability”, but it’s the company’s growth rate which is most remarkable. “We have doubled our gross income every year since we have started and continue to be growing as a company in general,” Bryan says.

Rob Franks stopped a shoplifter at Pets at Home in Poole and was bitten on the ar.

Have-a-go hero bitten by shoplifter -twice: A have-a-go hero window cleaner who stepped in to help stunned staff at a Poole pet store was bitten twice... by a shoplifter. Brave Rob Franks and his wife, Carla, were visiting Pets at Home in Broadstone Way, when they noticed staff trying to detain a man.

As the thief bolted Rob sprang into action, giving chase on to the main road. Rob, aged 34, explained: “I managed to rugby tackle the guy to the ground and hold him there. “He was trying to throw punches but nothing connected. Then he bit me twice. “A shop assistant chased him with me. The shoplifter was threatening both of us and when he bit me he screamed ‘I’ve got hepatitis’.”

 Married dad-of-two Rob, of Rosemary Road, Poole, has since been given the all-clear from doctors. “After he bit me I let go,” he told the Daily Echo. “But I thought, ‘in for a penny, in for a pound’ got up and chased after him again.” With the help of the shop worker Rob cornered the suspect until police arrived. However, this isn’t the first time Rob has intervened against lawbreakers. Once, at another Poole pet shop in 2011, he ordered a shoplifter to put back his ill-gotten gains.

Another time, in July 2007, Rob confronted a pair of youths in Poole’s Dolphin Shopping Centre after spotting them stealing from Wilkinsons. “People can knock me all day long for stepping-in but I’d do it again,” he said. “We work so hard for the little bit we do get. “Why should somebody else be able to go into a shop, take something that isn’t theirs and think they can get away with it? “It is not right. It is not right at all. I would do what I did again in a heartbeat.”

After last Tuesday afternoon’s drama, Rob and Carla were given a free hamster cage – the item they’d originally gone to buy for their kids – by thankful Pets at Home bosses. l Anthony Cole, aged 32, from Poole, admitted theft from a shop, ABH and common assault at Bournemouth Magistrates’ Court on Thursday. He was remanded in custody until sentencing at crown court next month.

Window Cleaners Get Eaten

Mosquito - from the Spanish or Portuguese word for little fly. Prior to and during blood feeding, they inject saliva into the bodies of their source(s) of blood. This saliva serves as an anticoagulant: without it, the female mosquito's proboscis would quickly become clogged with blood clots.

Mosquitoes are back, and they're breeding like crazy: Officials say population is up fivefold - While most people haven't even had their first swim or touch of sunburn yet, another one of the rites of summer - that first mosquito bite - may be happening sooner and be followed by more like it more than ever this year. "We have very, very high numbers in our traps," Theodore Andreadis, chief medical entomologist at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, said this week.

This week marks the start of the experiment station's annual mosquito testing program. More than 5,000 mosquitoes were collected in 29 traps set around the state, including at sites in Stonington and Voluntown, Andreadis said. That compares to last year's first-day total of 1,100 mosquitoes. "We collected almost as many in a day as we normally get in a week," he said. "These were all human biters in our traps." In about a week, he said, the lab will have the results of tests for whether any of the trapped mosquitoes are carrying West Nile virus and Eastern equine encephalitis. Mosquitoes can also carry Jamestown Canyon virus, which produces flu-like symptoms. The state has no official testing program for this virus, Andreadis said, but testing in previous years has found it was widely distributed in the state's mosquito population.

What accounts for the population explosion? Andreadis said rainy weather and warm temperatures at just the right time this spring created the perfect conditions for a prolific breeding season. With so many mosquitoes out there looking for a free lunch on the next available limb, advice about preventing bites may be more important than ever. So, too, is knowing who's most susceptible. According to the Mayo Clinic, mosquitoes choose their victims according to scent, exhaled carbon dioxide and the chemicals in a person's sweat. Though no one understands why, mosquitoes are more likely to bite men, people with "O" blood type and those who are overweight.

Don't be dismissive, Andreadis said, next time someone claims "mosquitoes love me." There is something to the notion that some people are more likely to get bitten than others, he said. "It may be the people who are perspiring more, or emitting more CO2, or emitting more of the chemicals that attract them," he said. He advises choosing light-colored, loose-fitting clothing over dark colors that absorb heat and can attract mosquitoes. Better still, wear long sleeves, long pants and socks outdoors whenever possible. Use of insect repellent containing DEET is also recommended, as is taking extra precautions or staying indoors when mosquitoes are most active - in the evening and early morning.

Cleaning gutters and draining any standing water around your home will also deprive mosquitoes of places to breed, and repairing holes in window screens will keep them from getting indoors. "Clearly, the results from our traps is an indication that there are a lot of mosquitoes out there, and we expect this will continue," Andreadis said.

Itching: 

There are several commercially available anti-itch medications, including those taken orally, such as Benadryl, or topically applied antihistamines and, for more severe cases, corticosteroids such as hydrocortisone and triamcinolone. Many effective home remedies exist, including calamine lotion and vinegar. A paste of meat tenderizer containing papain and water breaks down the proteins in the mosquito saliva. By using a brush to scratch the area surrounding the bite and running hot water (around 49 °C) over it can alleviate itching for several hours by reducing histamine-induced skin blood flow. Plain household sudsy ammonia is also a good treatment, ammonia being the main ingredient in Tender's AfterBite remedy, especially as a first wash option if applied immediate after multibite exposure. An even simpler, yet effective remedy can be achieved by applying a piece of adhesive tape over the affected area, or by sucking it with a drinking straw; creating enough counter tension on the surface of the skin to alleviate the itch. 

Avoid: 

Avoid dark, bright coloured clothing. Dark bright colours seem to attract insects, so it is best to dress your baby in light coloured clothing that does not leave too much exposed skin. Choose long sleeved tops, fitted garments like pants and jumpers instead of shorts and sleeveless tops. Avoid strong fragrances. Do not use lotions, soap, oils or floral scented perfumes or room fresheners as these may attract insects. Never leave uncovered food anywhere in your home, especially in your baby's room.

Recommended:

3M Ultrathon Insect Repellent 12 Hour Lotion/Sponge: Offers same time release protection as 2 oz Ultrathon and has sponge applicator which allows for quick, no mess application. 12 hour Ultrathon is the longest lasting and most effective insect repellent on the market today. It repels mosquitoes for over 12 hours and ticks for over 9 hours, and is also effective against biting flies, gnats, chiggers, and fleas.
Ultrathon contains 33% DEET in a controlled-release polymer. Ultrathon's Time Release Protection gives the user a balanced mix between concentration of DEET and long lasting protection. Our unique technology provides longer lasting protection with less DEET. It is moisture resistant & lasts through splashes, perspiration, and rain. Ultrathon™ Insect Repellent was initially developed by 3M for the US Military to provide up to 12 hours of protection for their troops. It is still used today.