Window Cleaners Critically Reviewed

Click picture to see original story.

Safety - What's wrong? The antics of some window cleaners were followed up on, when cleaning the windows of the offices of the CSST, an organization dedicated to safety. On October 3, workers of the company Sunshine Window Cleaning appeared at 9, Rue Nicholson, Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, To clean the exterior windows of the building, which houses the offices of the Commission of Health and Safety (CSST).

In the photographs taken when the window washers were at work, one can see clearly that no security perimeter had been drawn around the workplace and people walked near the ladder although it was footed (as required) by a worker on the ground. On one of the pictures, you can see a window washer also trying somehow to keep his balance while leaning forward to reach the window.

Verdict: Nothing illegal

CSST claims they were not informed when the workers were present. An inspector who was passing by in the morning observed the ways of the business and then found that everything was perfectly in order. "All the techniques were consistent." "The number of workers was sufficient and there were cones on the sidewalk to prevent people going through there," said Jacques Nadeau, spokesman for the CSST. He added that it is not impossible that the company has changed its ways since that day. "It's possible, but it would be very unfortunate if they hadn't." He added their work practices were "Not recommended."

Asked about this, Normand Payette, responsible for work at height for a property maintenance company for 38 years, believes that "it is not off-the-law, but it is certainly not advisable." "For buildings of two stories or more, we use a crane with a bucket. In this case, people passed under the ladder, it's really not safe, "says Payette.

The owner of the building, Shazad Khan, is currently outside the country and his son Nadeem who has responded on his behalf said "We were not aware of their ways, had we known, we would have done business with another company." "We can not let something like that happen, especially as the offices of the CSST are located in this building" he said.

The viewpoint of Sunshine Window Cleaning Company is "We ensure compliance with all safety regulations." "We know how to do our job and we have experience." "We've been in business for 35 years and there has never been an accident," said Georges Hersky, an employee.

Montreal Newspaper Slams Window Cleaners At Health & Safety HQ

The window cleaner had no harness or safety line to do the job, as "Le Soleil" thought he should.

The windows of the CSST cleaned without any health & safety: A scene both amusing and incomprehensible could be observed on Monday in downtown Valleyfield, where the window washers were busy cleaning the outside windows of the regional office of the CSST, in total violation of the rules of health and safety that are in force.

Many citizens have noted unsafe methods used by the firm Sunshine Window Cleaning.

The two company employees from Sunshine Window Cleaning, a company based in the West Island of Montreal, did their work accompanied with a long ladder near electrical lines, no harness, and without having erected a security boundary around the workplace.

The CSST sign on the building.

At some point, you could even see passersby flow past underneath where they were working at the intersection of Victoria and Nicholson. Workers were able to do their work for several hours without being bothered in any way by the staff of the CSST. However, the manual published by the CSST and entitled "How To Wash Windows Safely," clearly lays out rules to allow these workers to do their work safely.

On the one hand, the use of a ladder is recommended for work performed to a maximum of 40 feet in height; any worker who works at a height of more than 3 meters (10 feet) must also must wear protective equipment in the form of a harness, in addition, exercising great care when one is close to electrical lines.

The building in question on a busy intersection, houses the CSST, the OSHA equivalent in the USA or the HSE in the UK.

In addition, "when the working area of ​​the window cleaners is over a sidewalk, street or driveway, the window cleaning business or building owner must ensure public safety. The work area must be enclosed by barricades and appropriate signage. "

In fact, several people who witnessed the scene threw an incredulous look and expressed their amazement having to deal with the rather rudimentary working methods used by these window washers. One passerby commented, "I'm working on a construction site and I can tell you that the CSST inspectors are usually faster than that to tell us what to do on site," said a witness at the scene.

The place of work should be safe and offer safety to passersby.

The building owner has a responsibility. At last aware of this situation, the spokesman for the CSST, Danielle Girard, initially showed surprise, recalling that the building owner who hires a window cleaning firm also has a responsibility for health and safety. The building in question, which houses five commercial premises, is owned by the numbered company 9162-8537 Quebec Inc., whose head office is located in the borough of Verdun, Montreal.

Discuss here.

Fatal Fall For Window Cleaner In Montréal, Canada

(Trois-Rivieres, Montréal) An accident has claimed the life of a window washer, yesterday morning at the pool pavilion at Expo Trois-Rivieres (pictured above). Around 07:30, Claude Lachapelle, 51 years old of Three Rivers, had a fall from about four meters while descending a ladder. His head broke the ground first - as he was not wearing a helmet, he had no chance.

His colleague was inside the pavilion & looked on horrified, he saw the victim fall, and then it was too late to rescue him. The police attended the scene to begin an investigation on behalf of the coroner. An autopsy will be performed on the body. The Commission on Health and Safety at Work will also be investigating. Amelia Larin, (spokesperson of the CSST), explained the cause of the collapse remains unknown. "Had he lost his footing or was he the victim of sudden dizzyness? This is the mystery for now. We will try to find out exactly what happened and we will analyze the work methods used to determine whether they were safe, "she said.

She said the job of window washing is always considered a risk. Since 2000, there have been three fatal accidents in Quebec involving window washers. Unfortunately, the statistics are much higher when it comes to falls from height involving workers in all job categories. In Mauricie and Centre du Quebec, there have been 370 falls from height in 2009 alone. "We know, for example, after three meters height, the worker should use a safety line, but again, it depends on the working environment. In this case, he did not need to use one because there was no danger. Also the cleaning was performed on a flat roof whilst washing windows. There was no risk of tripping over from the roof area, also a helmet is not compulsory for washing windows, "said Ms. Larin.

The CSST will inquire if the ladder was well positioned on the ground and if the worker had his hands free when scaling or descending the ladder. "These are rules that must be met: a ladder in place and hands free of any objects. The worker usually carries their equipment around the waist. The employer told us that the victim had always been respectful of safety standards but this fact will be checked to be sure, "said Ms. Larin.

The employer in question is "The Window Washer Laviolette", a company that has existed since 1930. Claude Thiffault has been the owner since 1955. "This is the first time in 50 years that such an accident occurs in my business", he said, even if his employees are used to washing the windows of buildings of 10-15 floors. "I can not believe it, especially since he only fell a dozen feet." "I do not know if he felt unwell, yet he was a healthy man." "He was also a good employee who had much experience in working at height." "He had worked on the CN bridges & he always respected the safety standards." "It must be said that on this subject, I'm a gentleman on the principles," he said.

More than an employee, Claude Lachapelle had also become his friend over the past two years. "He was always a cheerful man, who teased everyone, he never refused to work." "That is why we are in shock, even his colleague who saw him fall and with whom he often worked." "It is incredible that an accident happens to a guy with experience at this height," said Thiffault. Visibly shaken by this tragedy, the employer of the victim said he had lost not only an employee, but also a longtime friend.

Window washer falls to death in Trois Rivières: MONTREAL - A window washer in his 50s died in Trois Rivières Tuesday when he fell about three metres to the ground from his ladder, although he was reportedly observing all legal safety precautions. The man fell about 7:30 a.m. while working at the Piscine de l’Exposition on Gilles Villeneuve Ave., Trois Rivières police Constable Michel Letarte said. The man suffered a severe head injury and died. Amelia Larin, a spokesperson for the CSST, Quebec’s workplace health and safety board, said the victim’s colleague, and the only person nearby at the time, was inside the building when he saw the ladder fall and then his colleague hit the pavement. The victim was not wearing a harness because the ladder was leaning against a sloping roof about two storeys high, she explained. “A harness should not have been needed because when he fell he would (normally) have landed on the sloping roof” and not on the ground, she said. A coroner’s investigation, and the CSST, will examine the causes of the accident, she added. Since 2000, there have been three deaths of window washers who fell in Quebec. Two other window washers were seriously injured.