Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Mark Betts on January 30, 2004, 02:48:06 pm
-
Just interested, has anyone fell off their ladder while cleaning?
How high were you?
And does it happen often??
Ta
Mark
-
not whill cleaning windows but i did whilst panting a facia top of the lader in my own little world (singing to my self) whil the num nut painting the b;ack line around the bottom of the house stood up tacking my lader and me with it away i fell in to a WELL established rose bush yes it f#####g hurt
:o ::) :o ::) :o ::) :o ::)
-
Slipped off a sloping extension roof - just kept my balance and wqas able to leap onto the grass it was soggy and I sank in about 6 inches. Every time i went back those giant footprints were still there. I always laugh when I think what the owner must have thought about them!
-
I was working with a friend in the 70s he fell from a window ledge four floors up! below was a basement with railings to the street level.I was inside cleaning windows, another friend was cleaning the same window on the inside and actually saw him fall.
He landed on the ledge below it was like a miracle. We were all in shock! he came in had a cup of tea and went back out again! He said if he didnt go out straight away he thought he would never clean a window again. The look on the office staff who also saw it all was sheer terror.
The crazy things we used to do !!!! No harness no eyebolts.
-
'I've had two falls in 16years. Both were my fault. The first my ladder slipped back from a dormer and I landed in a rose bush, bent my ladder and yes it does @8*^*!>< hurt!
The second time was off a slippery roof. I slid down it looking like Fred Flintstone when he gets off that dinasour at the start of the cartoon! Face full of mud and a bruised ego! But you learn from falls. Now I use a Rojack Ladder Stopper and one of those Microlite Stand -offs. I use the pole more as well now. We should all try to work safer. No wonder some insurance companies won't touch us!!
-
Hi Guys
You have reminded me of a little story that happened to a couple of guys who worked for me some twentyfive odd years ago.
They were cleaning windows in a block of residential flats next to a major Hospital in Leicester. Mick was on cleaning the second floor windows using a double twentyfive rung ladder. The ladder needed to be moved along to the next flat so Peter on the ground floor moved the ladder whilst Mick popped over the landing sat down with his legs through the railings to help the Peter support the ladder he was moving on the ground floor.
When Mick came to move he found his thighs had jammed in the railings. As the flats were next to a main hospital when the fire brigade arrived it was with three fire engines, lights blazing, sirens sounding, firecrew all helmets and boots.
Mick was sitting with his legs through the railings drinking a cup of tea that the flat holder had provided.. It took a long while for him to live that one down
Regards
Derek
-
;) me fell off 2 years ago wind got me ladder,blew me to the left, I droped me tools,and jumped 16 rungs up ???landed in a paddle rolled over to break the fall,
hurt my ankle,was very lucky could have been much worse :o ;)
-
never fallen off ladder [touch wood]in 15 years
you have to concentrate the whole time . had a close escape with a rope cradle when working at television
centre [bbc] two of my mates pulled it up 7 floors
i went up in lift climbed out of window luckily i connected
my harness to frame of window got into cradle touch one of the ropes and dickhead at the bottom let go :o :o :o luckily my belt took strain and they quickly pulled it up very very scary :o
my brother worked for firm in city of london & one of his
workmates got thumb taken off he got it caught in pulley
of bosins chair
-
About sixteen years ago I used to work with a guy called John.
I was told that John's son fell off a ladder last year and died from head injuries. I don't know much more than that because I didn't like to ask.
-
Hi Mark
In the last 18 years i have had two accidents. The first one i was two floors up and the bottom of the ladder went and seconds later i was on the floor and the second time i slipped and went through a conservatory roof and caught an artery under my arm and ended up with about thirty stitches :o Thats why these days i am if anything over cautious ::)
Steve
-
Not while I have been a window cleaner but I used to work for a roofing firm, one day I was walking up a roof and someone had put a new slate in, they had not fastened it and when I stood on it , it I just went from under my feet .I slipped down the roof off the end and on to a shed roof , I got up with only a couple of scratches , and looked around to see if anyone had seen me
-
7 years and touchwood the only thing thats happed (in my first month) was that the ladder was under a window that had a upvc type of wall thingy under it ..i lent to far to the left and the ladder slipped to the right ...luckly only slipped about 3 feet..it stoped on some bricks that was justtering out of the wall :o
i was on the second floor not much underneath me..proberly would have been fine if i went all the way...BUT that didnt stop me needing to go home then and there and chnging my pants....i have been so carfull since then ..i think it was a good thing as it made me more cautious ;)...
ps
i im sorry but i think steves going through a conservatory roof is the coolest ;D
because it made me chuckle...im not sure why ::)
-
After 30 years in the building game I've had a few falls in my time, some quite bad, but I always got a way with it! Not the last one however, August '99 I fell18ft, had a year off and never went back!! That is how I came to be in the cleaning business and I have'nt looked back!!
As regards falls from ladders, has any one fell off stepping down from the top section of a double,down to the lower one? The reason I ask is that it's something I have nearly done a few times. Just a lack of concentration I suppose, but always puts my heart in my mouth! While on holiday in France some years ago, I noticed French workers using doubles that were built ,back to front' .That is that when you step down from the top section to the lower you step straight on it, hope that makes sense. Are these available in good old Blighty!
Jake
-
Jake
Yes You can get them.
While I was setting up my window round I was working for a firm installing Fascias Soffits and Guttering.
They used the French type and I thought they were excellent. It took a bit of getting used to but once you do I think they are much safer.
My old boss used to send away for them, If you want me to find out the name and how to get them I should be able to.
I am not a big fan of the French but they do make good ladders. (there Brandy aint bad either)
-
Wylie
Yes ,I would be interested if you can find out where to get a pair. I know I'm going to step off into fresh air one day!! I wonder if the're as cheap as their beer??!!
Jake
-
If the french had ladders like we do they would rip up the paving slabs go on strike and then burn all the ladders.
Perhaps their right at least they get the goverment to do what they want.
-
Lansford do "Starlight" rope operated french ladders.
They say :
"Note also that in common with most Continental designs, the single rope is located in the middle of the ladder, not on the side stiles, and these ladders are positioned with the top sliding section closest to the wall, rather than away from the wall! All rather different from the normal UK design but in many ways it is better"
http://www.ladders999.co.uk
Silly
-
Silly
They sound just like the ones I was using on the job I mentioned.
With the rope in the middle they go up and down so easily it amazes me know one else uses the system (at least not that I have seen)
You feel so safe on them and on the way down if you miss the change over part if doesnt matter coz you step onto rather than off the next section.
-
Silly
Thanks for the info, will definitly check them out, they seem reasonably priced, only draw back would be getting used to using a rope operated ladder on a average size double.
Jake
-
Never fallen off but twice steped off ladder straight into bucket :-[
-
I had a fall about 2 years ago, cleaning a large window I guess my feet were about 8 ft high, it was an internal window above a door, with marble floor, the ladder slipped ina second, I landed standing upright on a rung, dont no how I did not break my foot, but I have problems with my heel almost every day now, and have bought some special insoles to cushion the heels.
Lesson learnt, use a rubber mat when on marble floor ;)
Mike Y
-
I have stepped off the bottom rung straight into a fish pond. Middle of winter and up to me knees in water,
Oh how i chuckled about that !!
Denzle
-
A WINDOW CLEANER I KNOW HAS SO HE TELLS ME NEVER HAD A FALL IN 25 YRS,UNTILL HE WAS JUMPING UP AND DOWN ON HIS WHEELIE BIN TO GET SOME MORE RUBBISH IN IT,IT TIPPED UP AND HE SHATTERED HIS HIP, BEEN OF WORK ABOUT 10 MONTHS, STILL NOT RIGHT
IVE FELL 16FT HEAD FIRST INTO YORKSHIRE STONE BRICK WALL AND WAS AT WORK NEXT DAY,LANDED ON MY HEAD ,SO I NEVER DAMAGED ANYTHING,BUT MY SHOULDER STILL CLICKS FROM THAT DAY ON,ALSO FELL OF MY TERRACE HOUSE ROOF BACK UP ROOF 10 MINS LATER,WHEN I GOT MY BREATH BACK.THINK I WAS A CAT IN PREVIOUS LIFE.MY SON HAS A WEEK OFF' ; WITH A BROKEN FLASK. YOUNGS TODAY!
-
Twice,and once when on scaffolding when I stepped backwards to admire my handiwork- No hand rail. :-\Thick or what.
I now advocate and use a waterfed pole.
-
Three times in 21 years unfortunately.
First was when I was getting down after going over a garage to get to a customer's back garden. Put the ladder down onto slightly sloping concrete with a gradual build-up of green algae, mossy stuff, as it was always in the shade. Well, this was the time that it had built up to too much - one foot on the ladder, no problem, both feet and the safety feet slipped away on the slimey stuff. I could see what was happening so tried to hold on to the coping stones - that worked, I kept out of the way of the bouncing ladder, but scraped one arm as I slid down. The resulting scabby arm was probably worse than a sore ankle.
Next was when I was in a hurry and hadn't made sure that both safety feet were flat on the ground. Got just about to the ledge and the ladder bucked, went to hold on to the "drip" moulding below the actual d/g unit and the soddin thing came off in my hand! Just think, if whatever you're trying to pull yourself in with comes away, you suddenly find that your body is pushing you off from the building - is it a bird, is it a plane, NO it's daft Davie Park! Hit the ground and wondered what the strange noise was - that was the air being pushed out my lungs with the impact. AND I landed on my BoaB - no laughing at the back please!
Third one was a bit of a giggle. A shop we do has multiple doors and my short ladder got placed at the top of one double set which was always locked. Except that day it wasn't - I'd just got up for some awkward work around the extractor fan when the doors started opening in the way - ladder obviously follows the opening doors and I hold on to the frame, so I'm up there while the girls in the shop give me a large round of applause.
Window cleaning? Boring? No chance.
Lessons learned - of course.
-
:o Started out like many do, with a cheap diy ladder and it slipped away at the bottom and I went down with it like a lead balloon.Wasnt badly hurt but scared sh**less.Ive been told that if it happens, you should stay put and wait for the bang rather than jump, but quite frankly you dont get time to think. Bought myself a splayed based pointer very soon after, best investment out. Still see w.c.'s who have been about for years using "antique" ladders and it scares me just watching them.
-
Time for a rant about old ladders, I feel!
Get yourelf onto http://www.scafftag.co.uk/fshome.asp click on "Products" and then scroll down and click on "LadderTag".
An excellent system on different levels.
One, it reminds you to physically check the condition of your ladders every three months. I know, us professionals mentally do this every time we go up and down these esteemed pieces of equipment, but . . .
Two, you have a register of your ladders and any changes they've gone through - non-slip grips replaced, stile-ends renewed, etc etc.
Three, any H+S officer on a commercial job will think you're completely on the ball if you mention that you utilise something like this.
Four, in the event of any accident involving an employee and ladders, you can show that the ladders were in A1 condition.
There's more, but you must be getting bored by now.
Quite frankly, you could do the same yourself, but this system gives you a bit more "cred" and professionalism. Well worth the little it costs - trust me!