[Lee Burbidge]

High Rise with Empire film is complete  In this film we explore the high life of rope repelling and I take my very first drop for real with Empire Window Cleaning of Kansas City MI USA

The film is 30 minutes long so pop the kettle on and enjoy....

http://youtu.be/lrsRQBeG8w8

[trevor perry]

Great video Lee very interesting to see what safety precautions they consider acceptable in the USA, I am no expert but done quite a bit of rope access years ago using both block and tackle systems and abseiling methods before IRATA training was required. If I had stored ropes like that just thrown in back of vehicle near to where neat chemicals may also have been stored then my dad would of kicked my arse and made me pay for new ropes, I also believe there have been numerous accidents with the rack system they use and have never seen a UK company using these, I do like the figure of eight and when first started abseiling we often used them but again don't know whether these are still used in the uk as when I last used rope access we had moved onto decsenders.
   I liked the chair he  used although i would like to see a UK safety officers face if you turned up with that in the uk, when I first started we also used to make our own at least he had strapping go under the wood in case it broke believe me years ago I saw many a home made chair just with holes drilled in the corners and a rope passed through hole with a knot tied to stop it coming out.
  Another part I would not be so happy about would be the tying off they used, some of the objects they tied too looked like they had sharp corners yet no rope protectors where put in place again this would be an arse kicking from my dad, also they where running the ropes pretty long distances to tie off this could be a big trip hazard especially on an high building, I would of preferred to use an A frame to tie too with the extending arm going over the building making it much easier and safer to climb into the chair.
  Finally I was surprised to see that the tools where not fastened as a squeegee dropped from that high could cause some serious damage.
  Once again great video Lee and looked like you enjoyed yourself, as stated above I am no expert on present rope access skills but it would be interesting to see others who still carry out this work views on the matter

[Mike #1]

What bewilders me is they mention the word SAFETY quite a lot in the first 4 minutes but with the ropes just been slung in the back of truck .

And the bits of kit just been in a box all jumbled up without any real care their is no way i would be trusting them to do my first rope access window cleaning job .

If i was contemplating serious injury or death then maybe . Mike

[Lee Burbidge]

Great video Lee very interesting to see what safety precautions they consider acceptable in the USA, I am no expert but done quite a bit of rope access years ago using both block and tackle systems and abseiling methods before IRATA training was required. If I had stored ropes like that just thrown in back of vehicle near to where neat chemicals may also have been stored then my dad would of kicked my arse and made me pay for new ropes, I also believe there have been numerous accidents with the rack system they use and have never seen a UK company using these, I do like the figure of eight and when first started abseiling we often used them but again don't know whether these are still used in the uk as when I last used rope access we had moved onto decsenders.
   I liked the chair he  used although i would like to see a UK safety officers face if you turned up with that in the uk, when I first started we also used to make our own at least he had strapping go under the wood in case it broke believe me years ago I saw many a home made chair just with holes drilled in the corners and a rope passed through hole with a knot tied to stop it coming out.
  Another part I would not be so happy about would be the tying off they used, some of the objects they tied too looked like they had sharp corners yet no rope protectors where put in place again this would be an arse kicking from my dad, also they where running the ropes pretty long distances to tie off this could be a big trip hazard especially on an high building, I would of preferred to use an A frame to tie too with the extending arm going over the building making it much easier and safer to climb into the chair.
  Finally I was surprised to see that the tools where not fastened as a squeegee dropped from that high could cause some serious damage.
  Once again great video Lee and looked like you enjoyed yourself, as stated above I am no expert on present rope access skills but it would be interesting to see others who still carry out this work views on the matter

Very interesting points buddy. Im no expert either lol. The tie backs were inline with OSHA guide lines. Actually the brick work at some of the tie back points were very smooth. No chemicals in the van. They would of stored that separately. I must admit it would be very difficult to do a commercial building in this way in the UK. I proper enjoyed it tho and it gives people an insight into one way that window cleaning is carried out in another country

[Lee Burbidge]

What bewilders me is they mention the word SAFETY quite a lot in the first 4 minutes but with the ropes just been slung in the back of truck .

And the bits of kit just been in a box all jumbled up without any real care their is no way i would be trusting them to do my first rope access window cleaning job .

If i was contemplating serious injury or death then maybe . Mike

How would you transport your equipment? Do you do this type of window cleaning? Empire take safety very seriously and it is wrong for you to make such a judgement.

[Mike #1]

I would have assumed that the ropes would ideally be hung up in the back of a covered vehicle and with Safety in mind and having to be very safety aware I would assume more care would also be taken with storage and transportation

Of such equipment as surely their is a chance for things to become damaged or tampered with but of course within different countrys things are done differently

And maybe my  perception of their practices is wrong , As yet I have only watched the first 4 mins . Mike

[Lee Burbidge]

I would have assumed that the ropes would ideally be hung up in the back of a covered vehicle and with Safety in mind and having to be very safety aware I would assume more care would also be taken with storage and transportation

Of such equipment as surely their is a chance for things to become damaged or tampered with but of course within different countrys things are done differently

And maybe my  perception of their practices is wrong , As yet I have only watched the first 4 mins . Mike

Ok Mike

The US love their open back trucks. Most window cleaners turn up to jobs in this way. How ever kit is only left in the back for transportation for a allocated work schedule. There is actually a special way that these ropes are packed and bundled, I was shown and had ago at it but forgot the actual process, its repetitive as one could imagine but secures the rope. All equipment was checked prior use

[Mike #1]

All good Lee nice to hear . Mike

[bobplum]

be honest...........was you crapping your self

[trevor perry]

I would have assumed that the ropes would ideally be hung up in the back of a covered vehicle and with Safety in mind and having to be very safety aware I would assume more care would also be taken with storage and transportation

Of such equipment as surely their is a chance for things to become damaged or tampered with but of course within different countrys things are done differently

And maybe my  perception of their practices is wrong , As yet I have only watched the first 4 mins . Mike

Ok Mike

The US love their open back trucks. Most window cleaners turn up to jobs in this way. How ever kit is only left in the back for transportation for a allocated work schedule. There is actually a special way that these ropes are packed and bundled, I was shown and had ago at it but forgot the actual process, its repetitive as one could imagine but secures the rope. All equipment was checked prior use

 looking at it they are wrapped the way we used to wrap them ie like a daisy chain this stops them becoming tangled, personally I would of stored them in rope bags and not left them thrown in the vehicle but that is just me, I was always taught to really look after my ropes and I know modern ropes are much more chemical resistant than older versions but you do not know what may have been in that vehicle the day before and may have spilled and got on the ropes, I once saw a 1inch rope that had been used on an acid clean you could snap it by pulling it but it looked in perfect condition.
  Like you say Lee all equipment was checked prior to use so maybe me just throwing personal opinions about

[Small but perfectley formed]

Hi lee
did they talk about their earnings would be interesting to know ?

[jimiwindows]

I would have ladded that

[Lee Burbidge]

be honest...........was you crapping your self

The scene where I say " I f***king aint going up there"... I kinda meant it. Crapped myself a bit there. Then I was crapping myself climbing over until I was sitting in the bosun chair lol

[Lee Burbidge]

I would have assumed that the ropes would ideally be hung up in the back of a covered vehicle and with Safety in mind and having to be very safety aware I would assume more care would also be taken with storage and transportation

Of such equipment as surely their is a chance for things to become damaged or tampered with but of course within different countrys things are done differently

And maybe my  perception of their practices is wrong , As yet I have only watched the first 4 mins . Mike

Ok Mike

The US love their open back trucks. Most window cleaners turn up to jobs in this way. How ever kit is only left in the back for transportation for a allocated work schedule. There is actually a special way that these ropes are packed and bundled, I was shown and had ago at it but forgot the actual process, its repetitive as one could imagine but secures the rope. All equipment was checked prior use

 looking at it they are wrapped the way we used to wrap them ie like a daisy chain this stops them becoming tangled, personally I would of stored them in rope bags and not left them thrown in the vehicle but that is just me, I was always taught to really look after my ropes and I know modern ropes are much more chemical resistant than older versions but you do not know what may have been in that vehicle the day before and may have spilled and got on the ropes, I once saw a 1inch rope that had been used on an acid clean you could snap it by pulling it but it looked in perfect condition.
  Like you say Lee all equipment was checked prior to use so maybe me just throwing personal opinions about

Personal opinons are great. I learn for PO too

[Lee Burbidge]

Hi lee
did they talk about their earnings would be interesting to know ?

I am going to get Jorge to write an article on that shortly

[Lee Burbidge]

I would have assumed that the ropes would ideally be hung up in the back of a covered vehicle and with Safety in mind and having to be very safety aware I would assume more care would also be taken with storage and transportation

Of such equipment as surely their is a chance for things to become damaged or tampered with but of course within different countrys things are done differently

And maybe my  perception of their practices is wrong , As yet I have only watched the first 4 mins . Mike

Ok Mike

The US love their open back trucks. Most window cleaners turn up to jobs in this way. How ever kit is only left in the back for transportation for a allocated work schedule. There is actually a special way that these ropes are packed and bundled, I was shown and had ago at it but forgot the actual process, its repetitive as one could imagine but secures the rope. All equipment was checked prior use

 looking at it they are wrapped the way we used to wrap them ie like a daisy chain this stops them becoming tangled, personally I would of stored them in rope bags and not left them thrown in the vehicle but that is just me, I was always taught to really look after my ropes and I know modern ropes are much more chemical resistant than older versions but you do not know what may have been in that vehicle the day before and may have spilled and got on the ropes, I once saw a 1inch rope that had been used on an acid clean you could snap it by pulling it but it looked in perfect condition.
  Like you say Lee all equipment was checked prior to use so maybe me just throwing personal opinions about

Thats it, daisy chain thanks

[Lee Burbidge]

I would have ladded that

lol