These rules apply to us all, they aren't going to make a lot of difference immediately for domestic window cleaners, though if you have an insurance claim it could well mean you won't be covered if you haven't complied completely with the directive.
Those of us working on sites, factories and other large commercial places are going to be most affected.
It isn't a ladder ban, ladders are ok to use, but there is a maximum height at which you can work off a ladder, is it 6 or 7 metres
it isn't that high really.
I think that above that height you have to have fall restraints, the ladder has to be secured to the wall, it has to be footed and so on.
Maybe that applies to working below those maximum heights too
blowed if I know :
There are links somewhere on the forum that will take you direct to the official documentation, makes really turgid reading though.
And even Health and safety officers will give you different opinions, depending on their own interpretations of the new (or rather, updated) regs.
If you haven't even considered going over to the use of WFP, do so, or at least look into it.
It isn't as cheap as traditional methods to get into by any means, but over the next few years, traditional, ladder based window cleaning is going to become more and more marginalised.
Ian