Today I began a part of my round involving an army married quarter estate (where I used to live).
As I drove into the place I passed a cul-de-sac where I thought there was another window cleaner working; I just saw a scruffy looking bloke with a set of ladders.
I went over to say 'Hello', and it was actually two lads, both with a set of triples and they weren't window cleaners, they were from a 'Building Management' company that had been contracted to clean the gutters and soffits (I think they're called 'soffits' (the white PVC area under the gutter).
Anyway, they were doing a shoddy job, and I jokingly warned them not to mark any of the windows I've cleaned (the majority of them) and these two lads have about 160 of them to do (poor sods).
But I watched them work. They were 'employed' (not self employed). They just leaned their ladders against the plastic gutter and climbed; 'cleaned' (sort of); decended and moved on. No 'foot', no Rojak ladder stopper - nothing.
When I do the same job I always use my 'Sandbag' (Wor Lass) to foot the ladder. Or we take turns and she goes up the ladder.
Anyway, what they were doing didn't look safe to me. But the point is they're 'employed' by what looks like a large(ish) company, but they didn't do anything special with regards to their own personal safety.
Should they have? Is their company failing them? Or are they within the law? I must admit I have not read one jot of the new rules.