don't no if anyone here has read this!
Window cleaning federation on Newsnight
Statement from National Federation of Master Window & General Cleaners (NFMW&GC)
In response to the BBC Newsnight programme which was screened on BBC television on Friday 9th September 2005 and the subsequent comments and e-mails on the Cleaning Pros web site I would like to make the following response.
Firstly I do not believe that I have maligned or “talked rubbish” as has been posted on the Cleaning Pros website about waterfed poles. I merely pointed out on the programme that water fed poles do not remove impacted soilage and I gave examples of such. Certainly any waterfed pole manufacturer would agree that a waterfed pole would not remove cement, paint, putty or mastic from a window during the course of a normal clean and I have talked to many window cleaners who have bought water fed pole systems who have had difficulty in removing baked on bird dirt.
Secondly, what the Newsnight programme edited from the broadcast was the fact that my own company, J.A. Lee Window Cleaners has 4 waterfed pole vans on the road out of a total of 9 vehicles and we are about to commission a 5th. It is my company’s intention to move more and more to waterfed pole use. I also explained that waterfed poles have very useful applications and that we use it heavily as a company on our small, medium and large commercial contracts. I am NOT, repeat NOT against waterfed poles. I have spent, within, my own company approximately £48,000 investing in this new window cleaning technology.
There have been 2 photographs and 1 video posted on Cleaning pros website of my employees allegedly working outside current Health & Safety Legislation.
The second issue, the photographs of one of my operatives using a portable ladder on Crown Street, in the town of Cockermouth without ladder stability device and siting the ladder such that it was in a dangerous position. When I saw this photograph I was shocked as this operative is clearly working outside of current Health & Safety Legislation and is also working in complete contravention of my company’s Health & Safety Policies and Training Procedures. The operative in question, has been shown the photographs, has been disciplined and a received a final written warning I was and am absolutely appalled that one of my operatives was behaving in such a manner.
I have also as a result of the photos issued a memo to all company employees stating that any operative found working in such a manner in future will face immediate dismissal.
I would like to thank Philip Hanson from Professional Window Cleaning Magazine for bringing this matter to my attention and allowing me to correct malpractice within my own company. Unfortunately, as with any employer and any trade, shortcuts and working outside of company policy and procedure inevitably happen when you employ people. I can’t fix something if I don’t know its broken i.e. I can’t change something that I don’t know is happening, so, once again I would like to thank Philip for bringing this matter to my attention. The Federation committee including myself will continue to work closely with the Health & Safety Executive and there should be some clarification of the current situation in the near future.
