[JackieW]

Just been watching, as you do when you become slightly obsessed with window cleaning, a youtube clip of the 80 foot Swift pole.

 It looks so tall that if the guy handling it just went a little  too far  from near vertical there is a good chance that once it starts leaning he wouldn't be able to stop it.

Has that happened to anyone.

Can't see it happening on normal domestic work but at those sort of heights it just doesn't seem safe enough.

PS I have zero experience with WFP.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ijBtQ5y3pw

[GB Window Cleaning]

good question, but no i havnt

[Justen Uff]

Yep you are right.  You gotta be mad to want to use a 80' pole.  One slip and you've lost it for sure.

[VSP Home Care]

Me and my mate tried out the Smax 50 in the garden the other day, just hoisted it all the way up, it was a little windy as well.  To be honest at 50' it was ok to hold at an angle.

My speakers are playing up so I couldn't listen to the clip but what the hell is that work platform all about?  Surely they are not suggesting that it only reaches the 80' when your on the platform 

[Smudger]

You need the work platform to extend the pole 


i got caught using the SL2 at approx 50 ft in some 'brisk' gusts of wind - fortunately the windows were recessed
and the brush head was firmly against the glass but the pole was a right bar steward to keep control of - there
was at least 4 foot of sideways bend on the pole.

thankfully i got it down without incident

Darran

[Darranvps]

If you look at my website www.purple-rhino.co.uk on the home page you will see two of my staff using a 65ft pole. Recieving the correct training in its useage and with staff starting off with smaller poles using a pole at this height becomes easy enough.
We have recently quoted a building at 78ft and we will clean it safely with waterfed poles.

[scud]

  I managed to drop my pole when fully extended last week.

  Thankfully I was doing a bungalow and had the 4ft one in my hand at the time

[AJ]

Yes, I dropped a Brodex 60fter (the beast) only extended to about 50 though, whilst standing the thing up.
I was in Covent Garden and it just went, no way of stopping it so just had to point it in the right direction. Luckily there was no traffic as it landed in the road. My little heart was going like the clappers, but no damage to pole or anything else, Luckily!!!
Its the first time and don't want to do it again.

[andyM]

Yes, I dropped a Brodex 60fter (the beast) only extended to about 50 though, whilst standing the thing up.
I was in Covent Garden and it just went, no way of stopping it so just had to point it in the right direction. Luckily there was no traffic as it landed in the road. My little heart was going like the clappers, but no damage to pole or anything else, Luckily!!!
Its the first time and don't want to do it again.

I bet that was caught on cctv 

[Richard Shepherd]

Been there done that.

When using big poles we always work as a pair, good job as well

Gardiners 60ft modular superlite fully extended, cleaning an old cotton mill converted to offices.

While moving round a parked car tripped on my own hose, pole went full length, my lad jumped in to try and save it and we managed to drop it between two lines of parked cars.

Snapped top section, and nearly shat myself .

We now clean it on a Saturday when hardly anyone is working

[Carey Ward]

I lost control of a 45ft pole and the brush head ended up through the heated rear screen of a car.  It turned out the car belonged to the guy who had just given me the job (large furniture store)      His dog was in the back seat and just popped his head up with a puzzled look - wish I had had a camera it was so funny.

Learned alot about working in the wind that day !!!!

Cost me £200 but still work for the guy

[David Salkeld]

This issue was brought up in a training course we did last year.

According to the training you should corden of an area equivelent to a radiouse of the length of pole in use.
So, using an 80' pole you should corden of 80' radiouse (sorry can't spell!!!).
Now this is down to Risk Assesment.
Think about it? 
Basically
The longer the pole the more likely it is you could drop it. 
The heavier the pole the more likely to drop it.
The less you know about using a pole the more likely to drop it.

Therefore:
An experienced user with a 13'light  pole is not going to drop it?
But
First time on a pole at 80' and you are lucky to hold it!!

My honest opinion is

At 80' it is bordering on dangerous to use.  You need 2 operators and good weather and steady steady steady!

David

[GDwindowcleaning]

Rhino, Bulgaria is a long way to go to clean windows....

You are very committed...

[Johnny B]

I've never dropped a fully extended pole, but I have lost control of a fully extended triple ladder!
Fortunately no damage was done, but it missed a postman's bike by inches!

John 

[Dean Taberner]

yes I have,

It turned be to the ale.

Dean

[AJ]

NOTE TO INSURANCE COMPANIES: is this the best wind up post ever or what 

[AS Window Cleaning]

Yes, I dropped a Brodex 60fter (the beast) only extended to about 50 though, whilst standing the thing up.
I was in Covent Garden and it just went, no way of stopping it so just had to point it in the right direction. Luckily there was no traffic as it landed in the road. My little heart was going like the clappers, but no damage to pole or anything else, Luckily!!!
Its the first time and don't want to do it again.

I bet that was caught on cctv 

lol, yeah, soon to be on 'mr T and the world's craziest window cleaning fools'!

I dropped mine, while closed. had just moisturiser hands (q the jokes!)and slipped right out of hand. broke where the brush connects to pole. got replacement off Gardiners super quick (won't turn this into we love Gardiners post!), but screws wouldn't tighten now. so super glued the screws in!

could imagine some damage if dropped one fully extended, scary!