They are real mate, I have seen this many times. They only usually get out to clean the third georgian row down ( top geogian row on lower opening window) this is because when you open it you can only clean the top window and part of the bottom from the inside. the row I mentioned above is impossible to reach as it goes up inside when you open the window.
ProPole
Exactly! The first pic does look a bit dodgy, but the second one with the georgians looks real.
A mate of mine used to work for a well known firm in Edinburgh who cleaned windows this way. He said he was usually stoned at the time.
He has since turned his life around. When he gave up drugs, he found he was no good with hieghts anymore and changed his occupation. Now he can't believe what he used to do. He would climb out the first window of a bay and shimmy round the ledge to get the other two panes. Three or four storeys up on crumbling 200 yr old sandstone buildings. Sheer madness.
Another friend of mine was cleaning an awkward dormer window. It was awkward becaude it was painted shut! So he climbed out of the next window and scrambled accross the slate roof to get to it. 45ft up! As he is cleaning the window, it starts to rain. You know where this is going...
He tries to get back accross the roof to the open window. His feet start to give way. He is sliding down the roof. "My feet will catch the steel gutter" he thinks as he watches the gutter go past his face. He landed half on grass and half on a rock garden.
His head was split open, fractured jaw, broken shoulder, arm and wrists. One elbow is smashed beyond use. The security guard who saw him fall and saw the aftermath needed counselling. Seriously!
I went into the A.R.I. to see him just after it happened. I wanted to throw up. I started working safer after that. It took him two years and many operations to recover. Of course, he feels lucky to be alive at all, and he IS. He has re-trained as a surveyor now and is doing well. EVery time you see him though, he is rubbing that elbow which gives him constant pain.
Andy, you may find it hard to believe in these photos. You are American. Your country doesnt have so many old buildings. Your country also has a very litigious society. In other words, if somebody got injured by using these practices they would get sued, BIG TIME! This has led to safer work practices and window designs. However, until recently, the UK has had a very relaxed attitude to such things. Therefore, there are still a generation of window cleaners who use these practices. No, REALLY!!
I don't need photos Andy. I have seen it with my own eyes, people I know have done it, people I know have been seriously hurt doing it. One has died doing it.
Regards
PS Andy. I have visited the States many times and I agree, it is a fantastic place.
