If you’ve ever walked through any city and looked up at the buildings around you, you will have likely come across brave workers risking their lives to ensure that high-rise buildings of all heights are pristine.
That’s all thanks to high-rise window cleaners.
The role of high-rise window cleaning is essential in ensuring that buildings are well-presented and maintained. It’s also a role that most of us would avoid due to the dangerous element.
High-rise window cleaners put themselves in harm’s way every time they head out on a job, and it is one of the most dangerous roles to perform.
But is it dangerous, or does the role’s risks emphasise safety, making it safer?
In this article, we deep dive into the risks, hazards and safety measures associated with the high-risk role of high-rise window cleaning.
About High-Rise Window Cleaning
High-rise window cleaning is not for the faint of heat. It is a challenging and high-risk role that requires skill and confidence in one’s ability to work at heights to do the job well and bravely.
High-rise window cleaners are different from your average window cleaner. They suspend hundreds of metres off the ground with nothing but a harness to protect them from falling. They must endure all weather conditions. Unfortunately, like most of us, they don’t have the luxury of working in comfortable environments.
From the inside looking out, it is a role that may not appear as dangerous on the surface, but high-rise window cleaning is up there with one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. It requires a fearless and calm person with the skill of a rock climber and the attention to detail to ensure the job is done well.
Few out there choose this job; however, due to the high demand for high-rise window cleaning and the nature of modern buildings being predominately glass, it is growing in popularity.
Let’s see just how dangerous being a high-rise window cleaner can be and what some of the major impacts of the role are.
Safety
High-rise window cleaning, while extremely dangerous, is made safer and more efficient through its procedures and regular equipment testing for faults. Like any industry, risks are inevitable, and taking extreme care to prevent injuries or fatalities is critical.
When looking for a window cleaning company to take care of your high-rise building, you should ensure the business has an excellent safety record and meets all the relevant safety requirements. It’s best to do some research upfront. Not only is this good for peace of mind, but it is a sign of a reputable business.
Owners and operators of high-rise window cleaning businesses must be highly trained, qualified and have zero fear of heights. It’s a role for the few and is challenging, with workers needing to be physically capable and prepared to react swiftly in high-risk and dangerous situations.
Environment
The environment, in many ways, is linked to how safe it is for a high-rise window cleaner to work. Climate and air quality can impact how often and when cleaning is required. If you live in wet or humid places, for example, you can expect your windows to get dirty more frequently, leaving streaks and mineral deposits behind; therefore, cleaning is required. Wind, dirt and grime can also get tossed around, with high-rise building windows coping with a lot of it, ultimately leading to how efficiently a building performs over time.
While buildings feel the brunt of the weather, imagine how risky it is for the people cleaning them.
Various challenges for the window cleaner come with varying weather conditions, from hot weather giving extreme heat and wet and windy conditions presenting unstable and slippery conditions.
Strict safety measures that govern rope access and high-risk businesses do not allow workers to perform their role in adverse weather conditions as they could endanger those working at height and people in the surrounding area.
While every possible safety measure to minimise risk is taken, high-rise window cleaning is inevitably dangerous. As such, it requires the right people with skill and confidence to perform such a high-risk task which, in effect, reduces risk and helps make the workers and the industry much safer.
Abseilers United High-Rise Window Cleaning
Whether you need windows cleaned at 2 or 100 storeys, the Abseilers United team are experts in this area. Our team of highly skilled staff pay close attention to detail and guarantees fast work and sparkling results.
We wash, squeegee, and buff up windows on some of the tallest and most complex buildings and structures across the Sydney CBD and suburbs.
On top of this, we put safety first to ensure the site meets all safety requirements so that our team and the building are safe and secure.
Our Rope Access Services
At Abseilers United, we take great pride in our work. We are confident that our team can deliver a great job for our customers and perform their jobs to the highest safety standards regarding high-rise window cleaning.
In addition to high-rise window cleaning services, we offer a full range of abseiling services for building maintenance to service your building needs including:
We offer Rope Access License Trades Services:
Height Safety Services:
Using specialist rope access techniques and strong anchor points, we work quickly and safely in places others cannot.
Why choose Abseilers United?
At United Abseilers, we are experts in high-rise building maintenance projects from strata developments and residential and commercial high-rise buildings in Sydney since 2007. Our team is IRATA and SPRAT qualified, and we lead the way in height safety, rope access, working at heights, building maintenance and confined space work.
The Abseilers United team blends years of industrial abseiling experience and industry knowledge to make our business the high-rise building maintenance business of choice in Sydney.
Contact us today to see how we can help with your next high-rise window cleaning project.