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Facility Safety Management

Concerns for Window Cleaners’ Safety

Inspect for Condition of Anchors, Rigging, Scaffolding

Working while suspended from a height is extremely hazardous and deserves extraordinary attention to safety. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, an insecure or broken primary line is the cause of most worker falls from suspended heights. Reported fatalities often involve a personal lifeline incorrectly attached to an anchor line, or not used at all.

NIOSH developed recommendations for building managers and the crews they hire to clean their windows after investigating the death of a 31-year-old window cleaner in Oregon, who was killed when he fell six stories from a balcony on a seven-story commercial building. The window cleaner and a coworker had rigged their descent lines, safety lines, and boatswain’s chairs, and attached the equipment to wire cables strung between roof anchors. The window cleaner, who was the designated supervisor of the team, got into his boatswain’s chair, and climbed over the balcony edge. The coworker saw the window cleaner falling, and then saw one end of his safety cable fall off the roof of the building.

The following points represent basic safety concerns for window cleaners as highlighted by this incident.

• Building owners must install and regularly test certified anchor points for suspension work, and ensure that window cleaners are aware of their locations. Window cleaners should not use an inappropriate anchor that merely looks strong, such as an air conditioning unit, roof pipe or balcony rail. Window cleaners should communicate to the building owner any deterioration of an anchor that makes it unsuitable for use.

• A primary line should be attached to a single anchor point. This incident illustrates the increased risk when a line is strung between two anchor points.

• A personal lifeline must be worn and secured to a completely independent anchor point.

• Suspension lines should not be strung around corners. An extra corner reduces the load capacity of a line significantly and increases the chance of breaking from sudden force. A roof edge should be padded to prevent damage to the ropes.

• The condition of all ropes and equipment must be inspected prior to each use. Even small signs of wear can cause friction that may lead to an unexpected break or release.

• Make sure to use adequate lighting when making all rigging connections. Early morning hours in the dark can easily conceal a mistake.

• Test the security of all lines prior to use. Employ caution while testing to avoid losing your balance or falling in the event a line fails.

Workers at suspended heights should cooperate to double check the security of all rigging, and communicate readiness to proceed.

This incident emphasizes the importance of double checking the security of anchors and lines, and following positive communication procedures with coworkers before taking the first step over the edge.

Rigging or re-rigging of primary anchor lines should be checked by both members of a team, and readiness should be verbalized as a positive check before proceeding.

A preliminary “tool box” meeting is highly recommended to confirm that all rigging is secured and tested prior to use. As this incident makes clear, disagreements should be settled before workers step over the ledge.

Safety guidelines rely heavily on the expertise of a designated leader or competent person to maintain adequate safety standards for the whole team. Other team members share a responsibility to check and communicate safety requirements, and the leader shares a responsibility to listen.

Employers must maintain a written fall protection safety program to document that workers at suspended heights are properly trained and proficient in safe work procedures.

A window-cleaner safety training and inspection program will promote worker competence and the use of safe work procedures, with continuing supervision and retraining when necessary. A written safety program and training record helps to maintain standards and promotes accountability for both employer and employees. Certificate programs for window cleaners are available in both English and Spanish (e.g., International Window Cleaner Certification Institute).

Training Essentials

A few essential points in a training program for window cleaners should include the following:

• Recognize fall hazards;

• Understand how to use and maintain fall protection systems, including use of appropriate anchor points, and inspection of equipment; and

• Know what to do in an emergency to ensure a prompt response. The employer must develop a written rescue plan in advance (templates are available as a guide).

Employers should ensure that when employees use descent control devices, a separate fall arrest system completely independent of the descent control device and its support system is used.

When descent control devices are used during window washing operations, workers are required to be protected from falls by a fall arrest system (including a full body harness with a rope grab or similar device, lifeline, and anchorage) completely independent of the of the descent control device and its support system.

The fall arrest system should be utilized in such a manner that failure of any component of the descent control device or its support system (boatswain’s chair or harness, support line, or anchorage) will not affect the ability of the fall arrest system to operate. Employers should ensure that a competent person evaluates and inspects all anchor points and rigging to be used by window cleaners prior to the start of work.

To ensure that adequate anchor points and required rigging are utilized by workers, employers should ensure that a competent person evaluates and inspects all anchor points and rigging prior to the start of work.

Employers should ensure that all employees, including part-time employees, are properly trained in all facets of the jobs they are to perform. All workers must receive sufficient proper training in safe work procedures for all facets of the tasks that they perform. This is especially important for part-time workers that might not perform these tasks on a routine basis. Workers should be routinely evaluated to determine their adherence to safe work procedures.

Employers should ensure that descent control devices are used in accordance with manufacturers’ specifications and that employees are trained in the proper use of such equipment. Manufacturer’s specifications recommended four rope wraps (one rope wrap per every 50 lbs. of descending weight) around the center shank of the descent control device for a medium speed descent for the 200-lb weight of the Oregon fall victim.

When examined after the incident, it was found that only two rope wraps were present around the center shank. This may be further evidence that the victim did not have adequate experience, knowledge, or training to evaluate his work environment.

Although this did not appear to be a factor in this incident, all equipment should be used as required by manufacturers’ specifications. All employees should be trained to properly utilize this type of equipment according to manufacturers’ specifications as required by OSHA.

Additionally, building owners who have routine maintenance performed on their buildings should consider the installation of permanent anchor points.

The owner of the condominium complex contracted the employer to wash the windows of the building twice a year. Additionally, routine maintenance and inspection of the steam lines on the roof were conducted periodically. When maintenance will be performed on a building that will require workers to utilize anchor points on the building’s roof, building owners should consider the identification or installation of permanent anchor points that would be evaluated by a professional engineer.

Any anchor points identified or installed should be able to withstand a minimum load of 5,000 lbs, as is considered adequate by OSHA. ❑