Did you ever pass by a particularly tall building and wondered how they keep the windows clean? Well, they probably hire people to wash and clean the windows.
They’re called window washers and have the physically taxing duty of cleaning windows inside and outside of buildings.
Find out what window washers do below.
Window Washer Responsibilities
Window washers may be a part of a window cleaning company, or an individual working as a freelancer. Either way, they often have similar duties.
These responsibilities include cleaning windows inside and outside of buildings, floors, walls, and other surfaces.
They also often clean glass surfaces like windows, doors, mirrors, and storefronts. At times, they may be responsible for cleaning gutters and downspouts to prevent water and debris from damaging the roof.
Some window washers also offer window treatment and tinting services. This will help reduce the glare and heat from outside.
They are also often tasked with removing mold and mildew from surfaces. In some cases, they are also responsible for providing pest control services.
Window washers do all these using power tools or manual scrubbing.
There are demands for window washers for residential, commercial, and industrial structures.
Hazards of Window Cleaning
Window washing is a physically laborious and often risky job. Washers often run the risk of encountering accidents and personal injury while working.
Some of the common hazards of window cleaning include broken glass, falls, overloading the equipment, and strains from overreaching.
Window washers often travel ladders and gantries across large areas of a glazed roofing or get suspended on cradles so they need personal protective equipment.
It’s also important for window washers to have the right skills, training, and experience to ensure their safety.
Technology and Equipment
Window washing comes with a lot of risks. As technology progresses, the industry has created more safety equipment and tools to avoid accidents and falls.
Some of the most common equipment used by window washers are ladders and rope access.
Ladders are often used in residential areas for windows that aren’t too high off the ground. This is often risky and requires a special type of footwear to maintain safety.
When there are areas that cannot be accessed by a ladder, rope access can be used. This gives washers more flexibility and allows them to finish the job quicker.
For high-rise buildings, window washers use cradles, travelling ladders and gantries, and Bosun’s chairs are used. Cradles allow the window washers to hang outside the building.
Meanwhile, travelling ladders and gantries are commonly used for accessing flat, sloping, or curved areas such as glazed roofing.
A Bosun’s chair, meanwhile, is used to suspend a person with a rope and harness. It has a seat board where the window washer will be balanced.
All these equipment require proper training to use and operate, but if proper safety protocols are followed, the end result is properly cleaned and washed windows.
This will help maintain the structure and keep it in the best condition for years.
