Association of Professional Window Cleaners

News - January 2008

News January 2008

What a Load……….
Musculoskeletal Research
Superhero Window Cleaners?
HMRC Business Advice Open Days
Bogus Window Cleaners
Useful Advice

What a Load……….

Increasingly light commercial vehicles being used by window cleaners are being asked to carry more and more.

As well as traditional access equipment, now increasingly waterfed pole systems, and all the paraphernalia associated with them are carried too. Warning signs, cones, buckets and harnesses complete the array of equipment needed on a daily basis.

Well, window cleaning isn’t the only business affected by this issue. The Freight Transport Association (FTA) has commissioned a study to be carried out by the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) based in Berkshire to establish best practice in loading and securing equipment in small commercial vehicles.

We will keep you posted on any developments on this story.

See full What Van? article: Van load safety research commissioned

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Musculoskeletal Research

The Association of Professional Window Cleaners is proud to announce, that in collaboration with the University of Portsmouth, the Association will be funding research into the extent of musculoskeletal symptoms within the industry, and specifically whether the use of waterfed pole systems has eased the development of these symptoms.

The research itself will take around a year to complete, but a page will be set up on the Association website to keep you informed of the developments of the research.

We will be asking each of the readers of this newsletter to complete a questionnaire, telling us about their experiences.

If you would like to discuss this research, or would like to request additional questionnaires please get in touch with the research team at the University of Portsmouth.

University of Portsmouth: School of Environmental Design and Management

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Superhero Window Cleaners?

Have you ever watched a Spiderman movie and thought how handy it would be to climb up buildings like he does to clean the windows?

A pipe dream you may think. Well not according to Italian scientist Professor Nicola Pugno! The Roman boffin insists that he has developed a fibre that has all the qualities of the gecko lizards’ feet, which by means of tiny hairs increases the surface area of the fabric, thus maximising the weak attractive force of Van de Waals, causing enough attraction to hold even the weight of a human.

The rather controversial scientist says:

"There are many interesting applications for our theory … for window cleaners of big skyscrapers"

He goes on:

"With the idea for the adhesion now in place, there are a number of other mechanics that need addressing before the Spiderman suit can become a reality … man’s muscles, for example, are different to those of a gecko. We would suffer great muscle fatigue if we tried to stick to a wall for many hours."

HMRC Business Advice Open Days

Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs are running a series of free advice days throughout the country to help business with a wide range of taxation questions, including PAYE, VAT, self assessment, pensions and a variety of other issues.

To find out more, visit the : Business Advice Open Days web site.

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Bogus Window Cleaners

Following numerous spates of bogus window cleaners, collecting money for work they haven’t done, genuine professionals will need to be more proactive in considering the security concerns of their customers.

People are increasingly worried about people calling around their houses.

Our advice to our readers includes:

Always leaving a note as soon as you have cleaned someone’s windows if they are not in.
Present a professional image but wearing smart work clothes, preferable a ‘uniform’.
Particularly if you employ staff, ensure they have some means of identifying themselves, either a works ID card, or a card provided by your trade association.