Jobs such as window washing come with a certain list of safety hazards. That is why making sure that your employees are safe in their workspace is very important. Here is how you tackle this issue efficiently.
Element One: Training
First of all, you need to make sure that your employees are trained properly to use the equipment in their workspace. Not only is it important that your employees are using the equipment the correct way because that will allow them to complete their work properly, but it’s also important because you want to make sure your workers are safe in their working environment.
There are quick yet efficient ways for you to gather training materials and provide the means of training to your employees. International Window Cleaning Association (IWCA) and U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) possess great resources that are available online. On top of that, you can find tons of documents provided by the IWCA that can be used for your safety meeting and training.
Element Two: Equipment
Now that you’ve made sure your employees are familiar with all the safety protocols, you need to maintain your equipment. This includes all pieces of equipment and machinery that will be used in your construction zone.
The very beginning of the year tends to be slow and inactive for most companies. Even in places where winter is not as cold and as harsh as in the rest of the world, business tends to slow down a bit. This period gives you a perfect opportunity to get all of the necessary equipment inspection and in-house inventory done. This method is used for practicing Prevention through Design. As you’re getting your business ready for the upcoming busy season, this method allows you to ensure the safety of all of your equipment that your staff will be using in the season. Not only does this ensure your employees’ safety at work, but it will also help you avoid having to waste time inspecting and repairing your equipment during the busiest season. It saves a lot of time if you simply take care of that part before the busy season starts.
So, take this chance to do a thorough check-up and inspect your equipment. You need to make sure that the equipment’s condition is logged and up-to-date. Now that pretty much everything is easily checked digitally, you can enter inspection sheets electronically and have a quick access to pictures of the equipment pieces you are inspecting. If you create a well-organized record-keeping, you will increase and better the prevention of mishaps and potential injuries caused by faulty equipment.
Element Three: Safety Gear and Equipment
Speaking of equipment and safety, there are some amazing pieces of equipment and safety gear that provide the needed safety to your employees in their workspace. These pieces of equipment ensure that your workers are safe and protected from any potential hazards and injuries that may occur in the workspace. For instance, a useful piece of equipment that every employee who handles window washing should be using is a high-quality davit arm. This piece of safety equipment is great for workspaces that require people to work at heights or even confined spaces. They can hoist large loads and can easily prevent hazardous incidents at work.
Element Four: Site Assessments
Lastly, the most important factor in preventing workspace injuries and hazards is site assessment. You need to have steady and written work plans for all of your buildings where a professional contractor will be providing services.
Your responsibility is to visit every location of all of your buildings and identify any potential hazards your workers can encounter. You also need to examine how to avoid these hazards. Once again, make sure to use this slower and less busy season to thoroughly check and investigate your worksites. There are many more hazards in window washing duties than you can imagine, so you need to properly address this kind of a concern.
This is the list of some of the most common hazards professional window cleaners can encounter at any worksite no matter what kind of a task they are performing:
· Falling
· Environment (weather)
· Equipment condition
· Ground obstacles
· Overhead obstacles
· Suspension rigging and anchor points
· Electric supply lines
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are several aspects and factors that need to be checked and taken into consideration when ensuring a safe working environment for your employees. You need to assess all of your worksites, ensure equipment is working properly, train your staff, and invest in protective and safety gear.
