Window Cleaning To-Do List

1. Scope of Work

1.1. Identify scope of work

1.2. Identify parties involved

1.2.1. Building management

1.2.1.1. Building engineer

1.2.1.2. Building manager

1.2.1.3. Security

1.2.2. Window cleaning crew

1.2.2.1. Crew supervisor

1.2.2.1.1. Competent person

1.2.2.2. Window cleaners

1.2.2.2.1. Competent person

1.2.2.3. Safety supervisor

1.2.2.3.1. Qualified persin

1.2.2.4. Prohibit window cleaning or building maintenance when the work area is exposed to excessive wind

1.2.2.4.1. Excessive wind is considered to be any wind which constitutes a hazard to a worker, the public, or property

1.2.3. Equipment specialist

1.2.3.1. Inspector

1.3. Contact information

1.3.1. Phone numbers

1.3.2. Emails

1.3.3. Physical address

1.4. Schedule

1.4.1. System inspection

1.4.2. Equipment set-up

1.4.3. Start of work

2. The Written Plan

2.1. Developed by the employer or qualified individual before the work begins

2.2. Shall be reviewed with the employees doing the work and the building owner or the building owner’s operating agent

2.3. Minimum requirements

2.3.1. Location of work where workers may utilize suspended equipment

2.3.2. Location where workers are exposed to falls and other known hazards

2.3.2.1. Step-by-step procedure on the control of each hazardous area or drop zone

2.3.3. Identification of hazardous areas or drop zones

2.3.3.1. Safety features to be use

2.3.3.2. Include self-rescue

2.3.4. On-site evaluation of the plan implementation by the employer

3. Anchorages

3.1. Qualified Individual

3.1.1. For independent safety lines; tiebacks for outriggers, parapet clamps, and cornice hooks; and for powered and manual boatswain’s chairs;

3.1.2. Lifelines

3.1.3. Rope descent systems; and

3.2. Building Owner or Representative

3.2.1. Provide written documentation of the identified and certified anchorages to window cleaning contractors and building maintenance contractors

3.2.2. Shall not allow suspended work to be performed at their facility until a qualified individual has determined that there are identified and certified anchorages

3.3. Window Cleaning Contractor or Building Maintenance Contractor

3.3.1. Shall not perform suspended work at a facility, until a qualified individual has determined that there are identified and certified anchorages

4. Visual inspection of Building Exterior

4.1. Visually inspected by a competent person

4.2. Appropriate measures shall be taken to ensure that building features

4.2.1. Sharp edges of parapets, window frames, ledges, cornices, or overhangs

4.2.1.1. Cannot impair the structural integrity of the rope descent system, or

4.2.1.2. Other suspension equipment, and

4.2.1.3. Any associated fall-protection rigging

4.3. Padding shall be secured in a manner that prevents the padding from dislodging from the surface to be protected.

4.4. A written signed log of the inspection shall be maintained on site for the duration of the operation and retained by the employer for one year.

5. Rope Descent Systems

5.1. When a rope descent system is used, each employer and competent person shall

5.1.1. Ensure the use of equipment according to the instructions, warnings, and design limitations of the manufacturer and distributor

5.1.2. Inspect all equipment in every rope descent system prior to its use for each day used, and remove damaged equipment from service

5.1.3. Inspect equipment after each descent and when moved to a new area or location to ensure the rope descent system is properly assembled before descending again. Damaged equipment shall be removed from service

5.1.4. Ensure the use of proper rigging, including structural anchorages and tiebacks, with a particular emphasis on providing tiebacks when counterweights, cornice hooks, and parapet clamps, or similar nonpermanent anchorages, are used;

5.1.5. Ensure the use of a separate, independent personal fall-arrest system with a separate anchorage point;

5.1.6. Ensure that all lifelines are capable of sustaining a minimum tensile load of 5,000 pounds

5.1.7. Provide for prompt rescue of employees in the event of a fall, which shall include self-rescue

5.1.8. Ensure ropes are effectively padded where they contact edges of the building, anchorage, obstructions, and other surfaces which might cut or weaken the rope

5.1.9. Provide for stabilization at the specific work location when descents are greater than 130 feet

5.1.10. Require each employee to secure equipment, such as tools, squeegees, or buckets by a tool lanyard or similar method to prevent equipment from falling

5.1.11. Protect suspension ropes and lifelines from exposure to open flames, hot work, corrosive chemicals, or other destructive conditions

5.1.12. Prepare a written daily log of each of subitems, which shall be signed by the competent person and maintained on site for the duration of the operation, and retained for one year thereafter

5.2. Rope descent systems may be used as a substitute to the means and methods originally designed into the buildings or structure to perform window cleaning

5.2.1. ONLY when the design of the building or structure will safely support the use of the system in accordance with Sec. 7.2.6

5.2.2. AND the components of the support system comply with Sec. 9 and Sec. 16 of ANSI/IWCA I-14

6. Fall Protection

6.1. Fall protection, perimeter guarding, personal fall-arrest systems, or personal fall-restraint systems shall be provided by the employer for every employee in all work areas that expose the employee to a fall hazard

6.2. Each employee using a rope descent system shall be protected from falling four feet or more to lower levels by a personal fall arrest system

6.3. Employees shall wear and completely assemble their personal fall-arrest equipment, and be securely tied back prior to approaching the point of suspension

7. Training

7.1. Window cleaning contractor shall provide training for each employee who uses personal fall-protection equipment

7.1.1. Recognize fall hazards

7.1.2. Recognize the procedures to be followed to minimize those hazards

7.2. Trained by a qualified individual or competent person

7.2.1. Nature of fall hazards in the work area

7.2.2. Correct procedures for erecting, maintaining, disassembling, and inspecting the fall-protection systems to be used

7.2.3. Use, operation, and limitations of personal fall-protection systems, including proper hookup, anchoring, and tie-off techniques; methods of use

7.2.4. Proper methods of equipment inspection and storage as recommended by the manufacturer

7.2.5. Use and operation of self-rescue equipment or systems

7.3. Ensure that each employee is trained in the proper care, use, and inspection of equipment covered by this part before the employee is permitted to use the equipment

7.4. Ensure that each employee who uses a rope descent system is trained and retrained as necessary in the proper rigging and safe use of the equipment

7.5. The employer shall retrain an employee when any of the following occur

7.5.1. Changes in the workplace render previous training invalid;

7.5.2. Changes in the types of fall-protection systems or equipment to be used render previous training invalid; or

7.5.3. Inadequacies in an affected employee’s knowledge or use of fall-protection systems or

7.5.4. Equipment indicate that the employee has not retained the requisite understanding or skil

7.6. Provide information and training to each employee in a manner that is understandable to that employee

7.7. Maintain training records

7.7.1. Dates training was conducted;

7.7.2. Name, title, and qualifications of the person who conducted the training;

7.7.3. Names and job titles of the employees who completed the training; and

7.7.4. Brief summary or outline of the information that was included in the training.