News

The contracted window cleaner at a Halifax Road block of self-contained flats for the elderley will soon no longer be using one of the traditional tools of his trade. Bradford based housing company Anchor Housing, who run the Howarth Farm Way row of flats have declared that they have to put the window cleaning contract on the flats out to tender due to new Health and Safety legislation.

A letter from Anchor to residents at Howarth Farm Way states that: "The window cleaners are now not allowed to go up ladders to do the windows."

A system called 'Reach and Wash' will be implemented by window cleaners at the flats, which are just two storeys high. This system uses a water fed pole to clean the windows, meaning that ladders will become obsolete for window cleaners. The high reach system eliminates health and safety concerns over the safe use of ladders because the equipment can be safely operated by a single window cleaner from the ground.

Residents at the retirement home have been asked to vote for one of the four window cleaners who have tendered for the contract. Residents have been given a list of the contractors and the amount that they have quoted to do the window cleaning.

Local Councillor Jean Ashworth, whose mother is resident in the self-contained flats, said: "The world is going mad. Were will it end? Will fire fighters not be allowed to save lives if they need to climb a ladder? Will we need to be risk assessed before we leave our homes for work? This is a load of nonsense. I know window cleaners who have been going up their ladders for years without any problems."

Date article online: 28/08/2007