Latest Project

An International client of a curtain wall installation company contacted PWC to request a external builders clean for all glazing.

What was unusual about this project?

The building has two complications:

• Glass horizontal fins that are fixed by metal brackets down the rear elevation.(Hazard for cradle descent)
• The rear elevation has an unusual diagonal slope decending inwards to the base of the building. How can the cradle as it descends reach all of the elevation?

PWC has conscientiously worked with the client as well as Kier group to resolve and advise in order to provide the safest, achievable solution.

From this the relationship has become strong and PWC have been offered to take on more of the clients portfolio.

Scenario:
The window cleaner is cleaning the exterior glazing from inside attached to an safety eyebolt safely connected by means of a fall arrest lanyard and fall arrest harness.

He is safe, isn't he?

How do you rescue a colleague that has accidentally fallen from a window whilst carrying out window cleaning duties?

Suspension
It is natural to assume that once a fall has been arrested then the fall protection system has successfully completed its job. Unfortunately, this is not the case. An operative suspended in an upright position with the legs dangling

in a harness of any type is subject to suspension trauma and orthostatic intolerance.

Fall victims can slow the onset of suspension trauma by pushing down vigorously with the legs, by positioning their body in a slight leg-high position or, by standing up. Harness design and fall injuries may prevent these actions.

Hence: PWC practice regular practical training. In this case Gotcha training!

The Gotcha rescue kit is a unique solution to a problem faced by all workers at height who use PPE for protection against falls. Whereas most rescue provision has focused on the more extreme activities carried out at height, the Gotcha kit is designed for tradesmen who use common items of fall protection. In the event of a fall their situation if suspended in a harness is just as serious and a swift recovery is essential.

The kit will work effectively with conscious or unconscious casualties, the rescuer can carry out the rescue from a point of safety, the rescue can be carried out by a single person, no cutting is required and you can raise or lower the casualty in a controlled manner to the nearest point of safety.

Rescue
Rescue must come rapidly to minimise the dangers of suspension trauma. The circumstances together with the lanyard attachment point will determine the possibility of self-rescue.

In situations where self-rescue is not possible, operatives must be supervised at all times. Regardless of whether an operative can self-rescue or must rely on others, time is of the essence because an operative may lose consciousness in only a few minutes.

Practice can save lives
Perhaps just as important as having a rescue plan in place is practicing the plan before a real-life fall occurs. The new Working at Height Regulations state that a rescue procedure must be in place and practiced on a regular basis and competence maintained and recorded.

PWC stresses to our own staff the importance of protecting life whilst working at height. Individual pieces of equipment are tested and inspected. Because of this our operatives have total piece of mind.

When is a back up device not a back up device? See drop test video here.