What safety standards should a cleaning company follow for high-rise windows?

One of our Google reviewers asked a fair question: do your staff use safety harnesses for external window cleaning? Customers rarely ask, and they should. Here is how we approach it.

When is work at height involved?

Any time a person could fall: ladders above a few steps, balcony railings, external glass, atrium balustrades, signage and facades. In homes, the most common risk is leaning out of a window to clean the outside glass.

What equipment should be used?

• Full-body harness and helmet for any exposed edge
• A secure anchor point or a certified mobile platform
• Telescopic poles so most glass can be cleaned from inside
• Barricading below the work area
• A supervisor on the ground for every job at height

Who is allowed to do it?

Only staff trained and assessed for height work. In our teams, that is a separate skill from general cleaning, and not every cleaner is cleared for it.

What do we not do?

In homes, we do not clean the outside of windows where there is no safe access. We clean what can be reached safely from inside with poles, and we tell you clearly what is excluded.

Tip: Ask any vendor: who checks the harness before use, and what is your rescue plan if someone falls? A good vendor answers without hesitation.