American cities are famed for their rows of glittering glass and steel skyscrapers, forming a vertical wonderland that towers magnificently over the streets far below. They are a beauty to behold, especially as they catch the morning light, but keeping them shiny is actually a lot of work, smog, bird droppings, dead insects and grime slowly collect and need to be manually wiped away! You have probably seen the brave souls suspended by ropes and cables from the rooftop making sure those buildings stay clean, but have you ever wondered how they do it safely?
Skyscraper window cleaning is obviously not a job for the faint of heart, it takes nerves of steel to hang high in the air while engaged in your work. Fortunately, they can breathe easy knowing that they are in good hands thanks to the efforts of the roof anchor installation companies that are dedicated to keeping them safe up there in the high places!
The first thing that happens before anyone goes over the side is to perform a thorough safety check of all the equipment such as the ropes, rigging, and platforms to make absolutely sure they are in perfect condition. There are no shortcuts in safety, so these inspections are performed regularly and rigorously, after all, lives depend on it!
Professional high-rise window washers use specialized climbing tools to ensure their safety as they dangle high above the pavement navigating a building’s exterior:
Roof Anchor – These are usually fixed anchor points built directly into the rooftop, although there are some cases in which a portable anchor system must be employed. The fixed anchors are firmly connected to the building’s steel structure, most designs look like a concrete post with a steel half ring on top, rest assured that steel runs all the way down through the post!
Movable Platform – By using a high-rise window cleaning platform the window washers gain access to a building’s highest windows while remaining secure and safe. The platforms can be moved by hand, or with automatic electric motors to power them. High-rise window washers stand on their platform while they do their work, carefully buckled to it so they can never fall off!
Bosun’s Chair– A bosun’s chair is a smaller platform designed for one person. The window washer sits on it as they are moved across the exterior of the building while performing their work.
While to the average onlooker, the whole process may seem frightening, to the window washers it’s just another day on the job, and it does have a great perk- they enjoy some fantastic views of the city!
