Window cleaning and liability

[WreckOfTheHesperus]

We sometimes pay a chap to clean our windows, which he does by climbing up, standing on the sill and cleaning. He is about 10 feet off the ground. He does not have a ladder. Would we be liable if he fell off and hurt himself?

He wouldnt have a leg to stand on.

That was trying to be funny.

Nowadays modern High technology window cleaners have hosepipes with attached brushes for cleaning high level windows.

Do not permit him to stand on that window sill ever again.

It's difficult as this is how he earns his living; don't want to just stop using him as we are one of the people that he relies on, but don't like his way of working...

Look at the HSE web site.

Falls within the building and maintenance industries cause too many fatalities and serious injury.

Let him do the ground floor but for his own good ask him not to stand on the sills on the first floor.

thanks Lucinda, will take your advice

I cannot believe that someone who cleans windows fulltime does not have his own ladder! He should have his own insurance too but expect if he hasn't got a ladder, he will certainly not have insurance. How on earth can he be cleaning effectively if he is using one hand (presumably) to hold on to the window?