Window cleaning RAMS Builder

Risk assessment and method statement

Window cleaning, Atrium, Mill Street Business Centre, Stockport

Company

Hollins & Reed Cleaning Services Ltd

Site and work area

Atrium, Mill Street Business Centre, Stockport

Planned dates

12 to 13 October 2026

In charge on site

Dan Hollins

Team

Two operatives: Dan Hollins leads and drives the lift; Priya Shah is the ground person.

Method statement

1. 1Set up the work areaConfirm the work area and scope before starting. Keep other people outside the active work area. Keep entrances and escape routes clear.
2. 2Keep people clear of the workAgree how people get past or around the work while it is going on. Put barriers or signs where a route crosses the work. Do not leave open work unattended.
3. 3Check the weather before you startDo not lift or fix cleaning equipment and water-fed poles in strong wind; a large sheet is a sail. Stop in heavy rain, ice or lightning, and rest in the shade in hot weather.
4. 4Stop things falling on people belowFence off the ground below the work so nobody walks under the tools, buckets and cleaning equipment. Use toe boards, brick guards or netting on platforms and lanyard tools where you can.
5. 5Use the planned safest reachAvoid height where a water-fed pole or internal method can do the job. Use the access arrangement set out for the job; do not improvise.
6. 6Use the MEWPCheck the MEWP and work area before use. Look up for overhead lines and check the wind limit before raising the platform. Set up on suitable ground within the machine limits. Keep the platform within the planned work zone. Lower and secure the machine after use.
7. 7Check the cleaning equipmentInspect the pole, platform, hoses and fall protection before use. Take damaged equipment out of the job.
8. 8Control the ground belowKeep people and traffic out from below the work. Route hoses and water so they cannot trip people or run into a live area.
9. 9Check the glass and deposit firstConfirm the glass type and what is on it before choosing a tool or product. Keep the maker's cleaning information with the method where there is a coating.
10. 10Rinse and clean without dry scrubbingRinse loose dirt away before wiping and use clean, compatible equipment. Work from the top down and do not force a scraper across the glass.
11. 11Check the glass and ground before handing backCheck the glass, seals, ground and equipment before leaving. Tell the client about damaged glass, leaks or residue before the area is reopened.
12. 12Clear and hand back the areaRemove tools, waste and unused materials. Check the area is clean and ready to use. Tell the person in charge when the work is complete.

Risk assessment

• People entering the work area or tripping over materials

  Workers, occupants and visitors

  Mark or barrier the active work area. Store tools and materials away from access routes.

• People using the building or passing by walking into the work or over what it leaves

  Occupants, visitors, members of the public and workers

  Keep the barriers and signs up while the work is active. Give people a clear way round where their normal route is blocked.

• Wind catches the cleaning equipment and water-fed poles or blows someone off balance at height

  The team and people below

  Agree a wind limit for panels and platforms and check the forecast each morning. Tie down or take in loose materials before you leave.

• Tools, buckets and cleaning equipment falling onto people below

  People below, including the public

  Lower waste in bags or a chute, never throw it. Keep the exclusion zone up until the last item is down.

• A cleaner falls while reaching high glazing from unsuitable access

  Window cleaners and people below

  Prefer ground-level or internal cleaning where suitable. Stop if the planned access or rescue arrangement is not ready.

• The MEWP overturning; contact with overhead power lines; tools or materials dropped from the platform

  The operator, and anyone beside the machine, where the ground gives way or it is worked outside its limits. The operator, and anyone touching the machine, from shock or burns. Anyone passing or working underneath.

  Use a trained operator and follow the machine limits. Stop when the wind reaches the machine’s limit. Keep the agreed rescue arrangement available. Check for overhead lines before raising the platform and keep the agreed clearance. Barrier the area below so the public and other workers cannot walk under the platform.

• Failed equipment causes a fall, dropped object or loss of control

  Window cleaners and people below

  Use equipment suited to the job and the ground. Keep the inspection and rescue arrangements with the team.

• A person is struck by equipment or slips on water below the work

  Public, occupants and other workers

  Use barriers and a protected route. Keep the exclusion area in place until the equipment and water are cleared.

• A wrong tool or product scratches the glass or damages its coating

  The cleaner, client and building users

  Do not treat coated or marked glass as ordinary glass. Stop and ask for the right method when the surface is not identified.

• Grit trapped under a tool scratches the glass or coating

  The cleaner and facade owner

  Use clean water and clean cloths or brushes. Stop if the glass or coating reacts, marks or cannot be cleaned safely.

• Damage, wet ground or equipment is left where people can be exposed

  Occupants, public and the client

  Keep wet or closed areas protected until safe. Record defects and remove all tools, hoses and waste.

• Debris, tools or unfinished work left in the area

  Workers, occupants and visitors

  Remove waste by the agreed route. Record and protect any unfinished work.