MGWC and the Window Cleaning magazine are involved in a research project in conjunction with the HSE ( Health & Safety Executive, UK’s counterpart to your OSHA) and a technology company and other key stakeholders on RSI ( Repetitive Strain Injury) in window cleaning using revolutionary technology.
The Project Scope is to include in the field activities and differing challenges from using water fed poles on a residential, 70ft high commercial, to using hand tools such as the humble squeegee. For the first time we can gather measurable data that would help towards the design of safety gear that will actually work and do what it is supposed to do or help in advice on the right posture or movement for any given job to minimize possible future injury.
Do any of you suffer from neck, shoulder or back and wrist pains? I would love to hear your stories.
not much anymore.
occasionally my pinky will lock up but it’s rare.
When I use to do Resi, fingertips would burn after many detailing strokes and Storm window latches.
Screen cleaning was a back breaker - lower back (no IPC or Aztec)
but this is all very minor compared to what others have to deal with.
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The technology company involved have a branch in the states too. We have discussed the benefits of doing the same research in the states as you guys do things slightly different, I mean screen cleaning is a big example of how you guys differ from the UK. We just dont have screens here in the UK. But you are open to back pain nevertheless.
Maybe once the UK research is done, I would look at the states but would only do it with my friends at the IWCA and having OSHA’s involvement.
If you’re asking if we feel pain because we clean a lot of glass, well yes, yes we do.
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don’t involve OSHA then they’ll fine us if we don’t do it the way they want us to
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Try to be more specific in your answer. It’s all good input.
They do have that rep Im told 
we don’t need more regulations for ground-level window cleaning
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This is not about regulation, at least not on my part. The research will lead to quality measured data in order to advise better the posture and movement of a job, for example using a water fed pole. This is valuable information for business owners to limit their staff exposure to possible injury.
When somebody buys say a WASPAK, for example ( WASPAK - is a safety vest designed to take the weight of a water fed pole, mostly sold in Europe) How do you know, it does what it says it is supposed to. With this technology this can be measured.
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Not a lot of love for OSHA, huh?
nope, no stockholm syndrome here
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Very obvious, all the issues would be common for anyone in this industry for a length of time.
Repetition in any industry will also develop physical and health issue though.
There are remedies or tools that can minimize this but you will never avoid it all together
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Perhaps being a desk jockey is the way to go. Most of the folks who didn’t go to college will retire in pain. Manual labor beats up the body no way around that. I have friends who chose a different kind of work and they’re not in pain.
Can you give an example of ‘the tools that minimize this’ please?
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Being a desk jockey has its own risks.For example using a mouse can lead to discomfort, pain, and Workplace Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs)
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Its an important point, dont see whats so funny.
It’s laughable because there are no tools that will “really” help. It’s a tough job. If moving a mouse hurts people we’re screwed.
PS
I’ve been mopping floors, cleaning windows and scrubbing carpets since 1975. I keep seeing all the new innovations they keep coming up with to minimize RSI. The new equipment doesnt seem to be working out for the manual laborer.
Going to the gym for self physical therapy before we have a problem is the only solution that I have seen that works. Steve O said something about the gym and being strong awhile back. The guys working in the trades all seem to go to the gym.
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