Pressure Wash Safety in the workplace
Over the last couple of months, the pressure washing and window washing industry has witnessed several on and off site accidents in which several of our colleagues either have been seriously injured or in one instance death occurred.
As I began the last leg of my flight from Houston recently, I began to think about on site safety and whether or not we as business owners had anything “Safety” related as part of our “infrastructure” make up for our business.
It is common for any industry that when there is reports of higher than normal injuries people begin to ask the question of what is going on? I think it is fair game to ask that same question today as it relates to the pressure washing and window washing industry. Just off the top of my head I am aware of 4 accidents that has happened in the last 5 months in which one of those resulted in death i.e. window washer in Orinda, CA, a Northern California community, which our company offers pressure washing services.
Human error is often to be blamed for the reasons why individuals get hurt on the job site. As a business owner, whether you are a sole proprietor or a corporation, you have an obligation to ensure that your employees and you remain abreast and up to date with a current and correct safety plan.
Safety plans and safety meetings must be part of your operational routine. Some questions to ponder as you evaluate your safety guidelines:
- Do your employees wear safety glasses?
- Do your employees wear ear protection while the rig is operating?
- How many safety cones do you own?
- When you are night washing do you wear reflective gear?
- Are ladders being “footed” by a second person during window cleaning?
- What is the expected “Safe Zone” in footage around your pressure washing rig and vehicle?
- What if any safety considerations do you implement regarding the general public?
- Do you have a First Aid Kit?
- Where is your Fire Extinguisher located at?
- MSDS Sheets have instructions for First Aid cares for all chemicals should you need it. Is your MSDS Sheets sitting in your garage on a shelf somewhere?
- Are you or anyone in your company certified in First Aid?
These questions and many, many more are the type of question we all should constantly ask as we tighten our belt regarding safety awareness.
Until then . . . Be Safe!
Carlos Gonzales is the owner of New Look Power Wash located in California. Pressure Wash in California
Pressure Wash service areas include San Francisco, Oakland, Pleasanton, Emeryville, Richmond, San Pablo, Hercules, Vallejo, Petaluma, El Cerrito, Folsom, Lafayette, Cathedral City, Clayton, East Palo Alto, Palo Alto, Fairfield, Vacaville, Dixon, Winters, Davis, Sacramento, West Sacramento, Suisun City, Stockton, Pittsburgh, Pleasant Hill, St. Helena, Walnut Creek, Oakley, Benicia, Danville, San Ramon, American Canyon, Orinda, Berkeley, Napa, San Rafael, Petaluma, South San Francisco, Rancho Cordova, San Pablo, El Sobrante, Martinez, Pleasant Hill, Concord, Lodi, Stanford, Monterey, Bodega Bay, Carmel, Redding, Livermore, Fremont, Fresno, Santa Ana, Anaheim, Riverside, Modesto, Santa Clara, Santa Rosa, Hayward, Elk Grove, Sunnyvale, Visalia, Roseville, Daly City, Antioch, San Mateo, Clovis, Santa Monica, Santa Barbara, Alhambra, Chico, Citrus Heights, Livermore, Alameda, San Leandro, Calistoga, Campbell, Tracy, Merced, Atherton, Auburn, Belmont, Belvedere, Brentwood, Brisbane, Burlingame, Albany, Point Richmond, Rio Vista, San Jose, Bakersfield, Los Angeles, Mill Valley, Burbank, Palo Alto, Morgan Hill, Mountain View, Hayward, Rancho Cordova, Los Banos, San Diego, Long Beach, Orange County, Contra Costa County, Solano County, Alameda County and Napa County.