International
Window Cleaning
Association
7801 Suffolk Court, Alexandria, VA 22315-4029
Phone: 800-875-4922 or 703-971-7771 Fax: 703-971-7772
Email: IWCA@aol.com Web: www.iwca.org
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Attention: Professionals in the Window Cleaning Industry
Topic: OSHA References I-14 Standard in Recent Citation
Since the approval and publication of the ANSI/IWCA I 14 Window Cleaning Safety
Standard in October of 2001, there has been continuing education for the window cleaning
and property management industries with regards to the impact this new ANSI Standard
will have on safety in the workplace.
The question of “Can the I 14 Standard can be used and enforced much like an OSHA
regulation?” has been repeatedly raised.
While ANSI Standards are voluntary in nature, their very existence allows regulatory
agencies like OSHA, to have a reference point, where none may exist in current
regulations, in order to enforce workplace safety. This fact enables regulatory officials to
reference the latest technological information which may include greater levels of safety,
while performing their duties regarding safety compliance.
The following paragraph is an excerpt from a recent OSHA citation of a window cleaning
company in 2002. As you can see, OSHA has suggested the particular incident may have
been prevented had the company taken steps to provide safety training, site assessment
training and equipment use and inspection as described within the ANSI/IWCA I 14
Window Cleaning Safety Standard.
This is not the first reference by OSHA of the I 14 Window Cleaning Safety Standard, nor
will it be the last. If you’re a professional involved with the window cleaning industry and
are concerned about safety compliance call 800-875-4922, or visit our website
www.iwca.org to obtain a copy of the ANSI/IWCA I 14 Standard.
TEXT FOR CITATION: 01 ITEM/GROUP: 001 HAZARD: FALLING
Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to fall hazard of 60 feet: Employee(s) were exposed to a fall hazard of 60 ft. from a building on which they were washing windows while suspended from boatswain chair scaffolding. Employee(s) were attempting to wash windows without the employer providing training in order that the employee(s) could inspect the condition of, and safely use the required equipment. A feasible and available method of abatement is to create and provide employees with a training program, inspection information and procedures and the proper equipment as required by the American National Standard/International Window Cleaning Association Window Cleaning Safety ANSI/IWCA I-14.1.
The mission of the IWCA is to educate and assist its members in developing professionalism, ethics and standards of safety; to actively represent the concerns and interests of window cleaning companies to international, national, state and local regulatory agencies; to promote the welfare of the industry through advocacy, education, training and community involvement; and to be recognized as the premier association for the window cleaning industry.