Extreme window cleaning

This has to be one of the most hazardous jobs I’ve seen and I don’t think its particularly well-paid in Poland. When I arrived at the office this morning, the window cleaners were already out on the neighbouring building. We often share the lift with them, and they really do look prepared to climb a mountain; kitted out in ropes, helmets and various clips and buckles.  The gear looks the same, albeit without the large rucksac or crampons. Considering they’re abseiling and climbing a 26-storey building, I imagine the warm clothing is quite similar, although probably without the North Face sponsorship or the helicopter ride to first base. Note the crane at the top of the building which is a permanent fixture and supports the pulley system the climbers use. Some skyscrapers use cradles or platforms, but this is the only method I’ve seen used here.

If you look carefully, you can see a small wooden bench seat which the climbers sit on. They carry this around with them as part of their gear and all seem to have their own bespoke ones. An interesting question is where they get their water from. I’ve seen them carry buckets, but this seems to blend into insignificance when you consider the number of windows they have to wash – and the distance they would need to climb to refill them!

A few weeks ago, a Polish freeclimber climbed the Marriott building without any ropes or support. I missed it, but the full story with photos can be found here.