The secret to cleaner windows?

Don’t let your windows get MAD – The most damaging things for your windows are as follows: Moisture, Alkalinity and Dirt or MAD for short.

Now there is not much you can do about your windows getting wet, especially at this time of year, but having your windows cleaned regularly will help to protect the glass from long term damage and staining.

Stained and Discoloured windows? Now there is a solution.
1st Choice High Level Cleaning & Maintenace are Approved Applicators of ClearShield Eco System which helps to prevent unsightly staining and discolouration of your windows from rainwater, traffic pollution, tree sap, bird lime and run off from masonry, lead flashing and silicon sealant.

Renovate, Protect and Maintain

The ClearShield Eco System helps new and existing windows to shine improving cleanliness and clarity by renovating, protecting and maintaining the glass. At 1st Choice High Level Cleaning & Maintence we are Approved Applicators of the ClearShield Eco System, which provides the very best results for your glass and windows.

Benefits of ClearShield Eco System:

  • Windows look cleaner and brighter than before
  • Windows and glass remain cleaner and brighter between cleans
  • A unique solution to staining and discolouration of windows
  • An award winning system • Better for the environment
  • Longer lasting cleaning
  • More cost effective

You can find out more on our 1st Choice High Level Cleaning YouTube Channel or call us on 023 92 366 377

What is a Man Safe or Anchor Safe system?

One of our qualified inspectors tested a line safety/ Man safe system in Portsmouth on Friday. We thought we’d do a quick Q and A for anyone not sure about Man Safe or Anchor Safe Systems

What is a Man Safe or Anchor Safe system?

Man safe systems help to protect personnel working at height They connect them to a fall arrest system with suitable Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Working at height is inherently hazardous and should falls occur then the results could be fatal or life altering. However, working at height is sometimes necessary and so Mansafe systems are of critical importance when it comes to protecting your people.

A man safe system could be a single anchor fixing near a window or a line system installed on roof. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) state that man safe systems should be used for carrying out inspections and minor repairs only.

To comply with legislation, in the form of BS EN 795: ‘Protection Against Falls From Height – Anchorage Devices – Requirements And Testing’. these man safe systems must be regularly tested by qualified inspectors.

Why do we need to test our ManSafe / anchor safe systems?

The legislation means that man safe or anchor safe systems must be regularly tested and certified as remaining compliant and safe to use, in order to protect those using them.

How often should man safe / anchor safe units be tested?

As a minimum they should be tested at least every 12 months but this may be required more frequently depending on how often they are used. The rules are governed by some fairly technical legislation so there is not a one size fits all answer. Our fully qualified system testers can help you understand your obligations and plan a testing regime to suit your needs.

Who is responsible for man safe/ anchor safe systems?

You may be responsible If you are the:

  • Health and safety manager
  • Facilities manager
  • Employer
  • Building owner
  • Principal contractor or sub contractor
  • Architect
  • Designer

What are the regulations for working at height?

To comply with the legislation, in the form of BS EN 795: ‘Protection Against Falls From Height – Anchorage Devices – Requirements And Testing’, Anchor safe or man safe systems must be regularly tested by qualified inspectors.

More useful links for Working at Height

With over 20 years experience of using fall prevention equipment, our understanding and knowledge is invaluable in the planning stages through to testing and maintaining.

Call us today on 023 9236 6377 and see how we can help you.

Pigeon netting and bird netting

Why do I need bird netting on my building?

Amongst other things Pigeons can spread disease and leave unsightly droppings on your buildings.

If you look carefully you can see nylon bird netting and pigeon netting on many buildings all over the world. The discreet looking netting keeps pigeons and other birds such asgulls and sparrows from nesting or perching on ledges of buildings. By using bird netting and pigeon netting you can prevent unsightly droppings of birds from contaminating your building.

 Pigeon netting and bird netting can help prevent:

  • Unsightly pigeon and bird droppings which can cause problems by making pavements and steps slippery, particularly in wet weather. 
  • Damage to your buildings and corrosion of stonework caused by pigeon droppings
  • Nesting material, droppings and dead birds from blocking gutters and drains leading to water damage to buildings.
  • Infections which can be transmitted to humans from pigeon

What do I need to do before pigeon netting or bird netting is installed?

  • Pigeon droppings or bird guano, which is the technical term for bird excrement, should be removed prior to installing bird netting or pigeon netting.
  • It is important to remove guano before installing anti- perching products
  • If you are excluding pigeons from an internal area of a building it is vital to clean any build-up of pigeon guano to stop smells and reduce the potential for insect-related problems for occupants.  Our specialist cleaning team can remove a build up of guano from any area before installing anti perching devices.

Where should bird netting and pigeon netting be installed?

Since people with depressed immune systems are particularly vulnerable to some of the human pathogens carried by pigeons, flocks of pigeons should not be tolerated around hospitals, medical clinics, nursing homes and other similar sites.

Bird netting is usually used vertical to protect facias and window ledges.

How is pigeon netting and bird netting installed?

To be successful the pigeon or bird netting must be installed to an extremely high standard to completely exclude the birds from the area being netted.

Specialist equipment is needed and installation must be completed by a specialist in order for it to be effective.

Health and Safety is of paramount importance during installation and maintenance as it is often fitted at a high level.

1st Choice High Level leaning & Maintenance we are experts at the installation and maintenance of pigeon netting and bird netting on buildings of all sizes. We have great expertise in our team, meaning you can rest assured of a high quality installation and excellent customer service and aftercare.

All our cleaning team are fully DBS checked and insured for high level cleaning and pigeon and bird netting installation work.

Mansafe Accredited Installer

Paul recently attended Mansafe training at Kee Safety’s UK head office. Kee Safety is a leading global supplier of components and bespoke systems for railings, barriers, roof edge protection and fall prevention, and safe access equipment for working at height. It was an extensive course covering all aspects of the systems from production to installation and use. Thank you to all the training team at Kee Safety.APPROVED INSTALLER mansafe

 
Mansafe systems are installed on new and existing buildings to meet health and safety requirements and also giving confidence to the operatives who use the systems to carry out works safely at height. Based in Portsmouth, we offer Mansafe systems Installation and testing services across the South including Hampshire, Sussex, Dorset, and London.

GDPR Training

1st Choice High Level Cleaning and Maintenance take data protection very seriously and with the new GDPR regulations coming into force on 25 May 2018 we would like to share our updated privacy policy with you.

In addition to this Dawn has recently competed an online GDPR training course as recommended by CHAS. Dawn is pictured with her online GDPR & Data Safety Training certificate from CHAS partner Human Focus above.

Is your roof safe for contractors?

Is your roof safe for contractors?

If you have a roof that needs to be accessed for cleaning and/ or maintenance you must ensure that it is compliant with current Health and Safety legislation. 

Under the Work at Height Regulations 2005, it is the legal duty and moral responsibility of those in control of rooftop work to do all that is reasonably practical to prevent anyone from falling.

This can be done in a number of ways with either collective protection or personal protection systems which, when installed must then be tested and maintained annually. At 1st Choice High Level Cleaning and Maintenance, we have over 20 years experience in fitting and testing both collective and personal protection systems.

We work closely with Kee Safety and are fully accredited as competent for height safety systems and are suitably insured. Fall protection can cover a wide range of products and situations which can appear confusing. You can see the range of products available on the Kee Safety website but if you are unsure about what you need or how to ensure compliance then we can help advise you.

Questions to consider about your fall safety obligations

 

Does my roof need to be accessed?

If the answer is yes then you need to ensure you have the relevant collective or personal protection in place. We can advise you on the right type of system for your roof or it may be that there is already one installed and it just needs to be recertified.

One way of starting the process is to ask yourself what needs to be done on the roof, is it installing or cleaning the guttering, repairs to the roof or testing the air conditioning system. Other questions may be, is there an incline? Are there any skylights? With over 20 years experience we can help you work through these issues to ensure you have the right fall protection system in place for your building

Do I need a collective or a personal protection system in place?

Collective protection might be in the form of parapet walls or guardrails ( passive system) whilst personal protection might be in the form of a fall arrest or a fall restraint system (active system) which is attached to the individual.

What is the difference between a fall restraint and fall arrest system? 

A fall restraint stops the person getting near to the risk at all eg the edge of the roof or the skylight and a fall arrest system limits the risk of a serious consequence if they do fall. Please note that fall arrest systems must have a rescue plan in place to help the individual once they have fallen.

What is Mansafe?

Mansafe is the generic term for fall arrest and fall restraint systems

How often do they need to be tested?

Like the MOT on your car, fall protection systems need to be tested and recertified annually. It is really important to choose the right height safety specialist contractor to test them as each anchor bolt needs to be tested individually with a proper tool. All our tools are sent off annually for calibration and testing so we can be sure our tests are accurate. Beware of contractors who test very quickly. Many Mansafe systems have lots of safety eyebolts which need to be tested individually and beware of anyone claiming to test them with a spanner! They also need testing immediately after use in a  fall.

Which fall protection systems need to be tested annually?

  • Cat ladders 
  • Fall arrest and fall restraint systems 
  • Roof deadweight anchors
  • Roof fall arrest harness anchors 
  • Roof guardrail systems 
  • Safety eyebolts

Abseil anchors Need to be tested six monthly in line with lolar 1998

What happens if we don’t test them? 

If you don’t have them recertified and someone has an accident the consequences could be very serious, but even if there is no accident and they are not recertified, the HSE will be unhappy as the risk of injury is still present. It is just not worth the risk.

What legislation is there?

Under Work at Height Regulations 2005, it is the legal duty and moral responsibility of those in control of rooftop work to do all that is reasonably practical to prevent anyone from falling.

We are accredited as competent to test fall safety equipment under current British and European standards

Personal Protection standards

  • BS8437: 2012 is a code of practice for their selection use & maintenance. 
  • BSN EN356: 2004 covers personal protective equipment against falls from a height, general requirements for instructions for use, maintenance, periodic examination, repair, marking and packaging
  • EN795: 2012 relates to the design and testing of personal protection systems
  • BS7883: 2005 provides guidance on the installation, use, and maintenance of EN795 systems
  • The British Standards Institution (BSI) has published  PD CEN/TS 16415: 2013, to complement EN 795: 2012.

Cleaning the Chesapeake memorial on Southsea Seafront

Cleaning the Chesapeake memorial 

The Cheasepeak Memorial on Southsea seafront is located between the Royal Naval Memorial and the Hovercraft Terminal – it is a corniced pedestal, consisting of a polished granite column on a square base with a foliate capital surmounted by a bronze tripod bearing the naval crown. The base of the column is decorated with bronze relief. Our team were tasked with clearing a Seagulls nest from the memorial once the seagulls had finished nesting and cleaning the excreta on the Chesapeake memorial.  

The memorial remembers those from the HMS Chesapeake who died in battles during the Indian Mutiny and the Battle of the Taku Forts, China. It was restored in 1887 by Admiral Sir George Willis, K.C.B. who was the commander of the Chesapeake 1859-61

Cleaning this memorial required careful planning due to the following needs:

  1. The conservation, repair & maintenance requirements of war memorials
  2. Public safety
  3. The bacteria from the guano
  4. Atmospheric staining on the monument

To ensure we could meet all of these needs we started very early in the morning so as to avoid busy times for members of the public and we used professional steam cleaning methods that ensured we could meet all of the cleaning requirements listed above.

 

City Centre clean up in time for D Day 75 anniversary

City Centre clean up in time for D Day 75 anniversary

South Western Railway has completed works to much improve the cleanliness of the Portsmouth and Southsea railway station in the city centre.

As part of Portsmouth’s preparations for the D Day celebrations in June 2019, Portsmouth based, 1st Choice High Level Cleaning and Maintenance were tasked with the job of cleaning the railway bridge in the city centre.

Paul Coupland of 1st Choice High Level Cleaning and Maintenance, a former Marine himself said: 

“It’s a real honour to be part of the D Day memorial effort. We have also cleaned the Cenotaph the Chesapeake memorial and the façade of the Portsmouth Museum and are proud members of the forces family.”

“Site safety was paramount as the railway bridge is at a busy station over the main road into the city centre. Traffic Management was used to ensure that the area could be cleaned using an access platform and low-pressure steam cleaning was used so that harsh chemicals could be avoided. The results are great and the front of the station has never looked so good. It has certainly helped give the city centre a much-needed facelift before the veterans arrived on the 5th June.”

Paul works hard to raise money for the Royal Marines Charity which supports both serving and veteran Marines and their families. Paul has raised over £1500 for the charity. If you’d like to donate please visit https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/PaulCoupland2