New Minnesota OSHA Standard for Window Washers

MINNEAPOLIS - The state of Minnesota is handing down new standards to help make the job of window washing safer.

In November, the FOX 9 Investigators exposed frequent safety shortcuts by crews working in the metro.

Three men washing windows have died in the past three years. OSHA reports say their deaths could have been prevented with more training and proper use of safety equipment and procedures.

SLIDESHOW: A Window Washer's World

The new Minnesota Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MNOSHA) standard is designed to increase worker protection and provide clarity for contractors that perform interior or exterior window-washing or building-maintenance operations. It applies to workers that are suspended more than 14 feet above grade.

The standard requires employers to have a comprehensive written safety plan and provide employee training for window-washing and building-maintenance activities. It also addresses and outlines worker safety requirements in the areas of:

• Anchors and anchor points;
• Appropriate recordkeeping regarding employee training and retraining;
• Fall protection;
• Proper care, use and inspection of equipment;
• Rope descent systems; and
• Visual inspections of building exteriors before work begins.

"This new standard ensures a plan is in place to reduce risks to workers and that systems are in place to identify and control workplace hazards," said Commissioner Ken Peterson, Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI). "The goal is to prevent accidents."

MNOSHA began a local emphasis inspection program for the window-washing and building-maintenance industry in October 2010. Since then, MNOSHA has conducted 34 window-washing inspections: one was a complaint, one was a fatality and 32 were part of the emphasis program, where investigators may stop and conduct an inspection when they observe window-washing activity.

During these inspections, MNOSHA investigators found some worksites lacked proper safety equipment for employees cleaning windows. Also, not all employers were complying with existing MNOSHA safety standards or following the manufacturer's guidelines about how to safely use suspension scaffolds and lifelines.

Employers can get information about the new standard via the DLI website at www.dli.mn.gov/MnOsha.asp (click on the "Standards" tab) or by calling MNOSHA Compliance at (651) 284-5050.

The new safety standard for window-washers takes effect March 1, 2012.