In Window Cleaning, Scissor Lifts are a common way to work at height - and a common source of falls when they are misused. This guide explains how Window Cleaning teams in Ireland use Scissor Lifts safely, and why a Working at Heights Course ties it all together.
Scissor Lifts in Window Cleaning: where the risk lies
A cleaner servicing a multi-storey office facade, choosing between a cradle, a MEWP and a pole system based on access and weather. Scissor Lifts are suited to vertical access for indoor and firm-ground tasks such as installation, maintenance and high-bay work, but in a Window Cleaning setting the margin for error is small.
Pre-use checks for Scissor Lifts
Before any Window Cleaning worker uses Scissor Lifts, confirm that:
- Guardrails and gates are intact
- Controls and emergency lowering function correctly
- The floor is firm, level and rated for the load
- The platform extension is locked when used
The relevant standard here is EN 280, operated by IPAF 3a card holders, thoroughly examined every 6 months.
Common Scissor Lifts faults to never ignore
- Overloading the platform
- Untrained use
- No inspection record
- Driving elevated over uneven floors
Pole systems have removed much ladder risk, but high and awkward glazing still needs proper powered or suspended access.
The Working at Heights Course makes compliance simple
You do not need a classroom or a lost work day to fix this. Our Working at Heights Course is delivered fully online, takes about 45 minutes, and issues a downloadable certificate the same day. It is CPD certified, RoSPA approved and QQI aligned, and it is written specifically for Window Cleaning teams using Scissor Lifts.
The Working at Heights Training covers the avoid-prevent-minimise hierarchy, ladder and stepladder safety, MEWPs and scaffolds, harnesses and anchor points, and how to carry out a proper risk assessment. Every learner finishes with a recognised Working at Heights Certificate that stands up to HSA inspection and supports your insurance position.
Training that goes beyond the tick-box
Competence is not the same as experience. A worker who has used ladders for twenty years can still carry twenty years of bad habits. Refresher training matters for Scissor Lifts in Window Cleaning precisely because confidence drifts away from the rules over time, and a quick refresher resets it.
Young and new workers are over-represented in fall statistics, and Scissor Lifts in Window Cleaning is no exception. Setting good habits from the very first day - never climbing on furniture, never overreaching, always inspecting equipment - is far easier than unlearning bad ones later. Early certification with a Working at Heights Course pays back for an entire career.
Frequently asked questions
Do Window Cleaning workers need training to use Scissor Lifts?
Yes. Safe use of Scissor Lifts is part of working at height. A Working at Heights Course covers selection, inspection and safe use for Window Cleaning tasks.
How often should Scissor Lifts be inspected?
Before every use by the operator, plus formal recorded inspections to the relevant standard. Keep the logs for HSA inspection.
Is online training enough for Window Cleaning height work?
Our online Working at Heights Training covers the legal and safe-system knowledge; equipment-specific practical tickets (such as IPAF or PASMA) are added where the task requires them.
More on staying safe at height
Supervision is the quiet control that holds everything together. Even a perfectly trained worker drifts under time pressure, so someone on site needs the knowledge and the authority to stop unsafe work involving scissor lifts in window cleaning before it becomes an incident. That only happens when supervisors are trained too.
Get certified today
Do not wait for an HSA inspection or a near miss to act. Window Cleaning teams can complete the Working at Heights Course online in 45 minutes and download a certificate the same day. For 10 or more learners, see our team training rates, or contact our team for a tailored quote.
Start the online Working at Heights Training now and put a recognised certificate in every worker's file before the next job at height begins.
