Safety Training with Mr. Billy Ring

Safety Day Training on May 14th, 2013 at the Two Dudes Office.

Pictured left to right are:  Billy Ring, Dave Allen, Andrew Kelly, Jonathon Hamilton, Alex Nunery, Aaron Sellers.

We had the privilege of having Billy Ring come by our office on Tuesday, May 14th to teach us dudes a thing or two about safety.

Topics included ladder safety, pressure washing procedures, and other things to watch out for when on the job.  He did a wonderful job educating us all and provided us with safety training certificates.

Big Thanks Mr. Ring!!

Window Cleaning Superheroes Fight Grime & Bring Smiles

I came across this story and wanted to share it with you all.  It makes me wish I did High Rise Window Cleaning.... Well almost anyways.  Here is the link to the story.

These Are Not the Window Cleaners You Are Looking For!

It is estimated that robots and automated technology will zap 200K jobs each year from the service industry.  Since 4 out of 5 American jobs are in or connected to the service sector then this will likely have a huge impact on available jobs in the years ahead.  Factory jobs have largely been replaced due to automation and it will get worse when 3D printers hit homes.  Now white collar and service jobs are in the crosshairs.

I am 33 years old and can easily remember when I would talk to a secretary when calling a place of business, ordering event tickets from a phone agent, watching the meter reader invade my backyard, and reminisce about the days of old before the nuisance sounds of press 1 for....... or 2 for payment.

Going forward a decade or two from today might look similar to a science fiction dystopia as far as jobs go.  Automated cars and trucks replacing commercial drivers, cyborg waitresses, self checkout and service desk robots (good luck arguing over a return), automated banking tellers, security droids, and even the traditional high paying jobs of doctors and lawyers may become a thing of the past.


I happen to own and work in a service based business myself and came across an article about a window cleaning robot called Winbot.  Manufactured by ECOVACS it has a retail price of $299-$399 with the premium model used for frameless windows.  Accessories are extra and range from $5.99 for cleaning solution and microfiber pads to $59.99 for a 30' cord.  Weighing in at 4.5lbs (about the weight of a half gallon of milk) the machine uses high powered suction rings to move across the glass and its sensors detect the most efficient pattern to clean the glass.  When it is done it notifies you with a beep that it is ready to clean another window.


Now you might be thinking to yourself "why on earth would the owner of a window cleaning business advertise a window cleaning robot?"  Well I am not slightest bit concerned with this machine as it still has its limitations and frustrations.  For one it can't remove storms or screens from the windows.  Other obvious limitations are it can't clean divided glass, does not scrape paint or stickers off the glass, and you would still have to move the machine from window to window. Changing the microfiber pad out and applying cleaning solution are also drawbacks.  For now with all that work and waiting involved I think us fleshly window cleaners still have a huge upper hand.  20-25 years from now I may have a formidable opponent capable of winning the machine vs human contest.  The strange thing is the competition will be a robot instead of the other window cleaner in town.  At that moment I might just become a 21st Century Luddite.


Watch the video below for a review from Yahoo's Becky Worley.

 

Reaching New Heights (Safely!)

Step Ladder

Today I want to write to you about ladder safety both from a home owner's and contractor's perspective.

Ladders can be a wonderful thing.  They can also be dangerous and deadly.  First off you want to make sure you have the right ladder for the job. 

There are three types of ladders commonly used.  The first is a step ladder.    This is the ladder that is used mostly by homeowners.  They range from a step stool all the way to 16' or so.  While they do make step ladders taller than this, again we are talking mainstream use.  Step ladders are fairly safe compared to the other types, but are not accident free by any means.  In fact you can break your leg or arm from just three feet if you fall just the right way.  One of the big problems with step ladders is that you can take your safety for granted.  You think to yourself I can just jump off six feet if I start to fall.  That might not be the case if your momentum takes you away or your reaction time is not quick enough.  You do not want to climb the top two steps for any reason as you may lose your balance.  Another major problem with step ladders is they usually fold up, and if you don't have the bars extended all the way out then this creates a tilt effect.  Remember just like pinball; no tilting!  The platform stand that you place objects on is very useful, just not for your feet.  Speaking of feet always wear non-slip shoes when climbing a step ladder as socks can be slippery.




Extension Ladder

 The second ladder I will discuss is called an extension ladder which are mainly utilized by contractors and used outdoors.  These range from 16' to 60'.  Yikes!  When determining what size extension ladder to use for the job you want to factor in more than height alone.  You also want to find out what duty rating you will need.  There is Type 1 thru Type III and for the big boys Type IA and Type IAA.  These types are for weight limit guidelines and include your body weight plus the weight of all your tools, and anything on your person.  Type II for instance is rated at 225lbs.  If you weighed 215 and had 5lbs worth of tools you would have a sufficient ladder for the job.  However if you had a tool belt that weighed 8lbs than you would be over the limit.  When carrying an extension ladder always look out and overhead for power lines, people, cars, plants, pets, pet byproducts (safe but messy) and other objects.  Power lines are a major hazard.  Just because you have a fiberglass ladder does not exempt you from this danger.  If you were to hit it hard enough the line could break and fall on you.  You always want to have a firm non-slick surface to set your extension ladder on.  Don't place the ladder on gravel, oily surface, mossy deck, uneven ground or other potentially dangerous surface.  If you do need to use your extension ladder on a sloped surface than an investment in a set of ladder stabilizers will come in handy.  Next I want to talk about the 4-1 rule.  For every 4' you have your ladder extended you want to make sure you have it 1' out from the building.  For instance lets say you needed to climb 20' to clean a window, then you would want the ladder 5' from the wall.  If you need to set the ladder up above the roof line then you always want the ladder at least 3' above it.  Wind can also play a major role in the safety of your extension ladder and the higher the ladder the more wind speed can wreak havoc.  Winds above 15mph can pull the ladder right out of your hands or blow over an unattended ladder.  Gusts in the 25-30mph could potentially blow you right off your extension ladder.  The other safety measure you want to follow is the 3-1 rule.  That is 3 points of contact on the ladder at all times.  So if you had both feet and "look ma no hands", that is a violation of this rule.  It may be stylish for your bicycle but style and safety don't mix on a ladder.  The final thing I want to cover on extension ladder safety is any ladder above 32' you will want a helper to carry it and set it up.  A footer is also a good idea to help hold the ladder in place at the bottom.




Combination Ladder

The final ladder I want to briefly talk about today is a combination ladder.  This multifunctional ladder can be used as a step ladder but also will transform into an extension ladder.  You should follow the above rules with these exceptions.  When changing the ladder from extension be careful not to pinch your fingers on the hinge and make certain that the ladder mechanisms are locked and secure.  These ladders tend to be more slick on the bottom since rubber feet are used. 



 If taking the time to write this post saves one person from a fall or injury than it is well worth it.  As a window cleaner of 12 years I have heard and seen too many first hand accounts of injuries from homeowners and workers.  BE SAFE OUT THERE!

This blog posting is in no way meant to be a replacement or supplement for OSHA or safety regulations by other government agencies.  Always review official safety guidelines.

For more information on ladder safety please visit:
http://www.osha.gov/Publications/portable_ladder_qc.html

Last One Out Turns Off the Lights!

We are heading into fall and that means not only the leaves changing color, but we will also be losing sunlight each day that goes by.

This means you are probably using your home lighting more than before.  There are several types of home lights; incandescent, halogen, CFL, LED and others.

 I wanted to talk about these bulbs today as there is a law that is scheduled to go into effect January 1, 2012.  This law mandates that bulbs must be 25-30% more efficient by 2014.  The phase out of the 100 watt bulb is first to meet it's maker.  In a few years the 60 watt bulb will burn out as well.  There will be special provisions made for specialty bulbs, three ways, chandelier lighting, refrigerator bulbs, and plant growing lights. 

Lets talk a little bit about the different types mentioned above.


Incandescent Bulbs 

These are the kind we have been using since the late 19th century.  They create light by heating the a metal wire (known as a filament) until it glows.  It is encapsulated by the glass bulb to protect from air outside. 

What makes these things work so well is also it's Achilles heel, and that is the 90% power it consumes thru heat it takes to light the room.  This is the main detriment to this choice for home interior lighting.

Some positives are they mimic natural light best, hold a lampshade well, and are much cheaper than the current alternatives when factoring purchase price alone.



CFL's

These are known as compact fluorescent light bulbs.  The modern CFL was invented in 1976 by a G.E engineer by the name of Edward Hammer. 

The CFL did not become popular from a consumer standpoint until the mid 90's when they were mass produced from China.  These bulbs use up to one-fifth less power, and last 6-10 times longer than an incandescent bulb.

Some drawbacks of the CFL include cost, they are not dimmable, they take a second to reach max brightness, mercury content, and if you have ever tried to put a lampshade on one you know the pain.  If you happen to break one it can be hazardous to your health if not properly cleaned up.


LED

These newest types of bulbs for consumers are called light emitting diode or LED for short.  They were invented in 1962 as an electrical component.

The advantage these have is that they last 2-4 times longer than CFL's, and a ridiculous 25-30 times longer than incandescents.  They use very little power since they use 85% less energy than incandescents.

There are some roadblocks to LED's dominance though.  Costs are very high for the average consumer although some prices have fallen in half in the last year.  Another prominent issue is color quality and a less natural light given, and a LED light also doesn't do as good of a job of brightening up a room.  There is also a lack of selection for widespread practical use.


Halogen

These bulbs are similar to incandescents, but come with a tungsten filament and are filled with halogen gas creating what is known as a "halogen cycle".  This cycle is basically a reaction of the halogen gas, the bulb wall, and the filament, not to get into scientific jargon.

The halogen bulb is most widely used as outside floodlights, and headlights in automobiles. 

There are some fire and burn risks associated with halogen bulbs since they reach a much hotter temperature than even incandescents.

Light bulb manufacturer Bulbrite has come out with Halogen bulbs that use less energy, is dimmable, come in clear and soft white, can last up to 1000 hours, and are made in 4 equal luminosity equivalents to an incandescent bulb.


Lighting the Way To the Future

In addition to the phase out of incandescents next year, there will also be a change in measuring light.  Watts will be changed to lumen's.  CFL's have come a long way the past couple years, LED's are dropping in price and improving as well. 

I don't know what the future holds in the lighting industry, but one thing is certain that humans craving for light will not diminish, but burn brighter and brighter.

P.S.  If you are interested there is a great article I read about our demand for light.  The link is below.

http://www.economist.com/node/16886228

DIY Window Cleaning

Today, or more like tonight I want to give some pointers for the Do- It-Yourselfers out there.  Cleaning windows can be a tough and exhausting task when not having the right tools, which is why more often than not we get called after hours of frustration and lackluster results. 

There are many different ways that homeowners clean their windows.  From newspapers and vinegar, (hold your nose) ammonia, dawn, baking soda, and the old familiar Windex and paper towel trick.

Here are two I would recommend. Choose one of the two ways depending on your level of adventure.

Option #1  This one involves a squeegee and strip mop which you can pick up from your favorite hardware store.  The squeegees they sell now have come a looooong way in the last few years.  An Ettore brand would be preferable.  Next up buy a bucket and some Palmolive which is easiest on the hands.  Lastly get a sponge to clean out your window sills with. 

Once you have everything fill up the bucket half way with water and then add the dish soap.  Doing it in this order reduces the amount of suds.  You want about 1.5-2 ounces per gallon of water.  Next use the strip mop and apply the solution to your window.  Then squeegee off the water holding the squeegee at a slight angle.  Next wipe up the water on the edges with a towel, and use your sponge to clean the window sills and tracks.  Repeat the process for the rest of your windows.  A razor blade can be used to remove any paint or tough debris.  Be VERY careful when using the sharp razor.

Option #2  If the above prospects sound too intimidating there is good news for you still.  There is a product called Sprayway Glass Cleaner which I believe does a much better job than the other popular glass cleaners.  They didn't even pay me to say that!  The only other thing you need is some paper towels.  Don't scrimp on the brand though or it will shred and not properly absorb all the cleaner.  Bounty or another leading brand works best.

The directions are pretty straightforward.  Just spray on a very light application and wipe off with a paper towel.  Voila! 

If you don't have the time, energy, or have high unreachable windows then a professional window cleaner can take care of it for you, but if you like to clean your inside windows yourself then hopefully this will help save you a headache.

Just don't get too good at it.  Your neighbor might want you to clean theirs!



  

Bye Bye Birdie

A few weeks ago I was servicing one of my clients and they had a major problem with birds crashing into the windows, or bird strikes as they are referred to.  This happens to be a very common problem.  Before you go thinking this is how someone came up with the wildly popular Angry Birds game title let me explain why this phenomenon happens.

A human views things with a 3 cone or tricromatic retina whereas a bird has a 4-cone tetrachromatic retina.  There is an exception for some women as you can read in this article. http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06256/721190-114.stm  (This explains why most of us guys couldn't put together an outfit that matched to save our lives.)

A human uses 10,000 color vision cells per square millimeter and a bird 120,000 cells per sq. mm.
A bird's eyes take up about 15% of their head while a human only 2%.

Birds also have more than double the amount of low-light rod cells averaging about 500,000 cells per sq.mm. 

What does all this jargon mean?  In short birds see the world in HD without glasses or some fancy screen.  Have you always wondered why you can't sneak up on a bird very well, or how the term birds-eye-view came into slang?  Now you know.

I still need to answer the question on why birds are going kamikaze into your picture window though.  Well it has a lot to do with these factors. 

1.  A bird sees a huge piece of glass and thinks he can fly right inside your home.  A lot of the time right after we clean windows the bird strike frequency increases.  This is because it looks to them like your living room is prime real estate.

2.  Another high increase in bird strikes happens in the bird mating season.  Male birds see themselves in the reflection of the glass and are not smart enough to figure it is them they are beholding and end up attacking a mirror image of themselves.  They are being territorial against other males.  The speed at which they hit can be in the 20-40 mph range.  Fast enough to cause concussions or death.

It is estimated there are over 100 million bird fatalities in the United States each year.  This doesn't even factor in the ones that are stunned and become prey.

So how can this problem be remedied?

There are many different solutions out there.  Some work better than others.  It really depends on the species of bird native to your region.  Here in Ohio we are talking about Robins, Cardinals, and blackbirds.  Some of the common items or methods used as a deterrent include gels, fake owls and hawks, decals, metallic streamers, tinting your windows, putting up blinds, placing wind chimes outside, ultrasonic noisemakers,  and making sure to place your bird feeders within 3 feet of your window just to name a few.

There is no need to say "bye bye birdie".   Together we can preserve the view of both human and fowl.