Look Up Look Out

Clive Swanny — 240-volt domestic mains cable survivor

Clive Swanny had been window cleaning for around 12 years, and cleaning this particular house for about 9 years. He was using a Gardiner SLX pole but never had the insulated base section on, due to a shoulder issue, so he broke the pole down to 18 feet to make it lighter. The day before, he had planned to go to Screwfix and buy gloves, but he nearly forgot. On his normal round, he was doing a maintenance clean; after finishing one window, the pole tipped forward, and he heard a crackling sound. He looked up to see the pole getting fried, and he quickly pulled it off, resting it on the customer’s fence. He realized the lines might not have been insulated, so he told the customer, who agreed to get it checked. Clive isn’t sure what stopped him from being electrocuted—maybe it was the gloves—but he shared his story on Facebook to remind others not to get complacent. He hadn’t realized that some homes have uninsulated overhead lines

If cables feel unsafe, stop work and call 105 (Great Britain). In an emergency, call 999.

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I’ve been window cleaning for around 12 years and cleaning this particular house for about 9 years.

I was using a Gardiner SLX pole but never had the insulated base section on as I had a shoulder issue so broke the pole down to a 18ft to make it lighter.

The day before I was supposed to go screwfix and buy some gloves but was going to leave it but on the way home i had a thought to get them to use tomorrow.

I was out on my normal round doing maintenance cleans and cleaned the top left window and as I turned to do the right window the pole fell slightly forward and I heard a bang and crackling noise and looked up to see the pole getting fried, I pulled the pole off and rested it on the customers fence.

I don’t think the lines were insulated so I spoke to the customer and said he needs to get it checked out and he agreed.

I’m not sure what stopped me getting electrocuted but maybe the gloves helped I don’t know for sure.

I shared the post of Facebook just to remind people to be aware as you can easily get complacent, I was not aware there was uninsulated power lines going to peoples homes.

Clive Swanny’s Window Cleaning

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