Look Up. Look Out. Don’t Risk Your Life for a Cleaning Job.

For any exterior cleaning job that we’re working on please remember that power lines have and can kill. The water fed poles we use can conduct electricity and we owe it not only to ourselves, but our families, loved ones and children to take actions to keep ourselves safe.

If you’re working near overhead power lines please get them check and shrouded to minimise your risk of injury or death.

3 Steps to Safety

1. Identify

Check if the wires entering the property are power or phone lines. (If you aren’t 100% sure, assume they are power).

2. Snap

Take 3 photos: The house connection, the street pole, and the span of the wire.

3. Apply

Use the links below to find your DNO and submit a request.

The DNO Directory

DNO = Distribution Network Operator. Think of them as the “custodians” of the electricity grid in your local area

Vital Safety Points

Trades Affected

We understand that this guidance is primarily directed at window cleaners but we should also bear in mind that this guidance is useful and should be shared with all exterior cleaners using water fed poles and similar equipment. Trades and cleaners affects are as follows but not limited to:

Window Cleaners

As window cleaners, you’er out almost daily cleaning windows for both regular customers and one-off jobs too. It’s really worth considering a review of all regular jobs and asking if there’s power lines that would be safer to be shrouded. Where there is ‘Transmission Lines’ which carry much higher voltage it is advisable to consider if the clean task can be limited to a water fed pole of small size which can keep clear of the power line and possible bring distance.

For example if a power line sits 6 metres overhead then can you adjust and limit the pole to a 2 metre pole so it can not physically reach the power line?

And Remember. PPE is Important but the Final Line of Defence

We advise that if you use a water fed pole then opt for one which at least has an insulated base section.

Always carry electrical insulated gloves as well.

But please remember that these measures are a last line of defence and we should be taking all reasonable measures to make our working environment safe through other measures first. That means adjusting our processes and getting power lines shrouded too.

Disclaimer: Guidance for Information Purposes Only

1. No Professional Advice The information provided on [Your Website Name] is for general guidance and educational purposes only. It is intended to help exterior cleaners understand the process of requesting shrouding from Distribution Network Operators (DNOs). This information does not constitute formal health and safety advice, legal advice, or technical instruction.

2. Accuracy of Information While we strive to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, or suitability of the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website. Links to DNO websites are provided for your convenience; we do not control those sites and are not responsible for their content or the services they provide.

3. Limitation of Liability To the extent permitted by law, [Your Name/Website Name] shall not be liable for any loss or damage including, without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever arising from the use of this website.

4. Your Responsibility Electricity is lethal. Working near overhead power lines is a high-risk activity. Using this website does not replace the need for a professional risk assessment, proper training, or adherence to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) GS6 guidelines.

• Always treat every overhead wire as a live power line until proven otherwise by a DNO.
• Always conduct your own site-specific safety checks before starting work.
• Reliance on any information on this site is strictly at your own risk.