Interview with a Hong Kong Skyscraper Window Washer
Ever looked up at skyscrapers and wondered what it’s like to be cleaning those windows, dangling high up above the city? Tsang Hin-tong, a window cleaner with nearly a decade of experience, talks to Andrea Lo about his work.
HK Magazine: How did you become a window cleaner? How long have you been one?
Tsang Hin-tong: I wanted to be a window cleaner because it’s less hard work than other fields. Also, my education wasn’t great, and so it’s hard for me to try to find other jobs out there. A friend of mine introduced me to this job, and I’ve been working as a window cleaner for seven to eight years.
HK: Can anyone become a window cleaner, or do you need to be qualified?
TH: You do need qualifications for this job. To be able to carry out work at height, you need a Construction Industry Safety Training Certificate [colloquially referred to in Cantonese as “safety card”]. To obtain a new license, you need to take a class. After the class—which takes place over the course of a day—there is a written exam. You also need a license in order to work on a suspended working platform. This takes a bit longer—the classes last for two days. On the first day, the laws and safety regulations [surrounding working at heights] are explained, and on the second day there is both a written exam as well as one taking place on a suspended working platform. These licenses are granted by the Construction Industry Training Board. They are not that difficult; they mainly teach you about safety issues. As long as you are not afraid of heights or have heart problems, you can become a window cleaner after obtaining these licenses.
HK: Can you walk us through the process of window cleaning?
TH: We begin by first preparing all of our safety gear, which includes the safety hats and ropes. We then check the suspended working platform for any damage. After that, we put on our safety gear and start working. We work our way from the top of building downwards. How long the whole process takes depends on the situation—it’s quite hard to pinpoint the exact time. If a building is dirtier it will take longer.
HK: Have you ever been involved in any dangerous situations?
TH: Once, the suspended working platform broke down. It just stopped moving. When that happens, if you’re lucky and it’s not a windy day, you can at least try to keep it stable in the air. If it’s windy, it’s very nerve-wracking. There is no way we can try to fight the wind with manpower. You might have seen from the news—a lot of accidents happen when the platforms start to shake in the wind. When in a situation like this occurs, we try as much as we can to keep it balanced. If we’ve tried everything and this is not possible, then we hold on tight and call for help. I have never experienced things like a wire snapping or the suspended working platform overturning. They are normally equipped with four wires, with two on the left and two on the right. If one wire snaps, the other side automatically locks itself to prevent the platform from tipping. If wires on both sides break, then the whole thing tips. If you are not equipped with essential safety gear, then you can fall.
HK: What aspect of your job do you most enjoy?
TH: I enjoy the freedom this job brings. I’ve worked as an electrician, a construction worker and in a kitchen previously. There are not a lot of jobs like this one—being a window cleaner is not as stressful as many other fields. In this job, we are assigned work and then we go ahead and do it ourselves. In some other jobs, you have to deal with clients and various other situations.