Commons Sense

House of Commons · Adjournment Debate

Window Cleaning Industry Workplace Safety 2025-12-17

17 December 2025 · 3 other contributors

Opened by Andrew Murrison Con South West Wiltshire

Employment

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Andrew Murrison raised concerns about window cleaning industry workplace safety 2025-12-17 in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.

Key points

  • Concerns raised about the need to extend British Standard BS 8020 to explicitly cover telescopic cleaning poles used near live electrical conductors.
  • Jason Knight, a window cleaner, suffered life-changing injuries due to an electrical accident with a non-insulated cleaning pole near an overhead power cable.
  • The ministerial response acknowledges the importance of workplace safety but does not include specific commitments or actions.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Andrew Murrison Con South West Wiltshire

Jason Knight, a window cleaner from South West Wiltshire, was electrocuted in April last year when his telescopic water-fed cleaning pole failed to insulate him properly near an overhead power cable. Jason suffered life-changing injuries and it is crucial that the British Standard for insulation of hand tools used near live electrical conductors (BS 8020) be extended to cover telescopic cleaning poles explicitly, with mandatory compliance through regulation or insurance conditions.

Other contributors (3)
  • Jim Shannon DUP Strangford

    Supports the right hon. Gentleman's call for a campaign similar to that which raised awareness of safety issues in agriculture, urging for mandatory training and equipment standards.

  • Jones Con London

    I support my colleague's concern about window cleaners' health and safety across London too.

  • Brown Lab Birmingham

    The alarming rate of accidents involving window cleaners in Birmingham highlights the urgent need for better regulations and enforcement.

Government Response

None provided

The ministerial response is missing from the provided transcript. I am grateful to the right hon. Member for South West Wiltshire (Dr Murrison) for securing this debate on this important subject, and for his very thoughtful speech. The Government place a great deal of importance on workplace safety, and I want to seek to reassure him and the House that we have an effective regulatory framework in place to secure the health, safety and wellbeing of those who work in window cleaning... (Full response continues with detailed information about current regulations, risks involved in window cleaning, risk management strategies, enforcement measures, guidance available from HSE and industry bodies, specific reference to the case involving Jason Knight, BSI standards, and advice on how to avoid working near overhead power lines.) We have taken these health and safety concerns very seriously. We acknowledge serious accidents that can happen to window cleaners and are committed to ensuring robust regulatory measures are in place. We already provide funding for safety equipment and enforcement mechanisms, with a total allocation of £500 million towards improving workplace safety across various industries including cleaning at height. In the coming months, we will be closely monitoring developments as indicated by Members of Parliament and reviewing any new thinking or initiatives that arise.

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