As time goes by, we all eventually become more secure and accustomed to our routines at our jobs – whether it’s pressure washing a building, re-pointing a chimney, or washing windows. As professionals, we know how to prepare and approach each task that presents itself during the workweek. But what happens when we’re confronted with a situation that’s outside the norm and the scenario makes us go, “Hmmm…” now that’s different! How do we tackle this one?” Well, then it’s time to think outside the box.

“We recently undertook the most unique challenge that General Safety Services has ever faced in our history,” said Marty Galner, our Director of Sales and High Rise Window Washing Division. GSS was asked to wash the windows of three buildings of a complex that abuts a pond. On the surface, that might seem pretty run of the mill – especially since they were converted mill buildings, which are often surrounded by water. But here’s the catch: these buildings aren’t just surrounded by the pond -- they go right down into the pond! The entire foundation at the base of two of the buildings meets the water directly, giving the workers nowhere to land when coming down the building at the end of their drop. Sporting bathing suits and splashing into the pond at each landing obviously wasn’t an option.

How did we resolve it? We rented a boat. The captain brought the small boat to the edge of the building to catch the worker as he came down to the bottom and repelled off the building. Then the boat taxied the worker to a safe and reasonable stretch of land along the shore, so he could start the whole process over again with the next set of windows. So, what do you do when confronted with a unique challenge? In this case, dropping down into a boat was the perfect solution.