KUALA LUMPUR – Two women are breaking new ground as gondola operators in a male-dominated industry as they defy gravity and death to clean the windows of a skyscraper.
Dangling from the top of a 445.5-metre-high building is not for the faint of heart but ‘spider-women’ Nor Jumaniyah Samsudin, 32, and Nor Amyzalina Nor Azmi, 25, have been scaling lofty heights for a living for over two years.
The dizzying heights and unpredictable winds can be terrifying and dangerous, but these fearless women have been climbing the high-rise building and dangling for hours every day in a hanging gondola as part of their job.
They also had to brave the scorching heat while in the gondola sprucing up the windows of The Exchange 106, the second tallest building in Malaysia, located in the heart of the bustling city with busy crowded streets and heavy traffic.
(The Exchange 106 also known as TRX Tower, 106 Tower, TRX 106 and Signature Tower is located at Lingkaran TRX, Tun Razak Exchange, Kuala Lumpur).
The initial experience was undoubtedly nerve-wrecking, especially when looking down from the top but they managed to overcome their fear of heights with the support and undivided support from their respective families and colleagues.
These two women of steel have proven that women are capable of taking on extreme jobs including as gondola operators as their full-time career and despite the many risks associated with the job, cleaning windows can be very lucrative.
“I love challenges and although this job is dominated by men, I have accepted this as a challenge. What’s important, I get the support of my family who always pray for my success,” said Melaka-born Nor Amyzalina or Amy.
Interest, Willing To Venture
Nor Amyzalina and Nor Jumaniyah who were previously working as housekeeping attendants at the iconic building shared, they were driven by their interest and inclination to try something new.
Far from the average cleaning job with a ladder and a two-storey building, the high-rise cleaners must be industry-trained and have zero-fear of heights.
But even after training, a skyscraper window cleaner should not be complacent and any distraction can be fatal. Hence, smart phones or any devices are not allowed on the scaffolding, lest they lose their focus.
As a precautionary measure, both of them avoided chatting with colleagues unless work-related as they are among the guidelines that must be complied with to avoid accident risks.
“Driven by our interest, we applied for a transfer from our unit. Upon acceptance, we had to undergo rigorous training for three months together with our male colleagues on various techniques on window cleaning and operation control across the building.
“Besides learning the techniques of cleaning windows, both the exterior and inside the building, we were also trained to operate and control the walkie-talkie as well as undergo emergency training to prevent any untoward incidents,” said Nor Amyzalina, who is still single.
Elaborating on the potential hazards, Nor Jumaniyah said the most challenging part of the job as a ‘spider-woman’ is the strong winds.
Both of them had a harrowing experience when their gondola started swinging violently in mid-air, buffeted by strong winds after it came loose from its moorings.
Job Satisfaction
The incident no doubt caused concern over their safety, but work must go on, they said, noting that the intensive training they underwent in facing emerging situations helped them stay calm and focused.
“Whenever there is a sudden gust of strong winds, one would surely feel giddy. Oft-times, I dare not go down for fear that the gondola might lose its balance. Under this situation, we would remain at the same place and ensure the safety belt that is worn around the waist is tightened,” said Nor Amyzalina.
There is no doubt that risk is an inevitable part of the job of window cleaning, with exposure to various types of accidents for those who are keen to take the plunge into this 3D – Dirty, Difficult and Dangerous – and extreme field, which requires commitment, determination, patience and passion.
At the start of every work day at 7 am, they would first make sure that all the climbing equipment and personal safety equipment such as face mask, helmet and other protective gear are checked and are in good working order.
Inspection and preparation of personal safety equipment are the initial steps taken in compliance with the standard operating procedures (SOPs) to help them identify weaknesses and prevent accidents at the workplace.
“Besides that, we also use the anemometer to measure the wind speed and direction and if it is at a safe level, we would proceed with our cleaning work starting from the 102nd floor to the ground.
“However, if the wind speed that is measured exceeds 10 knots, we are not encouraged to take the gondola and work on the windows of the iconic skyscraper,” said Nor Jumaniyah, who hails from Kuala Lumpur.
Albeit the challenges, the spiders’ job has its own advantages and provide satisfaction for the women as they get to see the panoramic view of the city from the top.
Women Empowerment
While there are still not many ‘spider-women’ in Malaysia, opportunities abound for those who are keen to work full time although the sphere of high-rise window cleaning services is male-dominated.
Nor Amyzalina and Nor Jumaniyah’s experiences are living proof that success is possible for women in this field, contrary to the general perception that the extreme job can only be handled by men.
“Believe me, women are equally capable of handling jobs that have traditionally been held by men and don’t be afraid to venture. What’s important is we have to be confident and be bold enough to take up the job.
“We are not actually weak but due to fear, we’re not willing to take on this job which offers lucrative income and job seekers can give it a try,” said Nor Jumaniyah.
Looking ahead, Nor Amyzalina and Nor Jumaniyah expressed hope of becoming instructors to share their knowledge and experiences as ‘spider-women’ with the objective of increasing women’s participation in the extreme sector.
— BERNAMA
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