Revealed: Riskiest job in the world?

Burj Khalifa has been in the news ever since the project was announced. The latest coverage given to the iconic tower was by the US channel Cable News Network (CNN) revealing few interesting facts… for instance how many cleaners take on Dubai’s – if not the world’s – riskiest job of cleaning Burj Khalifa, how much time it takes them to clean the tower and – interestingly – how much salary is paid to them.

The report said that covered in 24,000 separate panes of glass, it takes around 60 people from Philippines, India and Nepal three months to clean each and every pane. And then they start all over again.

Dipak Ghal, a window cleaner, says: “The work is interesting and the view is beautiful. Dipak had not seen building half the size of Burj Khalifa in his life let alone climb one. But his brother said he should leave Kathmandu and give it a try.”

The cleaners start from the very top, says CNN correspondent. But if it’s windy the cleaners take rest as the gusts could swing them metres away.

CNN says as a new recruit Dipak can make $600 (Dh2,200) a month.

Burj Khalifa was earlier in the new when Paramount Pictures shot Tom Cruise film 'Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol' at the tower.

Apart from Burj Khalifa, another iconic tower China’s Shanghai Tower – the world’s second tallest – was also in the news last week when two Russian daredevils climbed the under-construction high-rise without permission. They also posted a stomach-turning video on YouTube which attracted over a million hits in just two days.

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