Product Overview

Summary: This SOP sets out a consistent, WHS-aligned method for applying and maintaining anti-fogging treatments on glass surfaces to preserve clear visibility in the workplace. It helps businesses manage visibility-related risks in vehicles, machinery, plant rooms and controlled environments, reducing the likelihood of incidents caused by obscured vision.

Fogged glass on windscreens, machine guards, viewing panels and inspection windows can quickly turn into a serious safety risk. In Australian conditions, where humidity, temperature changes and cold storage environments are common, condensation and fogging can obstruct an operator’s line of sight, increase the risk of collisions, compromise process monitoring and breach WHS duties relating to plant and vehicle safety. This Anti-Fogging Treatments for Glass Safe Operating Procedure provides a clear, step-by-step method for selecting suitable products, preparing surfaces, applying treatments and verifying that visibility is maintained.

The SOP is designed for workplaces that rely on clear glass for safe operation—such as vehicle fleets, forklifts and mobile plant, food and beverage processing, laboratories, hospitals, cold rooms and refrigerated transport. It standardises how anti-fog treatments are handled, stored and applied, and it integrates hazard controls such as chemical handling, ventilation, PPE, and lock-out/tag-out where glass is part of powered plant. By implementing this procedure, businesses can reduce ad‑hoc practices, extend the life and effectiveness of treatments, and demonstrate due diligence in managing visibility-related risks under Australian WHS legislation.

Key Benefits

• Maintain clear visibility through windscreens, machine guards and viewing panels to reduce the risk of collisions, entrapment and process errors.
• Standardise the selection, application and reapplication intervals of anti-fogging products across sites and teams.
• Reduce incidents related to improvised or unsafe cleaning practices, such as using inappropriate chemicals or wiping glass while equipment is running.
• Support compliance with Australian WHS duties to provide safe plant, vehicles and work environments with unobstructed lines of sight.
• Improve asset reliability and presentation by protecting glass surfaces from streaking, residue build-up and unnecessary abrasion.

Who is this for?

• Fleet Managers
• Workshop Supervisors
• Maintenance Technicians
• Facilities Managers
• Laboratory Managers
• Food Processing Supervisors
• Manufacturing Production Managers
• WHS Managers and Advisors
• Cleaning and Property Services Contractors
• Cold Storage and Refrigeration Supervisors

Hazards Addressed

• Reduced visibility through fogged windscreens on vehicles, forklifts and mobile plant
• Obstructed view through fixed machine guards and inspection windows
• Slip, trip and fall risks arising from condensation dripping onto floors from fogged glass
• Chemical exposure from incorrect handling of anti-fogging agents and glass cleaners
• Eye and skin irritation from aerosols, sprays and surface preparation products
• Inadvertent contact with moving parts or live plant during glass cleaning or treatment
• Manual handling strains from awkward access to overhead or hard-to-reach glass surfaces
• Inhalation of vapours in poorly ventilated areas such as cold rooms and plant rooms

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Terminology
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities
• 4.0 Applicable Legislation, Standards and Codes of Practice
• 5.0 Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment for Fogged Glass
• 6.0 Selection of Anti-Fogging Products and Compatibility with Glass Types
• 7.0 Required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• 8.0 Tools, Materials and Equipment
• 9.0 Pre-Use Checks and Preparation of Work Area
• 10.0 Surface Preparation and Cleaning of Glass
• 11.0 Step-by-Step Application Procedure for Anti-Fogging Treatments
• 12.0 Curing, Drying and Verification of Visibility
• 13.0 Reapplication Intervals, Inspection and Maintenance of Treated Surfaces
• 14.0 Safe Handling, Storage and Disposal of Chemicals
• 15.0 Controls for Working at Height or Near Moving Plant
• 16.0 Emergency Procedures and First Aid for Chemical Exposure
• 17.0 Training, Competency and Authorisation Requirements
• 18.0 Recordkeeping, Inspection Checklists and Review
• 19.0 Document Control and Continuous Improvement

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and equivalent state and territory WHS Acts
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (Cth) and equivalent state and territory WHS Regulations
• Safe Work Australia – Model Code of Practice: How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks
• Safe Work Australia – Model Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace
• Safe Work Australia – Model Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace
• AS/NZS 4024.1201: Safety of machinery – General principles for design – Risk assessment and risk reduction
• AS/NZS 3012: Electrical installations – Construction and demolition sites (where powered cleaning equipment is used)
• AS 1891 series: Industrial fall-arrest systems and devices (for work at height on glass panels where applicable)