Product Overview

Summary: This Glass and Glazing Safety Safe Operating Procedure provides a clear, step-by-step framework for carrying out glass handling, cutting, installation and removal tasks safely on Australian worksites. It helps businesses control high-risk activities involving fragile, heavy and sharp materials, ensuring compliance with WHS obligations while protecting workers, clients and property.

Glass and glazing work is inherently high-risk, involving heavy panels, sharp edges, elevated work, fragile materials and often busy construction environments. Without a structured procedure, organisations are exposed to serious injuries such as deep lacerations, crush injuries, eye damage and falls, as well as costly property damage and project delays. This Glass and Glazing Safety Safe Operating Procedure sets out a practical, repeatable method for planning, preparing and executing glazing tasks safely, from initial site assessment and glass delivery through to installation, clean-up and waste disposal.

Developed for Australian workplaces, this SOP aligns with WHS legislation and relevant Australian Standards, providing clear guidance on hazard identification, selection and use of PPE, safe manual handling of glass, use of mechanical lifting aids, and working around other trades. It helps businesses demonstrate due diligence, standardise training for glaziers and apprentices, and give supervisors a reliable tool for pre-start briefings and toolbox talks. By implementing this SOP, you create a consistent, defensible approach to glass and glazing work that reduces incidents, improves productivity and supports a strong safety culture across your projects.

Key Benefits

• Reduce the risk of lacerations, crush injuries and falls during glass handling and installation.
• Ensure compliance with Australian WHS legislation and glazing-related standards across all projects.
• Standardise safe work practices for glaziers, apprentices and subcontractors on every site.
• Improve planning and coordination of glass deliveries, lifts and installations to minimise rework and damage.
• Provide clear, documented procedures to support inductions, training and incident investigations.

Who is this for?

• Glaziers
• Glass Installers
• Shopfitting Teams
• Construction Site Supervisors
• WHS Managers
• Project Managers (Construction and Fit-out)
• Facilities and Maintenance Managers
• Small Business Owners in Glass and Glazing
• Apprentice Glaziers and Trainees

Hazards Addressed

• Lacerations and puncture wounds from broken or sharp-edged glass
• Crush injuries from falling or slipping glass panels
• Musculoskeletal injuries from manual handling of heavy or awkward glass units
• Falls from height when installing glass in windows, balustrades or facades
• Eye injuries from glass shards, chips and dust during cutting or breaking
• Property damage from impact or incorrect securing of glass panels
• Pinch and entrapment injuries when using glass lifters, clamps and mechanical aids
• Slips, trips and falls due to offcuts, packaging and debris in work areas
• Exposure to sealants, adhesives and cleaning chemicals used in glazing
• Environmental hazards from improper disposal of glass waste and offcuts

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Terminology (Glass Types, Units, Hardware)
• 3.0 Roles, Responsibilities and Competency Requirements
• 4.0 Applicable Legislation, Standards and Codes of Practice
• 5.0 Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment for Glass and Glazing Tasks
• 6.0 Required PPE, Tools, Equipment and Mechanical Aids
• 7.0 Pre-Start Planning and Site Preparation
• 8.0 Safe Handling, Lifting and Transport of Glass Panels
• 9.0 Safe Use of Glass Lifters, Suction Cups and Mechanical Lifting Devices
• 10.0 Cutting, Drilling and Edge-Working Glass Safely
• 11.0 Installation Procedures for Windows, Doors, Partitions and Balustrades
• 12.0 Working at Heights and Using Scaffolds, EWP and Ladders for Glazing
• 13.0 Managing Interaction with Other Trades and Public Areas
• 14.0 Housekeeping, Clean-Up and Glass Waste Disposal
• 15.0 Chemical Safety for Sealants, Adhesives and Cleaning Agents
• 16.0 Emergency Procedures (Breakages, Injuries, Structural Instability)
• 17.0 Inspection, Maintenance and Storage of Equipment and Glass
• 18.0 Training, Induction and Competency Verification
• 19.0 Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement of the SOP

Legislation & References

• Model Work Health and Safety Act
• Model Work Health and Safety Regulations
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Hazardous Manual Tasks
• AS/NZS 2208: Safety glazing materials in buildings
• AS 1288: Glass in buildings – Selection and installation
• AS/NZS 1891 series: Industrial fall-arrest systems and devices
• AS/NZS 1337.1: Personal eye protection
• AS/NZS 2161 series: Occupational protective gloves
• AS/NZS 45001: Occupational health and safety management systems – Requirements with guidance for use