Product Overview

Summary: This Safe Operating Procedure sets out a clear, step-by-step process for safely inspecting incoming glass materials before they enter production or installation. It helps Australian businesses control breakage risks, protect workers from cuts and manual handling injuries, and ensure only compliant, defect‑free glass proceeds through the workflow.

Incoming glass presents a unique combination of quality and safety risks. Poorly handled or defective sheets, panels or units can shatter unexpectedly, cause serious lacerations, or fail in service long after installation. This Safe Operating Procedure provides a structured, repeatable method for receiving, handling and inspecting glass materials at the point of delivery, with a strong focus on WHS risk control and Australian quality expectations. It covers how to prepare the receiving area, safely unload and move glass, visually and dimensionally inspect products, record non-conformances, and quarantine unsafe materials before they reach the workshop or site.

For Australian businesses in glazing, construction, manufacturing and fit-out, this SOP helps close a critical gap between supplier delivery and on-site use. By embedding clear acceptance criteria, documentation requirements and safety checks, it reduces the likelihood of breakages, handling injuries and costly rework. It also supports compliance with WHS duties, Australian Standards for glass in buildings and plant use, and demonstrates due diligence to clients, auditors and regulators. Implementing this procedure creates a safer receiving environment, improves product reliability, and strengthens your relationship with both suppliers and end customers.

Key Benefits

• Reduce the risk of cuts, crush injuries and glass breakage during unloading and inspection.
• Ensure only compliant, defect-free glass materials enter production or installation, reducing rework and call-backs.
• Standardise receiving and inspection practices across sites, teams and shifts for consistent outcomes.
• Demonstrate due diligence with traceable records that support WHS obligations and Australian Standards compliance.
• Streamline communication with suppliers through clear acceptance criteria and documented non-conformance processes.

Who is this for?

• Warehouse Supervisors
• Goods Receiving Officers
• Glazing Workshop Managers
• Quality Assurance Managers
• WHS Managers
• Production Supervisors (Glass and Glazing)
• Procurement and Supply Chain Coordinators
• Site Supervisors (Construction and Fit-out)
• Logistics and Inventory Controllers

Hazards Addressed

• Lacerations from sharp glass edges and broken shards
• Crush injuries from falling or toppling glass packs and stillages
• Musculoskeletal disorders from poor manual handling of heavy or awkward glass units
• Slips, trips and falls in congested or poorly organised receiving areas
• Eye injuries from glass splinters and fragments
• Property damage and secondary hazards from unexpected glass breakage
• Vehicle and plant interaction risks during unloading (forklifts, cranes, delivery trucks)

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Types of Incoming Glass
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities
• 4.0 Applicable Legislation, Standards and Codes of Practice
• 5.0 Required PPE, Tools and Inspection Equipment
• 6.0 Pre-Delivery Preparation of the Receiving Area
• 7.0 Delivery Arrival, Traffic Management and Site Induction Requirements
• 8.0 Safe Unloading of Glass Packs, Stillages and Crates
• 9.0 Manual Handling and Use of Mechanical Aids (Forklifts, Cranes, Glass Lifters)
• 10.0 Visual Inspection Criteria (Defects, Damage, Contamination)
• 11.0 Dimensional, Labelling and Specification Verification
• 12.0 Acceptance Criteria and Tolerances for Incoming Glass
• 13.0 Quarantine, Segregation and Tagging of Non-Conforming Glass
• 14.0 Documentation, Recording and Photographic Evidence
• 15.0 Communication and Escalation to Suppliers and Internal Stakeholders
• 16.0 Housekeeping and Waste Management for Broken or Rejected Glass
• 17.0 Emergency Procedures for Glass Breakage and Injury
• 18.0 Training, Competency and Authorisation Requirements
• 19.0 Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement of the Procedure
• 20.0 References and Related Documents

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and corresponding state and territory WHS Acts
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 and state/territory equivalents
• Safe Work Australia – Model Code of Practice: How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks
• Safe Work Australia – Model Code of Practice: Hazardous Manual Tasks
• Safe Work Australia – Model Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace
• AS/NZS 4801: Occupational health and safety management systems
• AS 1288: Glass in buildings – Selection and installation
• AS/NZS 1170: Structural design actions (relevant to glass loading and handling considerations)
• AS 4667: Quality requirements for cut-to-size and processed glass
• AS 2820: Packaging of glass for transport and storage (where applicable)