Product Overview

Summary: This Standard Operating Procedure sets out a clear, defensible framework for managing insurance and liability across glazing projects in Australia. It helps glazing businesses systematically identify, transfer, and control risk so that contracts, site practices, and insurance cover work together to protect the business, its directors, workers, and clients.

Glazing work exposes businesses to a complex mix of contractual, property, personal injury, and professional liability risks. From broken glass and water ingress claims to defective installation disputes and subcontractor incidents, a single uninsured or poorly managed event can quickly erode profit, damage reputation, and attract legal scrutiny. This Standard Operating Procedure provides a structured, repeatable process for managing insurance and liability in glazing services, ensuring that policies, contracts, and site practices align with Australian legal and WHS expectations.

The SOP walks your team through how to identify key risks on different project types (residential, commercial, remedial, high‑rise), confirm appropriate insurance cover, and apply consistent checks before quoting, contracting, and commencing work. It clarifies responsibilities between your business, builders, subcontractors, and clients, and embeds practical steps such as certificate of currency checks, contract review triggers, incident notification protocols, and record‑keeping requirements. By implementing this procedure, glazing businesses can significantly reduce exposure to uninsured losses, disputes, and claims, while strengthening compliance with WHS due diligence obligations and insurer requirements.

Designed specifically for the Australian glazing sector, this SOP supports alignment with local legislation, industry standards, and common builder contract conditions. It gives owners and managers confidence that insurance and liability are being managed proactively rather than reactively, and that everyone from estimators to project supervisors understands their role in protecting the business.

Key Benefits

• Reduce the risk of uninsured losses by standardising how insurance cover is checked, documented, and maintained for every glazing project.
• Ensure contracts, scopes of work, and site practices align with your insurance policies and Australian legal requirements, reducing disputes and claim denials.
• Streamline communication between owners, managers, supervisors, and brokers so that changes in project risk are promptly reported and covered.
• Improve defensibility in the event of a claim or regulatory investigation through clear documentation, incident reporting, and record‑keeping processes.
• Support WHS due diligence obligations by linking operational decisions, subcontractor management, and incident response to your broader risk and insurance framework.

Who is this for?

• Business Owners (Glazing and Glass Installation Companies)
• Directors and Company Officers
• Operations Managers
• Project Managers
• Contract Administrators
• WHS Managers and Coordinators
• Finance and Risk Managers
• Office Managers in Trade Businesses
• Estimators and Sales Managers
• Service and Maintenance Coordinators

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Key Concepts (Insurance and Liability in Glazing)
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities (Owners, Managers, Supervisors, Admin)
• 4.0 Overview of Insurance Types Relevant to Glazing Services
• 5.0 Risk Identification and Assessment for Glazing Projects
• 6.0 Pre‑Contract and Tender Stage Insurance Checks
• 7.0 Contract Review and Allocation of Liability (Builders, Clients, Subcontractors)
• 8.0 Subcontractor Management and Verification of Insurance
• 9.0 Site Operations, Variations, and Change Management Controls
• 10.0 Incident, Damage, and Near‑Miss Reporting Procedures
• 11.0 Claims Notification, Management, and Communication with Insurers
• 12.0 Documentation, Record‑Keeping, and Evidence Requirements
• 13.0 Integration with WHS and Quality Management Systems
• 14.0 Training, Induction, and Competency Requirements
• 15.0 Monitoring, Audit, and Continuous Improvement
• 16.0 Document Control and Review History
• Appendix A – Example Insurance Checklist for Glazing Projects
• Appendix B – Sample Contract Clauses and Risk Allocation Notes
• Appendix C – Sample Incident and Damage Report Form
• Appendix D – Insurance Certificates of Currency Register Template

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and relevant state and territory WHS Acts
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 and state/territory equivalents
• Civil Liability Acts (various states and territories)
• Insurance Contracts Act 1984 (Cth)
• AS/NZS ISO 31000:2018 Risk management – Guidelines
• AS 1288:2021 Glass in buildings – Selection and installation
• AS/NZS 2208:2019 Safety glazing materials in buildings
• Safe Work Australia – Model Code of Practice: Construction Work
• Safe Work Australia – Model Code of Practice: How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks