Product Overview

Summary: This Ladder Safety for Glass Installers SOP sets out clear, practical steps for selecting, setting up, and working from ladders when handling glass in Australian workplaces. It helps glazing businesses control high-risk tasks at height, protect workers from falls and manual handling injuries, and demonstrate compliance with WHS obligations on construction and maintenance sites.

Working with glass at height presents a unique combination of hazards: fragile and heavy materials, sharp edges, awkward loads, and the ever-present risk of falls from ladders. This Ladder Safety for Glass Installers Safe Operating Procedure provides a structured, step‑by‑step method for planning and carrying out ladder work safely, from initial site assessment and ladder selection through to task completion and pack‑up. It focuses on the real-world challenges faced by Australian glass installers, such as tight access, uneven ground, weather exposure, and coordination with other trades on busy construction sites.

By implementing this SOP, glazing businesses can significantly reduce the likelihood of falls, dropped glass, strains and sprains, and damage to client property. The procedure supports PCBU duties under Australian WHS legislation by formalising how risks are identified, controlled, and reviewed for ladder-based glass installation tasks. It also provides a consistent framework for training new installers, refreshing the skills of experienced staff, and evidencing safe systems of work during audits, tender processes, and regulator inspections.

Key Benefits

• Reduce the risk of falls from height and dropped glass incidents during ladder work.
• Ensure ladders are selected, inspected, and used in line with Australian WHS requirements and relevant standards.
• Standardise ladder setup and handling techniques across all glass installation crews.
• Improve job planning by integrating ladder safety with manual handling controls for glass panels.
• Demonstrate a documented, defensible safe system of work to clients, principal contractors, and regulators.

Who is this for?

• Glass Installers
• Glaziers
• Leading Hands – Glazing Crews
• Site Supervisors
• Project Managers – Glazing and Facade
• WHS Managers and Advisors
• Small Business Owners – Glass and Aluminium
• Facilities Maintenance Managers

Hazards Addressed

• Falls from ladders while installing or removing glass
• Ladders slipping, tipping, or collapsing due to incorrect selection or setup
• Dropped glass panels striking workers or members of the public
• Cuts and lacerations from handling glass on unstable footing
• Musculoskeletal injuries from overreaching, twisting, or lifting heavy glass on ladders
• Electrocution from contact with overhead power lines or live electrical components
• Struck-by incidents from other plant or materials in congested work areas
• Environmental hazards such as wind, rain, or uneven and soft ground affecting ladder stability

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Applicable Work Types
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities (PCBUs, Supervisors, Installers)
• 4.0 Relevant Legislation, Standards and Codes of Practice
• 5.0 Hazard Identification for Ladder-Based Glass Installation
• 6.0 Risk Assessment and Hierarchy of Control (including when ladders must not be used)
• 7.0 Ladder Selection Criteria (type, rating, height, environment)
• 8.0 Pre-Use Inspection of Ladders and Glass Handling Equipment
• 9.0 Site Preparation and Access Assessment
• 10.0 Safe Ladder Setup and Positioning (angle, footing, securing)
• 11.0 Safe Work Practices While on Ladders (three points of contact, tool and glass handling)
• 12.0 Manual Handling Controls for Glass on Ladders (weight limits, team lifts, mechanical aids)
• 13.0 Working Near Electrical Hazards and Other Services
• 14.0 Coordination with Other Trades and Site Traffic Management
• 15.0 Weather and Environmental Considerations (wind, rain, heat, lighting)
• 16.0 Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Glass Installers
• 17.0 Prohibited Practices and Common Unsafe Behaviours
• 18.0 Emergency Response Procedures (falls, glass breakage, injuries)
• 19.0 Training, Competency and Supervision Requirements
• 20.0 Inspection, Maintenance and Storage of Ladders
• 21.0 Recordkeeping, Monitoring and Review of the Procedure

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth and corresponding state/territory legislation)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (and state/territory equivalents) – Part 4.4 Falls
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Hazardous Manual Tasks
• AS/NZS 1892 Portable ladders series
• AS/NZS 1576 Scaffolding (for interaction and alternative access considerations)
• AS/NZS 4801 Occupational health and safety management systems (superseded but still referenced by many businesses)
• ISO 45001 Occupational health and safety management systems (where adopted by the business)