Product Overview

Summary: This SOP sets out clear, practical requirements for selecting, using and maintaining personal protective equipment (PPE) for glaziers working with glass in Australian workplaces. It helps businesses control high-risk hazards such as cuts, falls, manual handling injuries and eye injuries, while demonstrating due diligence under WHS legislation and relevant Australian Standards.

Glazing work exposes workers to sharp edges, heavy and awkward glass panels, work at height, and high-risk installation environments on construction sites and in occupied premises. Without the right PPE, even routine tasks such as handling, cutting and installing glass can result in severe lacerations, eye injuries, crush injuries and long-term musculoskeletal damage. This Personal Protective Equipment for Glaziers Safe Operating Procedure provides a structured, step-by-step approach to identifying PPE requirements for each task, issuing and fitting the correct equipment, and ensuring it is used consistently and correctly on every job.

Developed for Australian glazing and construction environments, the SOP translates WHS obligations and Australian Standards into clear, workable instructions for the field. It addresses common pain points such as inconsistent PPE use between crews, uncertainty about what PPE is required for different types of glass and installation methods, and poor record-keeping for PPE inspections and replacements. By implementing this procedure, businesses can reduce incident rates, support safer manual handling practices, and demonstrate that they have a documented system in place to manage PPE for glaziers in line with regulator expectations.

The document also supports onboarding and refresher training, giving supervisors and trainers a ready-made framework for toolbox talks, site-specific inductions and subcontractor management. It helps standardise PPE expectations across multiple sites and projects, making it easier to manage compliance, respond to audits, and show clients and principal contractors that glazing works are being carried out under a robust WHS management system.

Key Benefits

• Ensure consistent PPE selection and use for glazing tasks across all sites and teams.
• Reduce the likelihood and severity of lacerations, eye injuries and crush incidents during glass handling and installation.
• Demonstrate compliance with WHS legislation, Australian Standards and principal contractor safety requirements.
• Streamline induction, training and toolbox talks with clear, task-based PPE requirements for glaziers.
• Improve PPE inspection, maintenance and replacement practices to extend equipment life and maintain protection levels.

Who is this for?

• Glaziers
• Glazing Team Leaders
• Site Supervisors
• Construction Project Managers
• WHS Managers
• Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs)
• Small Business Owners in Glass and Aluminium
• Facilities and Maintenance Managers

Hazards Addressed

• Severe cuts and lacerations from sharp glass edges and breakages
• Eye injuries from glass shards, splinters and flying particles during cutting and grinding
• Impact and crush injuries to hands, feet and body from dropped or shifting glass panels
• Musculoskeletal strain from manual handling of heavy, awkward and oversized glass units
• Falls from height when installing glazing in elevated positions or on scaffolds and ladders
• Noise exposure from power tools used in glass cutting, grinding and framing
• Exposure to sealants, adhesives and cleaning chemicals used in glazing systems
• Weather-related hazards such as glare, UV exposure and wet, slippery surfaces on external installations

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope – Application to glazing works in workshops, construction sites and client premises
• 2.0 Definitions – PPE types, glazing tasks, roles and responsibilities
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities – PCBUs, supervisors, glaziers, HSRs and contractors
• 4.0 Hazard Identification for Glazing Tasks – Typical activities and associated risks
• 5.0 PPE Selection Matrix – Task-based PPE requirements for glazing operations
• 6.0 PPE Requirements for Common Glazing Activities – Handling, cutting, installation, removal and repairs
• 7.0 PPE Fitting, Use and Limitations – Correct donning, doffing and compatibility with other equipment
• 8.0 Inspection, Maintenance and Storage of PPE – Checklists, defect criteria and replacement intervals
• 9.0 Cleaning and Hygiene Requirements – Managing shared PPE and preventing contamination
• 10.0 Training, Competency and Supervision – Induction content and refresher training guidance
• 11.0 Interaction with Other Controls – Engineering controls, safe work methods and fall protection
• 12.0 Incident Response and First Aid Considerations – PPE-related failures and near miss reporting
• 13.0 Record Keeping and Documentation – Registers, inspection records and training evidence
• 14.0 Review and Continuous Improvement – Audit triggers and consultation with workers
• 15.0 References and Applicable Legislation – WHS laws, Codes of Practice and Australian Standards

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and corresponding state and territory WHS Acts
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (Cth) and corresponding state and territory WHS Regulations
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace
• AS/NZS 4501: Occupational protective clothing
• AS/NZS 2161 series: Occupational protective gloves
• AS/NZS 1337.1: Personal eye protection
• AS/NZS 2210.1: Occupational protective footwear – Guide to selection, care and use
• AS/NZS 1891 series: Industrial fall-arrest systems and devices
• AS/NZS 1715: Selection, use and maintenance of respiratory protective equipment
• AS/NZS 1801: Occupational protective helmets