Health And Safety Considerations for Lifting Glass

When handling glass, the most important thing is to keep yourself and those around you safe. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) discovered that in the UK, significant accidents continue to occur in industrial locations where glass is often handled. This demonstrates that we must all be aware of the proper health and safety precautions when handling glass to reduce the number of accidents that occur.

Continue reading to learn about the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) to wear, all of the safety considerations while handling glass, and which suction vacuum devices you can employ to assist you in accomplishing safer glass handling when carrying out or completing work.

1. The Appropriate PPE for Handling Glass

It is usually advisable to use safety eyewear when working with glass of any kind, regardless of how big or small the project is or the size of the glass.

If you are cutting, lifting, or grinding glass, you should always wear safety eyewear. To protect your skin from potential scratches, splinters, or scrapes from the glass, wear long sleeves and full-length trousers.

Glass can be heavy, and if dropped, it can inflict major harm and discomfort to your foot, hence safety boots are recommended when handling it. Fragments of glass can cause injury to your body, face, or eyes if they break, smash, or crack, so always wear protective gear. Click here for LC Glass Lifting Clamp.

2. Vacuum Handling Glass

Vacuum lifting devices are available for simplicity of usage and safety concerns. This is very beneficial when handling huge and awkward lift sheets of glass, and suction devices can be employed on a variety of materials. Some devices include suction loss detectors, which indicate when suction pressure has been lost and the device needs to be reapplied for a stronger hold.

Many suction tools may be found on the Nobler Glass website; we have a wide range of equipment suitable for any project, large or small, so be sure to check them out for all of your glass suction requirements.

3. Safety Considerations When Handling Glass

Take into mind the following glass handling safety tips. These tips may help you or others avoid an accident or harm.

3.1 Carry the glass with two hands

Always carry glass in two hands and to your side. Never hold glass above your head or in front of you, as you may trip over it.

3.2 Seek assistance as necessary

If you need help, ask your coworkers for it. When transporting huge sheets of glass, always have at least two team members with you.

Make sure you communicate effectively throughout the lifting and carrying procedure; doing so will keep accidents to a minimum. When on uneven ground, take extra precautions and communicate clearly, especially when approaching blind corners or ascending or descending stairs.

3.3 Replace the old PPE

When necessary, replace worn or damaged PPE and safety equipment. Regular inspections should be performed to determine the quality of the safety equipment provided and whether it is still up to grade. Do not use the equipment or PPE if it is damaged or unfit for use.

3.4 Be aware

Be mindful of those around you and your surroundings. Taking care of yourself and being aware of your surroundings will assist you avoid accidents.

3.5 Be aware of machinery

When in the presence of heavy machinery, keep a safe distance and always respect all safety signs.

4. How To Handle Broken Glass

Broken glass is something you will encounter in the glazing industry, so knowing how to deal with it when an accident occurs is beneficial.

4.1 Never walk on glass

If there is broken glass on the floor, avoid standing or walking on it, even if you are wearing safety footwear.

4.2 Never try to break down glass

You should never attempt to break the glass into smaller pieces on the floor or otherwise. You may believe that separating it into tiny pieces will make disposal easier; unfortunately, this is exceedingly harmful. Glass can readily shatter and fly in unanticipated directions if broken further; consequently, never intentionally break any glass.

4.3 Never pick up broken glass

Do you see any broken glass that needs to be disposed of? You should never pick it up with bare hands. Small shards of glass may remain after the majority of the shattering has been disposed of, so be cautious of this and any prospective shards since they are enough to inflict injury.

4.4 Never catch a falling glass

If the glass is falling, do not try to catch it or prevent it from slipping or falling. Move as far away as possible and to a safe distance. If you spot someone in danger from falling glass, alert them without scaring or startling them.