Safety Concerns Regarding Glass Lifting: Manual And Assisted

Lifting any object, like any other, requires an assessment of the risk and the best position for doing so. Because of the dangers involved, it is especially important to always lift glass correctly. Glazing is notorious for being difficult to lift because it has sharp edges, no easily grippable areas, and is extremely fragile. We will discuss the significance of glass lifting and safety in the sections that follow.

Nobler Glass has over ten years of glazing experience and can confidently provide expert advice on how to handle glass safely. Using proper glass lifting techniques can prevent injury from strain, cuts, and other causes, as well as increase efficiency and lower costs due to fewer breakages and time spent recovering from injuries.

1. Glass Lifting by Hand

Because glazing is often bulky and difficult to handle, it was critical that a standardized method of manually lifting and transporting it be developed. There are numerous factors to consider when it comes to safe glass lifting, but it is always best to consult with a professional before attempting to lift any glass.

To lift your glass, first determine its weight so you can determine whether a lifting partner is required. You should lift the glass from the bottom while also supporting the top to prevent it from falling. Lifting should be done with your legs rather than your back to avoid muscle strain and injury. Once you've got a good grip, move the glass to one side so it doesn't block your view when you move it. Other aspects of lifting glass, such as what safety equipment to wear, are covered in another blog.

2. Trolleys for lifting glass

Glaziers should always consider what tools they can use to help with their project when manual lifting is not possible or would take too long. The glass trolley is an essential piece of glass-lifting equipment. These wheeled transporters offer a safe way to transport and store glass without the strain and struggle of manual lifting. There are trolleys for every job, each with its own set of features to help transport your glazing safely.

You can improve turnover times, reduce breakages, and reduce injuries by adding a glass trolley to your fleet. The simple design of our Slab Buggy has a suitably angled frame for supporting any glass. Users can move glass with ease thanks to the 400kg capacity and pneumatic rear tires. With its built-in vacuum suction cup for holding loads in place, the TS500 Tandem Air Dolly also provides excellent support for any glazing.

3. Suction Cups and Glass Suckers

Suction cups and glass suckers are almost always required in glazing projects so that workers do not leave marks on the glass and are less likely to drop it or injure themselves. These tools adhere to glass and smooth flat surfaces to serve as handles. Users can now lift and manipulate the glazing into place, as well as move it across the site because they can grip it more easily.

These products differ in functionality and application, and each was designed with different lifting abilities in mind. The FingerGrab suction cup, for example, is a one-finger-operated cup for lifting smaller glazing pieces weighing up to 1.8kg. This product is typically used to prevent finger marks on your glass and to improve precision during installation. A product like the N5450CS Curved 9 Inch Suction Cup, on the other hand, is designed specifically for lifting curved glazing. Click here for Trolley Lifter Sucker.

4. Safety and Glass Lifting

Because of the high risk of breaking or cutting someone, glass is one of the most dangerous materials to work with in construction. As a result, glaziers and others who work with glass should take the necessary precautions. You should first ensure that everyone involved is properly trained in glass handling techniques and has the necessary PPE. This includes knowing how to correctly manually lift glass as well as how to use the necessary tools.

All equipment should be checked before use, and when using suction cups, the vacuum seal should be in place before lifting the glass. Before removing or making hazards clear to others, locations should be inspected for hazards. This can include things like removing items from the floor that could trip someone up or enclosing dangerous areas.

5. The Best Glass Lifting Tools

Glaziers must use equipment that makes glass lifting easier to stay safe and increase productivity. Lifting glass tools can provide users with a firm grip on difficult-to-hold loads. These tools can also make carrying glass easier by reducing the strain caused by an insecure grip.

Nobler Glass maintains a consistent presence throughout the industry in order to stay current on the latest developments. To provide our customers with the best glass lifting technology available today, we are constantly offering modern lifting solutions and accessories.

5.1 Challenges

If you don't use best practices when moving and carrying glass, it can cause a slew of issues. Because of the combined challenges of glass's size, weight, and fragility, it can quickly become dangerous. If you start to struggle or the glass slips, it can cut you, land on you, shatter, and do a variety of other things that will harm you and others. Lifting and handling glass correctly with specially designed glass lifting tools allows you to easily avoid many of the problems associated with manual handling.

5.2 Trolleys for Lifting Glass

Glazing is frequently too large to carry by hand, and it may require the use of wheels to move it around a job site. Our glass lifting trolleys assist when moving glass between locations, and some even provide a safe resting spot. There are various trolleys available with various functions. Users of the Slab Buddy, for example, can store their glass on the wheeled frame, which is ideal for keeping glazing safe between lifts. In comparison, the Self-Locking Transport Dolly is ideal for quickly transporting loads without adding too much bulk.

5.3 Glass Suction Cups

Glass Suction Cups revolutionized the glazing industry by making glass lifting much safer and faster. You could manipulate glass with a lower risk of injury because you were touching sharp edges less frequently and were less likely to drop it. You can lift 57kg with hand cups like the Powr-Grip N4000 by simply pressing the cup against any smooth flat surface. With the red line indicator, you can quickly identify any suction loss and reactivate it, allowing you to continue lifting safely.

5.4 Glass Cutting Tools

When it comes to glass, you must have the correct size of glass ready for installation. You can safely and easily cut your glass to the size you want with our handy glass-cutting tools.