Glazing and Window Installation — Safe Work Method Statement
Safe Work Method Statement for installing window frames, sliding doors, glass panels and shopfront glazing, including handling glass by hand, A-frames, vacuum lifters and cranes, fixing, sealing and working at open edges.
Download this template
Installing windows and glass becomes High Risk Construction Work whenever the installer could fall more than 2 metres, which covers most upper-floor window openings, where the frame is fitted from the inside at an open edge with no balustrade, and any work from scaffold or an EWP. It is also HRCW where cranes, telehandlers or other powered mobile plant move around the work area, which is normal for large panes, curtain wall and shopfronts. Ground-floor residential window replacement may not be HRCW, in which case a SWMS is not legally required but is still good practice and often required by the builder.
Glass is heavy and unforgiving. Float glass weighs about 2.5 kg per square metre for each millimetre of thickness, so a 10 mm pane of 2 x 1.5 m is about 75 kg, and double-glazed units and laminated glass weigh more. Panes break when dropped, knocked on an edge, carried flat or twisted, and a broken pane can cause severe lacerations. Plan the lift for every pane over what two people can safely carry: glass trolleys, A-frames secured against tipping, vacuum lifters with a working vacuum gauge, or a crane with a dogman or rigger and the right lifting gear.
At the opening itself, the hazard is the gap. An empty window opening on an upper floor is an unprotected edge until the frame is fixed, and workers lean out to fix flashings, sealant and beads. Use internal scaffolding or edge protection, an EWP on the outside, or install from the inside with a restraint system that stops you reaching the edge. Glass must be selected and installed to AS 1288, and windows to AS 2047, so get the specification for each opening before fitting.
Licences: crane and forklift operation, dogging and rigging, and boom-type EWPs with a boom length of 11 metres or more all need a high risk work licence. Some states license glaziers for residential work, so check your state or territory regulator.
Customise this template with the glass type, size and weight for the largest panes, the lifting method and plant for each, crane lift plan and exclusion zone if a crane is used, the fall prevention for each opening, the A-frame and storage location, wind limits for lifting large panes, and who removes and disposes of broken glass.
Personal Protective Equipment
High Risk Construction Work Types
- •Risk of a person falling more than 2 metres
- •Work in an area with movement of powered mobile plant
Risk Assessment
1.Delivery, unloading and storage of glass and frames
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A-frame or stillage tipping and crushing a worker | Catastrophic | Place A-frames on firm level ground and secure them before removing straps. Unload from alternate sides to keep the frame balanced. Nobody stands on the low side of a loaded frame. Unload with a crane or forklift using a licensed operator. | Low | Glazier / Site Supervisor |
| Panes falling from storage | High | Store panes on edge on padded racks leaning at the angle the rack is designed for, never flat or against walls. Secure stacks with straps. Keep storage out of traffic routes. | Low | Glazier |
2.Moving glass by hand, trolley and vacuum lifter
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Back injury and dropped panes from manual lifting | High | Calculate the weight of each pane. Use glass trolleys and hand-held suction cups for small panes and two-person carries. Above what two people can safely handle, use a vacuum lifter or crane. Carry panes on edge, never flat. | Moderate | Glazier |
| Vacuum lifter losing grip on a pane | Catastrophic | Check the lifter's rated capacity, pads and vacuum gauge before each lift. Clean the glass where pads attach. Test lift a few centimetres first. Nobody under or beside the load. Stop lifting if the gauge drops or the warning sounds. | Low | Glazier / Rigger |
3.Crane or plant lifts for large panes and units
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Load striking workers or swinging in wind | Catastrophic | Lift plan prepared for crane lifts. Licensed crane operator and dogman. Tag lines to control the pane. Exclusion zone below the lift. Stop lifting large panes when wind gusts exceed the limit in the lift plan or the lifter manufacturer's limit. | Low | Crane Operator / Dogman |
| Workers struck by moving plant on site | High | Traffic management plan separating pedestrians and plant. Spotter used when plant reverses or works near people. High-visibility vests worn. | Low | Site Supervisor |
4.Fitting frames and glass at upper-level openings
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall through open window or door opening | Catastrophic | Keep temporary edge protection across openings until the frame is installed. Work from internal or external scaffold or an EWP. Where neither is practicable, use a restraint system anchored to a rated point so the worker cannot reach the edge. Do not lean out to fix flashings or sealant. | Low | Glazier / Site Supervisor |
| Glass or tools falling onto people below | High | Barricade below the work area. Keep packers, beads and tools in a bag or tray, not on sills. Close off public footpaths for shopfront work with a permit where needed. | Low | Glazier |
5.Fixing, packing and drilling frames
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drilling into hidden services | Moderate | Check for cables and pipes before drilling reveal and sill fixings. Use a detector in renovation work. Ask the electrician to isolate circuits in the wall if fixings must go near them. | Low | Glazier |
| Hand injury from powered fixings and frame edges | Moderate | Keep hands clear of the drill and screw line. Wear gloves when handling aluminium extrusions with sharp cut ends. File burrs from cut frames. | Low | Glazier |
6.Sealing and finishing
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skin and respiratory irritation from sealants and primers | Moderate | Check SDS for silicone, polyurethane sealants and primers. Ventilate indoors. Wear nitrile gloves. Store solvent primers away from ignition sources. | Low | Glazier |
7.Broken glass removal and clean-up
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lacerations from broken or removed panes | High | Tape cracked panes before removal. Remove broken glass from the top down wearing cut-resistant gloves and sleeves and eye protection. Place pieces into a dedicated glass bin, not general waste bags. Sweep the area and check no shards remain in tracks or on floors. | Low | Glazier |
Relevant Codes of Practice
Worker Acknowledgement
By signing below, I confirm that I have read, understood and agree to comply with this Safe Work Method Statement.