HSE and GGF warn over safer handling

A number of incidents - including one at a large stadium project in London - and near misses, coupled with unsafe practices witnessed by inspectors on routine site visits prompted HSE, in conjunction with the GGF, to review guidelines.

While investigations into individual incidents are underway, it is not possible for HSE to give any further details but they do offer advice on safer practices.

HSE experience has shown that although the risk is higher in factories where flat glass is manufactured, serious incidents continue to happen in premises where glass is subsequently handled and processed.

Whether it be glass in crates or 'naked', the issues of stability should always be at the top of the agenda. Suppliers of glass should also be willing to share their knowledge of health and safety issues with contractors in order to prevent incidents happening on site.

Before work starts, an assessment of risk through a robust method statement should always look at ways of minimising any potential problems.

Sarah Snelling, HSE construction inspector stresses that method statements should not get bogged down and become too cumbersome, they should remain clear, concise and easy-to-understand on site.

The tendency within the industry is to tackle problems when they come about rather than have contingency plans in place. It is here that contractors and suppliers can work in partnership to agree guidelines that will benefit all parties.

Sarah highlighted a common major problem, when a stillage is received from a supplier loaded with glass of different sizes the pieces of glass that are needed first will invariably be on the inside of the stillage. This leads to risky order re-adjustments of heavy sheets that are not immediately accessible.

The HSE investigation continues and is unlikely to be complete before the end of the year, but here are some basic rules that should be adhered to, in order to minimise the risk of breakages, and more importantly - injury on site:

• Access to a site should be direct for deliveries with a clear, level area designated for loading and unloading.
• People should be kept well clear of the 'danger zone' while loading and unloading.
• Storage areas with A frames and stillages should be out of the way, low to the ground and secure.
• Contractors should be more demanding with suppliers when it comes to the order in which sheets of glass are loaded on stillages.