Glass Safety Tips for Manufacturers and Commercial Glass Handling

1. Glass Safety Tips for Manufacturers and Commercial Glass Handling Glass is a fragile material with a plethora of applications in residential and commercial projects. The glass industry is growing with every passing day. More and more glass fabricators and glaziers are entering the market. However, handling glass in its primitive form is not a child’s play. Mishandling the glass sheets can result in severe cuts, injuries, and even death. We can avoid such accidents by following safety measures. The experts have stated strict precautionary rules for handling the glass. Here, we will discuss the safety tips when dealing with glass. Safety Tips for the Employees In the glass industry, the employees who are directly handling the glass sheets are particularly vulnerable to accidents. So we will discuss some general rules and tips for the workers, first. Glass Carrying Techniques

2. The workers are often involved in loading and unloading the glass sheets. Make sure to carry the glass to your side. Use both of your hands to handle the glass sheet no matter how lightweight it is. It seems easy though, but never carry the glass sheet under your arm or over your head. Always use two employees to move larger glass sheets. Don’t rush, move slowly and in harmony with the other person. Always wear safety gear before handling the glass. Check the glass before moving it. Make sure that it isn’t damaged to avoid any spontaneous breakage. Use the proper hand and body positions to handle the glass. Keep the corners of the glass sheets safe by avoiding bumping into any surface. When setting the glass on the floor, gently place the long side of the glass first. Prefer placing the glass on soft or padded surfaces. You can also use blankets or other cushioning agents to keep the glass safe. Using the Safety Equipment Special safety gear is designed for the glass industry workers according to their job specifications. The glass handlers usually use cut-resistant gloves, sleeves, and aprons while the glass molders use heat- resistant safety equipment. Whatever your job duties are, make sure to wear the safety equipment. Replace the damaged safety gear with a new one right away. Prevention is better than cure so never twirl thumbs on wearing the safety equipment. The supervisors should direct strict orders for the workers to put on the safety gear. They should ensure that the safety gear is functional and the work environment is safe for the workers.

3. Handling the Broken Glass Broken glass is a common sight in the glass industry. Even with safety measures, it’s subjective that you would see some glass pieces on the floor. Therefore, it’s necessary that everyone who enters the glass industry has safety shoes on. Sometimes, small and almost invisible shards are on the floor that is enough to cause an injury. If you see broken glass, don’t stand or walk on it, even with safety shoes on. No matter how amusing you find it, never crush the broken glass into smaller pieces with your foot or hand. Don’t pick up the broken glass with your hands. Never hold on to the broken glass sheet to try and stop it from breaking any further. Move out of the way and go to a safe space.

4. Working With Glass Working with glass is quite challenging. You have to follow multiple safety guidelines to keep yourself safe. Educate yourself with the safety protocols. Be mindful of the hazards all the time. Be aware of your surroundings and the team members all the time. Inspect each element for any potential hazard before using it. Keep the simple safety rules in mind and use them to avoid any undesirable situation. One of the most popular tasks is glass cutting. If you are handling the orders of custom cut glass, mirror cut to size, glass shelves cut to size, or tempered glass cut to size, make sure to use the safety goggles and gloves to keep yourself safe. Creating custom cut glass is trickier than any other job so make sure to take the necessary precautionary measures. The manufacturing process of tempered glass cut to size is also quite extensive and grave, so be conscious of the risks. Glass goes through different manufacturing steps to achieve the custom cut glass, glass shelves cut to size, and mirrors cut to size. Different chemicals are also used during the process, some of which can be toxic. Handling such chemicals requires special care that everyone should take.

5. Handling an Undesirable situation Even if the work environment is ideal and everyone is following the safety protocols, accidents may happen. The possibility of human error is always there. But managing an undesirable situation is what makes all the difference! Ideally, there should be a doctor or a paramedic’s team on duty all the time who can handle any such situation. The workers should also be trained for providing first aid to their fellow workers. In case of an accident, take the victim to a safe place. Immediately call the doctor, get help from the related personnel, and give him the necessary first aid. In Brief! It’s the duty of the supervisors and directors to educate their staff on the risks and safety measures. The workers should receive proper training before getting into the working field. Make sure to meet safety protocols. It’s better to be safe than sorry!