Glazing & Glass Work SWMS Templates

Glazing becomes high-risk construction work (HRCW) under WHS Regulation 2025 Part 6.3 when there is a risk of a person falling more than 2 metres, when work involves structural alterations requiring temporary support, or when work is carried out adjacent to a road. Most commercial facade, curtain wall, and balustrade installations meet this threshold, making a documented SWMS mandatory before work commences. Shopfront and ground-level shower screen work may not always trigger HRCW but still require risk assessment under WHS Reg Part 3.1.

AS 1288-2021 Glass in buildings — Selection and installation is the primary standard, working alongside AS/NZS 2208 for safety glazing materials. AS 1288 specifies that balustrade glass must be Grade A safety glass (toughened or laminated), with thickness determined by panel size, fixing configuration, and imposed load. Shower screens must use Grade A safety glass meeting impact requirements. SWMS should reference the specific glass type and thickness on the project drawings to verify the installation matches the engineered specification.

No — WHS Regulation 2025 is harmonised across all states and territories except Victoria, which operates under the OHS Act 2004. A SWMS prepared to WHS Reg 2025 Part 6.3 is accepted in NSW, QLD, SA, WA, TAS, ACT, and NT. For Victorian projects, the equivalent High Risk Construction Work SWMS provisions under the OHS Regulations 2017 apply, with similar content requirements. Most platforms supply a state-tagged version or a harmonised document referencing both frameworks.

The Hazardous Manual Tasks Code of Practice requires elimination of manual handling where reasonably practicable. SWMS should specify mechanical aids such as vacuum lifters, glass trolleys, glazing robots, or crane-attached suction frames for panels exceeding two-person carry limits (typically 40 kg per person or any panel over 2.4 m). Team-lift protocols, designated lift paths, and exclusion zones for adjacent workers must be documented. AS 1288 Appendix B provides indicative panel weights to support lift planning.

A SWMS is a legally required document under WHS Regulation 2025 for high-risk construction work, with mandatory content including the hazards, control measures, and how controls will be implemented, monitored, and reviewed. A JSA (Job Safety Analysis) is a broader risk assessment tool not specifically mandated by the WHS Regulations. For HRCW glazing tasks — facade work above 2 metres, structural glazing — a SWMS is non-negotiable. A JSA may supplement the SWMS for task-level breakdowns but does not replace it.