Glazing Work SWMS
Window, balustrade, and shopfront glass installation including manual handling and edge protection.
SWMS variants reference your state's WHS legislation. Instant download after payment.
This SWMS covers the full scope of glazing work on Australian construction sites — glass installation in windows and doors, factory and on-site glass cutting and processing, curtain-wall installation on commercial buildings, window replacement on occupied and unoccupied buildings, glass balustrade and pool-fence installation, and shower-screen installation in residential bathrooms. It is written for qualified glaziers, glazing apprentices under direct supervision, curtain-wall installers, and glazing subcontractors on new-build and refurbishment packages.
Glazing work triggers high-risk construction work categories under Schedule 1 of the WHS Regulation 2025 (NSW). Category 3 — work at a height greater than 2 metres — applies to curtain-wall and upper-storey window installation. Category 18 — work where there is a risk of being struck by a moving load — applies during glass hoisting and crane placement of large panels. Category 13 — powered mobile plant and powered tools — applies to vacuum lifters, telehandlers, and EWPs. Section 299 of the WHS Regulation requires a SWMS before HRCW commences.
Hazards identified
11 hazards covered, sorted by priority.
Fatal or permanent injury from falls exceeding 2 metres when installing curtain-wall panels, upper-storey windows, or balustrades from scaffold, EWP, or cradle.
Severe laceration, amputation, and penetrating injury from shattered glass edges during handling, transport, or drop events — glass weighs 2.5 kg per square metre per millimetre of thickness.
Fatal head or limb injury to workers or the public below from uncontrolled drop of glass units, frame components, or tools during elevated glazing.
Crush injury or fatal fall from a glass panel released by a vacuum lifter through compressor failure, seal damage, or power loss during curtain-wall placement.
Lumbar disc injury, shoulder strain, and repetitive strain injury from two-person and four-person manual handling of insulated glass units and curtain-wall panels.
Severe hand and forearm laceration from on-site cutting, nibbling, drilling, or edge-polishing of glass without cut-resistant gloves and sleeve protection.
Loss of control of a panel during lift, swinging strike to workers, or panel damage from wind gusts exceeding the lift-study threshold.
Respiratory sensitisation and chronic dermatitis from structural silicone, two-pack sealants, and acid-cure silicone containing acetic acid or amine hardeners.
Inhalation of respirable asbestos fibres during removal of old putty, render, or sealants that may contain asbestos on pre-2004 buildings.
Neck and shoulder injury from repetitive overhead installation of aluminium frames and awkward-position fixing of hardware.
Fatigue and shortcutting of controls during fast-track commercial curtain-wall programmes where glass deliveries and building envelope are critical-path.
Control measures
Hierarchy-of-controls order: elimination → substitution → isolation → engineering → administrative → PPE.
- 1Eliminate on-site manual glass handling wherever practicable. Specify pre-glazed units delivered to the working level, use robotic glass installers and vacuum lifters for large panels, and pre-position glass as close as possible to the final location.
- 2Vacuum lifter selection: rated for the panel weight with a minimum safety factor of 3, dual independent vacuum circuits, visible low-vacuum alarm, and battery back-up. Daily inspection and maintenance logbook. Operator trained and competent.
- 3Lift plan and exclusion zone for every crane or telehandler placement of glass panels. Dogman on the deck, ground-level exclusion around the drop cone, and tag lines on every panel. Wind threshold defined by the lift study.
- 4Fall protection per the Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces. Scaffold or EWP as the primary control for curtain-wall work; travel restraint for working on an EWP basket; fall-arrest harness per AS/NZS 1891.1 only where higher-order controls are not reasonably practicable.
- 5Drop-zone barricading below all elevated glazing. Pedestrian protection hoarding for street-facing work. Tool lanyards for every tool used above 2 metres.
- 6Manual handling of glass: vacuum suction-cup handlers for panels over 20 kg; two-person minimum for IGUs over 1.5 square metres; four-person lift or mechanical aid for curtain-wall panels. Team-lift command protocol briefed before each lift.
- 7Cut-resistant PPE: AS/NZS 2161.3 Level 5 gloves, forearm sleeves, and Grade II safety eyewear (AS/NZS 1337.1) whenever handling glass. Chest and lower-body protection for operators working at the top of stacked sheets.
- 8Glass-cutting controls: fixed bench with clamp, running-water coolant for drilling and edging, collection mat for glass fines, and segregation of cullet in dedicated bins. No free-hand cutting of small pieces.
- 9Sealant and silicone controls: SDS review before use, gloves selected against the SDS breakthrough data, ventilation in enclosed curtain-wall applications, and skin-wash station for any direct contact.
- 10Pre-2004 window replacement requires asbestos test of existing putty, render, and sealant before removal. Class B licensed removal for any confirmed bonded ACM.
- 11Wind management for curtain-wall lifts: site anemometer on the working face of the building, lift-plan threshold (typically 30 km/h gust), and a stop-work protocol when the threshold is exceeded.
- 12PPE baseline: hard hat, safety glasses, cut-resistant gloves and sleeves, safety footwear with steel toecap (AS/NZS 2210.3), hearing protection during cutting, and high-visibility clothing at height.
- 13All glaziers hold a valid White Card (CPCCWHS1001). EWP, dogger, and rigger tickets as required by the lift scope. Apprentices work under direct supervision.
- 14Psychosocial controls per WHS Regulation 2025 r55A-55D: realistic daily panel-fix targets, scheduled breaks, and a documented stop-work right for wind, sealant, or access concern.
- 15Conduct a daily pre-start toolbox talk covering scope, lift schedule, weather, and exclusion zones. Record attendance.
Applicable Codes of Practice
Baseline for HRCW categorisation, SWMS content, and principal contractor interaction on all glazing work.
Governs fall protection for curtain-wall, upper-storey, and balustrade glazing.
Applies to IGU, curtain-wall, and frame handling across the scope.
Governs silicone, sealant, and two-pack adhesive SDS management and ventilation.
Applies to window and sealant removal on pre-2004 buildings.
Technical standard for glass selection, sizing, and structural glazing.
Technical standard for window and door performance and installation.
High-Risk Construction Work triggered
Curtain-wall, upper-storey window, and balustrade glazing routinely places workers above 2 metres on scaffold, EWP, or cradle.
Crane and telehandler placement of curtain-wall panels and large IGUs exposes workers to moving-load hazard.
Vacuum lifters, telehandlers, EWPs, and glass-cutting plant are used across the scope.
Because glazing work routinely triggers multiple HRCW categories, Section 299 of the WHS Regulation 2025 (NSW) requires the SWMS to be prepared before work commences, kept available on site for inspection, reviewed and updated if the work changes, and provided to the Principal Contractor on request. Failure by a PCBU to prepare or maintain a current SWMS for HRCW is an offence under Section 300; maximum penalty for a body corporate is $36,000 per offence and $7,200 for an individual. Curtain-wall work additionally attracts obligations under the engineer-signed shop drawing and structural glazing regime.
Who this is for
- →Qualified glaziers and curtain-wall installers engaged on commercial and residential projects.
- →Glazing apprentices working under direct supervision of a qualified tradesperson.
- →Glazing subcontractors engaged by a Principal Contractor on façade and window packages.
- →Shower-screen and balustrade installers working on residential and commercial projects.
- →Site supervisors and WHS leads reviewing glazing subcontractor SWMS during pre-start.
What you receive
- ✓Editable Microsoft Word document (.docx, Word 2016 or newer compatible).
- ✓Title page with PCBU name, ABN, site address, project, and revision date fields.
- ✓Signed approval block for PCBU, Principal Contractor, and nominated glazing supervisor.
- ✓Hazard register with the 11 hazards above, each with consequence, inherent risk, controls, and residual risk scored on a 5x5 matrix.
- ✓Hierarchy-of-control measures cross-referenced to WHS Regulation sections and applicable Codes of Practice.
- ✓Lift plan and vacuum-lifter inspection log templates.
- ✓Consultation record for HSR sign-off and worker input per Section 47 of the WHS Act.
- ✓Worker sign-on register for daily acknowledgement with space for EWP, dogger, and rigger tickets.
- ✓Legislation schedule pre-populated for NSW with variance table for VIC, QLD, SA, WA, TAS, NT, ACT.
- ✓Emergency contacts, glass-breakage cleanup procedure, and review-and-update log.
Worked example
A four-person glazing crew — one lead glazier, two installers, and one vacuum-lifter operator — is subcontracted to install 86 curtain-wall panels (1.6 x 3.2 m, 140 kg each) across levels 4-7 of a new commercial building in Barangaroo. The work uses building-integrated maintenance-unit (BMU) access with monorail cradles. The lead glazier completes this SWMS: curtain-wall placement triggers HRCW Category 3 and requires BMU access plus harness to designated anchor; panel lifting triggers Category 18 and requires a vacuum lifter with dual circuits, drop-zone exclusion, and a 30 km/h wind threshold; IGU handling triggers team-lift and cut-resistant PPE. The SWMS is signed, the vacuum-lifter pre-use inspection is posted, and the crew acknowledges. On level 6 a 38 km/h gust triggers a 45-minute lift hold; the SWMS review record captures the hold and restart.
Related legislation
- Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) — Section 19 primary duty; Section 27 officer due diligence; Section 47 worker consultation.
- WHS Regulation 2025 (NSW) — r. 298-300 (SWMS); r. 78-82 (managing falls); r. 55A-55D (psychosocial); r. 215 (HRW licences).
- Home Building Act 1989 (NSW) — licensing of glazing work.
- Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW) — glazing as regulated building work.
- Building Code of Australia (National Construction Code, Volume 1) — glazing compliance.
Frequently asked questions
Does this SWMS cover curtain-wall installation?
Yes. Curtain-wall hazards including vacuum-lifter operation, wind thresholds, and BMU or cradle access are included. Engineered structural-glazing systems require project-specific method statements in addition to this SWMS.
How does the SWMS handle large-format glass handling?
The SWMS mandates mechanical handling (vacuum suction, glass robots) for panels over 20 kg and briefing of team-lift protocols for IGUs. Cut-resistant gloves (AS/NZS 2161.3 Level 5) and forearm sleeves are required whenever glass is handled.
Can I use this SWMS in Victoria?
You can use it as a starting point. Victoria operates under the OHS Act 2004 and OHS Regulations 2017. Update the legislation schedule and cite WorkSafe Victoria Compliance Codes in place of SafeWork Australia Codes of Practice.
Does the SWMS cover shower-screen installation?
Yes. Residential shower-screen installation controls including pre-fabricated glass handling, two-person lifts, and drilling of tempered glass are included. Tempered glass must not be drilled or cut post-manufacture — specify the correct size at order.
How often does this SWMS need to be reviewed?
Review whenever the work or hazards change materially, after an incident, or when a worker raises a concern. At minimum, every 12 months and at the start of each project.
Is this SWMS compliant with the 1 July 2026 Section 26A changes?
Yes. From 1 July 2026, 34 approved Codes of Practice become legally binding under Section 26A of the amended WHS Act. This SWMS cites the currently-approved Codes that will become binding — Construction Work, Managing the Risk of Falls, Hazardous Manual Tasks, Hazardous Chemicals, and Asbestos Management.
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