Glass Partition Installation SWMS

Glass partition installation involves the handling, lifting and fixing of large, heavy and inherently fragile glazing panels — typically 10–15 mm toughened or laminated safety glass weighing 30–50 kg per square metre — into aluminium, timber or frameless channel systems within commercial fit-outs. The work combines manual handling of awkward loads, working from stepladders or mobile scaffolds, use of powered tools to fix tracks into concrete slabs or steel, and the risk of catastrophic glass breakage producing sharp shards or full-panel collapse. Historic fixings may also contain asbestos backing materials, and drilling into concrete generates respirable crystalline silica.

Under the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025 (NSW), glass partition installation frequently constitutes high risk construction work under section 291 where panels are installed at heights exceeding two metres or where the work involves structural alterations. Section 299 requires a Safe Work Method Statement to be prepared before the work commences, kept available for inspection, and complied with on site. Controls follow the hierarchy in section 36, prioritising mechanical lifting aids, engineered edge protection and administrative exclusion zones over PPE alone.

Hazards identified

12 hazards covered, sorted by priority.

Control measures

Hierarchy-of-controls order: elimination → substitution → isolation → engineering → administrative → PPE.

1. 1Eliminate manual lifting of panels over 40 kg by specifying panelised sizes at design stage that can be handled within safe lifting limits, or by mandating mechanical lifting.
2. 2Substitute toughened glass with heat-soaked toughened or toughened-laminated glass compliant with AS/NZS 2208 to reduce spontaneous fracture risk and retain fragments if breakage occurs.
3. 3Use engineered glass-lifting equipment — powered vacuum lifters, glass trolleys and A-frames — rated to the panel weight, with dual-circuit vacuum and audible loss-of-vacuum alarms, inspected before each shift.
4. 4Where installation exceeds 2 m, work from a compliant mobile scaffold (AS/NZS 1576) or elevating work platform (AS/NZS 2550.10) with operator holding the relevant HRW licence; stepladders only for incidental work below 2 m.
5. 5Control silica dust by using on-tool water suppression or H-class dust extraction (AS/NZS 60335.2.69) when drilling concrete tracks, and comply with the workplace exposure standard for respirable crystalline silica of 0.05 mg/m³.
6. 6Before any drilling or fixing in pre-2004 buildings, review the site asbestos register under section 425 of the WHS Regulation 2025 and engage a licensed asbestos removalist for any confirmed ACM disturbance.
7. 7Isolate and verify all electrical circuits in the drilling zone using an authorised electrician and a cable locator prior to penetrating slabs, walls or bulkheads; apply lock-out tag-out.
8. 8Establish exclusion zones around active glazing works using barriers and signage; prohibit unauthorised personnel within a radius equal to the panel height plus one metre until fixings are complete.
9. 9Apply manifestation to completed frameless glass immediately on installation in accordance with AS 1288 to prevent walk-into incidents, and use temporary high-visibility tape where permanent film is not yet applied.
10. 10Provide task-specific PPE: cut-level D gloves (AS/NZS 2161.3), safety glasses (AS/NZS 1337.1), steel-capped footwear (AS/NZS 2210.3), P2 respirators when cutting concrete, and forearm protection when handling raw edges.
11. 11Implement a documented pre-start inspection of vacuum lifters, scaffolds, EWPs and power tools, with defective equipment tagged out under AS/NZS 3760 for electrical testing.
12. 12All workers to hold CPCCWHS1001 (White Card); the SWMS is to be developed in consultation with workers under section 47 of the WHS Act 2011 (NSW), signed by all persons doing the work, and reviewed under section 302 of the WHS Regulation 2025 whenever controls fail, incidents occur or the work method changes.

Applicable Codes of Practice

High-Risk Construction Work triggered

Worked example

A three-person glazing crew is engaged by a fit-out contractor to install 42 frameless 12 mm toughened glass partitions across a Level 14 tenancy on Kent Street, Sydney CBD. Panels are 2.7 m high and average 68 kg. The crew loads the SWMS with the building address, lift access constraints, and the goods lift booking window. Because installation of head channels at 2.7 m constitutes HRCW under section 291(1) of the WHS Regulation 2025, the SWMS is provided to the principal contractor before mobilisation. On site, panels are transported on rated A-frame trolleys, positioned using a twin-circuit vacuum lifter, and installed from a certified mobile scaffold. When the crew discovers unregistered bonded asbestos backing behind an existing partition on Day 2, work stops, the SWMS is reviewed under section 302, and a licensed removalist is engaged before glazing resumes.

Related legislation

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025 (NSW)
• Construction Work Code of Practice (NSW)
• Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces Code of Practice (NSW)
• How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code of Practice (NSW)
• Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work Code of Practice (NSW)

Frequently asked questions