Glass Display Wall & Shopfront Install SWMS

Glass display wall installation covers the installation of glass display walls and partitions in retail and commercial premises — installing the glazing, glass panels and framing of a display wall or glass shopfront as part of a fit-out. The defining hazards are the handling and installation of the heavy glass with its cut, crush and breakage risk, the work at height for tall glass walls, the manual handling, and the work in occupied premises. This document is written on the basis that glass display wall installation is carried out with the glass-handling, work-at-height, manual-handling and occupied-premises controls in place, to AS 1288.

Glass display wall installation is carried out as construction work in connection with the glazing and falls requirements and AS 1288, with the glass handled and installed safely, the work at height controlled for tall walls, the heavy glass handled with mechanical aids, and the occupied premises managed. Where the work is carried out at a height creating a risk of a person falling more than two metres, it is high risk construction work. The glass handling, the work at height, the manual handling, and the occupied premises are the considerations. This document coordinates the glass-handling, work-at-height, manual-handling and occupied-premises controls so the glass display wall is installed safely.

Hazards identified

9 hazards covered, sorted by priority.

Control measures

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

1. 1Engineering: handle and install glass to AS 1288, using the correct grade and safety glass, managing the cut, crush and breakage hazard with mechanical aids for heavy glass, edge protection and care.
2. 2Engineering: provide fall prevention for work at height — platforms, scaffolds, elevating work platforms or appropriately rated ladders for light short-duration work — to the managing the risk of falls Code of Practice, with the higher-order controls used where practicable.
3. 3Engineering: use mechanical aids and team lifting for the heavy and awkward cabinets, joinery, panels, glass, fixtures and equipment, and manage the manual-handling and awkward-posture hazard with correct technique and the hierarchy of controls for hazardous manual tasks.
4. 4Administrative: use the correct grade and safety glass to AS 1288 for the application, so the glass is appropriate and, where required, safety glass.
5. 5Administrative: manage the work in occupied, trading or public premises by segregating the work area from the public and occupants with barriers and signage, working out of hours where required, and protecting customers, occupants and the public from the work.
6. 6Engineering: install and fix the glass so it cannot fall or fail after installation, to the structural and AS 1288 requirements.
7. 7Administrative: manage the glass edge and offcut hazards, and dispose of broken glass and offcuts safely.
8. 8Administrative: where the work is carried out at a height creating a risk of a person falling more than 2 metres, prepare a SWMS for the high risk construction work before it commences.
9. 9Administrative: all workers must hold a valid White Card (General Construction Induction Training, CPCCWHS1001), with the trade, electrical, gas and other competencies required for the work, and any shopping centre or building induction.
10. 10Administrative: conduct a pre-start toolbox talk covering the day's work, identified hazards, the occupied-premises and public-proximity arrangements, required PPE and emergency procedures, and record attendance in the consultation section.
11. 11Administrative: consult workers and any health and safety representatives on the work and its risks, record the consultation, and keep this document available at the workplace.
12. 12PPE: eye protection to AS/NZS 1337.1, hearing protection where required, gloves appropriate to the task, and Class I or Class II safety footwear with protective toecap to AS/NZS 2210.3.
13. 13Administrative: review and update this SWMS whenever the work scope changes, after any incident or near miss, when a worker or health and safety representative raises a concern, when new hazards are identified, or at minimum every 12 months.
14. 14Administrative: confirm the work is completed safely, the installations are secure, the electrical and services are safe, and the premises are left clean and safe.

Applicable Codes of Practice

High-Risk Construction Work triggered

Worked example

Glaziers are engaged to install a glass display wall in a retail fit-out. The glass is handled and installed to AS 1288, using the correct grade and safety glass, managing the cut, crush and breakage hazard with mechanical aids for the heavy glass, edge protection and care. Fall prevention is provided for the work at height for the tall glass wall, and a SWMS prepared where the work is at a height creating a risk of a fall more than two metres. The heavy glass is handled with mechanical aids and team lifting. The correct grade and safety glass to AS 1288 are used for the application. The occupied or trading premises are managed by segregating the work area from the public. The glass is installed and fixed so it cannot fall or fail after installation, to the structural and AS 1288 requirements. The glass edge and offcut hazards are managed, and broken glass and offcuts disposed of safely. The display wall is installed, confirmed secure, and the records retained.

Related legislation

• Model Work Health and Safety Act — primary duty of care; the duty to consult workers; the reckless-conduct offence; and notifiable-incident provisions, as enacted in each jurisdiction.
• Model Work Health and Safety Regulations — the construction work, falls, electrical, hazardous manual tasks and plant provisions, and the Section 291 high risk construction work and SWMS duties where applicable, as enacted in each jurisdiction.
• The construction work, falls, electrical and hazardous chemicals Codes of Practice, and the relevant standards such as AS 1288 for glass, AS/NZS 5601.2 for commercial catering gas and AS/NZS 3000 for wiring, are called up by the relevant safety legislation for the fit-out.
• Electrical work is carried out by a licensed electrician, gas work by a licensed gasfitter, and plumbing work by a licensed plumber, under each state and territory's licensing schemes; work in shopping centres and occupied buildings is also subject to the centre or building rules.
• Victoria operates under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017, with the construction, falls, electrical and high risk construction work provisions applying in place of the model instruments.

Frequently asked questions