Glass Handling Transport and Vacuum Lifting SWMS

Product Overview

This SWMS covers planning, receiving, storing, transporting, lifting, installing and clearing glass panels and related materials. It supports work planning and risk management by addressing glass stability, vehicle and plant interaction, vacuum lifting, breakage and sharp materials.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes task-specific risk controls for:

• Plan the work and inspect the site
• Receive bulk glass deliveries
• Inspect glass and lifting gear
• Set up glass storage
• Load A-frame trolleys
• Transport glass by vehicle
• Position mechanical lifting plant
• Connect vacuum lifting attachments
• Lift and move glass panels
• Install and release glass
• Handle fibre mesh and glass offcuts
• Respond to breakage, clean up and sign off

Who is this for?

For contractors, workers, supervisors and businesses carrying out glass handling, transport and vacuum lifting activities.

Specific Job Steps & Hazards Covered

Legislation & References

The template includes references relevant to the documented work, including:

• Applicable Commonwealth, state or territory WHS/OHS legislation and regulations, including duties to provide and maintain safe plant, systems of work, workplaces, consultation, information, training, instruction and supervision.
• Model Code of Practice: Managing the risks of plant in the workplace (guidance only; check adoption in the relevant jurisdiction). It requires plant used to lift or suspend loads to be designed for that purpose, used with suitable lifting attachments and kept within safe working limits.
• Model Code of Practice: Hazardous manual tasks (guidance only; check adoption in the relevant jurisdiction). It identifies vacuum-assisted lifters, glass-panel lifters, trolleys and lifting equipment as mechanical aids that can eliminate or reduce manual handling.
• Model Code of Practice: Construction work (guidance only; check adoption in the relevant jurisdiction), including SWMS requirements where high-risk construction work is present.
• Model Code of Practice: Managing risks of plant in the workplace (2024 edition, guidance only; check adoption in the relevant jurisdiction), including consultation, safe plant, safe handling, storage and transport duties.
• AS 1288 Glass in buildings—Selection and installation.
• AS 4991 Lifting devices.
• AS 2550 series Cranes—Safe use.
• AS 2359 series Powered industrial trucks.
• AS/NZS 1319 Safety signs for the occupational environment.
• AS/NZS 2210.3 Personal protective equipment—Safety footwear.
• AS/NZS 1337.1 Personal eye and face protection.
• AS/NZS 2161.3 Occupational protective gloves—Protection against mechanical risks.
• AS/NZS 4602.1 High-visibility safety garments.

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Standard SWMS Features (Click to Expand)

• Task-specific job steps, hazards and control measures
• Initial and residual risk ratings
• Assigned responsible persons for each job step
• Plant, equipment and PPE requirements where applicable
• Permits, qualifications and high-risk construction work details where applicable
• Worker consultation, sign-off and review sections