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Risk & COSHH assessment

Risk Assessments

These will include:

Glass Safety

The requirements for glass safety are set out in Building Regulation Approved Document N and BS6262- Part 4 Code of practice ‘Safety related to human impact'. Glass in critical locations must be specified as safety glass and tested in accordance with BSEN 12600 (formerly BS6206) ‘Specification for Impact Performance Requirements for Flat Safety Glass and Safety Plastics for use in Buildings’.

The assessment for safety glass must take into account proposed raised access floors. If these are fitted at a later date the glazing would have to be re-assessed.

When glazed panels have to be removed for maintenance they must be suitably stacked and protected to avoid accidental injury.

Manual Handling

There must be a full manual handling assessment, taking into account the panel weight, size, shape and position relative to the floor. This will apply both at installation stage and during cleaning or maintenance. Glass is deceptively heavy - 4mm glass weighs 10Kg per square metre rising to 15Kg for 6mm and 25Kg for 11.5mm laminate. Appropriate PPE should be worn

Cleaning

Window cleaners must make the same risk assessments when cleaning secondary glazing as for primary windows. In particular, ensure that the outer window is firmly closed to avoid accidental opening. Safety harnesses must be worn if there is a risk of a fall.

Replacing glass

Handling raw edge glass on site is not recommended. The panel should be taken off site and re-glazed on a suitable bench with the use of appropriate PPE.

COSHH assessment

This covers the Control Of Substances Hazardous to Health. There are no substances within the installed products which can be regarded as hazardous. When maintaining the products, use of silicone spray lubricants and glass cleaners in normal ventilated areas will not pose a hazard provided manufacturer’s instructions are followed.