A safety alert that provides guidance to persons with management or control of workplaces in the children service's sector about controlling risks associated with glass panels breaking from human impact.
Background
Earlier this year, a five-year-old child leant on a glass window at a child care facility, which consequently dislodged and smashed. The child sustained a severe wrist laceration that required hospitalisation.
Following this incident, WorkSafe visited similar workplaces that provide child care services and observed a number of windows and doors with glass panes/inserts that did not meet the requirements of the relevant Australian Standard (AS 1288-2006 Glass in buildings – Selection and installation).
Glass panels in schools and workplaces providing child care services can be particularly vulnerable to human impact, for example where panels are mistaken for a doorway or opening.
Recommended risk control measures
Persons with management or control of a workplace providing child care services have an obligation to provide a safe environment without risks to health, so far as is reasonably practicable. To ensure the safety of employees and children:
Further information
AS 1288 – 2006 Glass in buildings – Selection and installation
AS/NZS 2208 – 1996 Safety glazing materials in buildings
AS 2047 - 2014 Windows and external glazed doors in buildings
WorkSafe publications
Children's services: Occupational Health and Safety compliance kit, October 2011
Injury hotspot: Children's services 2008
Disclaimer: This Alert contains information following inquiries by WorkSafe Victoria (WorkSafe) into the incident at the date of this report. The information contained in this report does not necessarily reflect the final outcome of WorkSafe's action with respect to this incident. WorkSafe does not warrant the information in this report is complete or up-to-date, and does not accept any liability to any person for the information in this report, or its use.
Credit: WorkSafe Victoria (01.06.2017)
Earlier this year, a five-year-old child leant on a glass window at a child care facility, which consequently dislodged and smashed. The child sustained a severe wrist laceration that required hospitalisation.
Following this incident, WorkSafe visited similar workplaces that provide child care services and observed a number of windows and doors with glass panes/inserts that did not meet the requirements of the relevant Australian Standard (AS 1288-2006 Glass in buildings – Selection and installation).
Glass panels in schools and workplaces providing child care services can be particularly vulnerable to human impact, for example where panels are mistaken for a doorway or opening.
Recommended risk control measures
Persons with management or control of a workplace providing child care services have an obligation to provide a safe environment without risks to health, so far as is reasonably practicable. To ensure the safety of employees and children:
- arrange for a glazier to attend the workplace to conduct an audit of all windows to establish which windows are required to be safety rated in accordance with AS 1288-2006
- replace any identified non-compliant glass that is required to be safety rated with glazing of a suitable type, thickness and size that meets the requirements of AS 1288-2006. Generally, those areas of a building that are particularly vulnerable to human impact should be fitted with either safety glass or thicker annealed glass. When broken from human impact, the chance of cutting or piercing injuries will be minimized by the increased thickness/characteristics of the glass
- ensure people are aware of the presence of glass by making it as visible as possible (eg through the use of stiles, bars, opaqueness). If the presence of glass in a door or side panel is not apparent, mark the glass to make it visible
- regularly conduct inspections of the workplace, including all areas with glass. Note - the risk control measures listed above should also be taken into consideration when designing a child care facility (including all indoor and outdoor spaces and structures). This includes taking the necessary precautions to reduce the risk of injuries that can result from glass breakage.
Further information
AS 1288 – 2006 Glass in buildings – Selection and installation
AS/NZS 2208 – 1996 Safety glazing materials in buildings
AS 2047 - 2014 Windows and external glazed doors in buildings
WorkSafe publications
Children's services: Occupational Health and Safety compliance kit, October 2011
Injury hotspot: Children's services 2008
Disclaimer: This Alert contains information following inquiries by WorkSafe Victoria (WorkSafe) into the incident at the date of this report. The information contained in this report does not necessarily reflect the final outcome of WorkSafe's action with respect to this incident. WorkSafe does not warrant the information in this report is complete or up-to-date, and does not accept any liability to any person for the information in this report, or its use.
Credit: WorkSafe Victoria (01.06.2017)
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