Worker crushed by falling sheets of balustrading glass
In August 2018, a worker was crushed when multiple sheets of balustrading glass fell from a truck-mounted A-frame. He was standing on the ground beside the truck, holding and balancing the sheets in a near vertical position, while another worker removed a sheet of ply from behind the glass. The glass, weighing a total of approximately 160kg, overbalanced and fell onto him, forcing him to the ground, causing severe crush injuries to his back, chest and legs. Investigations are continuing.
Preventing a similar incident
Sheet materials, such as glass, plasterboard, stone and granite bench tops, pre-cast concrete panels and form-ply can fall if they are not adequately supported while being transported, handled, or stored.
The risk of injuries is high when glass sheets are being handled or moved and the sheets are not adequately inclined and supported by racking or transport frames. Workers or others in the immediate vicinity are at risk of being crushed, trapped or cut by falling sheets. In addition, workers risk musculoskeletal injuries when they are required to manually balance stacks of sheets during sorting and handling.
Duty holders should consider a combination of the following engineering and administrative risk controls because relying on one system may not be adequate:
- workers should never manually restrain or balance multiple sheets away from transport/storage frame's incline
- use a load rated rack or transport frame (suitable for material weights applied, potential wind loads and travel path side angles to be encountered), to securely store, cradle, lift, transport and restrain the sheets
- use adequately load rated restraining equipment
- use mechanical lifting equipment whenever possible
- implement regimes for maintenance, inspection and testing of all racking and lifting equipment
- have a lifting plan
- plan loading and unloading so as to avoid the need for accessing sheets from the middle or back of the stack by storing sheets of material of different types and sizes separately
- ensure storage and support systems are designed for forces resulting from unbalanced loads
- ensure appropriate and adequate training and supervision of workers
- ensure workers wear appropriate PPE.
Statistics
Since 2012, there have been 127 glass smashing incidents, 13 involving stacks or racks of glass panelling (as opposed to single sheets). During the same period there have been 157 accepted worker' compensation claims for injuries received as a result of falling glass. This means on average, 31 claims are accepted each year for workers injured by falling glass. 40 per cent of these injuries are serious.
Prosecutions and compliance
In 2014 a glazing work and manufacturing business was fined $45,000 after a worker was seriously injured. The worker was unloading a container of glass shower screens when 37 sheets of glass (each weighing approximately 20kg) fell from an approximate height of 1200m, trapping him.
In 2013, a company was fined $45,000 and received a court-ordered undertaking for a period of 12 months with a recognisance in the sum of $45000, when a worker sustained fractures to his left leg and shoulder and a deep laceration to his left leg. He was moving a pack of 30 screen doors weighing approximately 650kg with an overhead gantry crane. When the overhead capping was removed, some of the screen doors moved. He attempted to counteract the movement but the force pushed him backwards. More of the doors fell onto him causing the glass to shatter.
More Information
- How to manage work health and safety risks code of practice 2021 (PDF, 0.65 MB)
- Storage and handling of sheet material safety alert
Support for people affected by a serious workplace incident
Have you been affected by a workplace fatality, illness or serious injury? For advice and support, visit our Facebook page or email ohs.coronialliaison@oir.qld.gov.au.