Top 7 Safety Tips for Handling and Installing Glass at Home

Top 7 Safety Tips for Handling and Installing Glass at Home

Updated 16 October 2025 · Guide by Glass Helper

1) Wear the right PPE & control the workspace

• Cut-resistant gloves (EN 388), safety goggles, long sleeves, and sturdy footwear.
• Clear pathways; keep floors dry; protect edges with cardboard/rubber; store panels vertical at ~6–7° lean on padded bearers.
• Keep children and pets out; use a competent helper for sheets over ~0.8 m².

Further reading: HSE: Safety in the handling of flat glass.

2) Choose safety glass for impact-risk areas

Use toughened (EN 12150) or laminated safety glass where impacts are possible (doors, side panels, low-level glazing, bathrooms).
Safety glass is engineered either to break into small cubes (toughened) or stay bonded by an interlayer (laminated).

Standards & guidance: BS EN 12150 overview (BSI),
RoSPA: Preventing accidents in the home.

3) Carry and lift glass the safe way

• Lift from the vertical with two hands; don’t carry flat/horizontal unless on a rigid board.
• Use glass-suction lifters rated for the panel weight; check seals; test on clean, dry glass.
• Never grip by corners; support the long edge; avoid twisting the sheet through doorways.

4) Prepare edges, holes & fixings correctly

• Only drill/cut before toughening. Never drill toughened glass.
• Use proper pads, gaskets and setting blocks; avoid point-loads and metal-to-glass contact.
• Respect manufacturer edge clearances for clamps/hinges; keep frames square and plumb.

5) Fit safety glazing in “critical locations”

UK guidance identifies zones (around doors, low-level panes, bathrooms, stairs) where safety glazing or protection is required.
When replacing panes in these areas, specify glass tested to EN 12150 (toughened), EN 14449 (laminated) or EN 12600 (impact).

See: GGF: Right Glazing in the Right Place (PDF),
and IBC Chapter 24 reference for hazardous locations.

6) Clean-up & dispose of broken glass safely

• Wear gloves and goggles; ventilate the area; keep others away.
• Pick large pieces with cardboard; sweep shards with stiff card; finish with duct tape or a damp paper towel.
• Bag double (thick bin liners or a box), label “Broken Glass”, and follow your council rules for disposal.

RoSPA suggests using shatter-resistant film on existing panes and clearing broken glass quickly and safely:
RoSPA: Accidents to children.

7) First-aid basics for glass cuts

1. Rinse the wound with clean water; do not scrub.
2. Apply direct pressure for up to 10 minutes with a clean cloth.
3. Elevate the limb if possible and cover with a sterile dressing.
4. Seek urgent care for deep cuts, embedded glass, heavy bleeding, or numbness.

NHS guidance: Cuts and grazes.