RAMS for Glaziers
Generate compliant risk assessments for glass installation, curtain walling, and window replacement in under 2 minutes. WAHR, LOLER, MHOR, and CDM 2015 cited automatically.
Built with UK health & safety regulations in mind
Free Glaziers RAMS Template
A blank glaziersrisk assessment & method statement template — with the 5×5 risk matrix, the construction hazards to consider for this trade, and the relevant UK legislation already listed. Fill it in by hand, or generate a completed one in two minutes.
Or skip the blank page — generate a filled-in GlaziersRAMS in 2 minutes →
Glazing work combines the challenge of handling large, heavy, and fragile materials with significant work at height risk. A single sealed double-glazed unit can weigh over 50kg and shatter into dangerous fragments if dropped. External glazing on curtain walling projects involves crane operations, MEWP work at height, and wind loading considerations that change the risk profile minute by minute.
Principal contractors and main contractors require glazing RAMS that address the specific hazards of glass handling, the lifting method for each panel type, and the fall prevention measures for external installation. Generic construction RAMS will not cover vacuum lifter LOLER requirements, wind speed limits for glass installation, or the emergency procedure for a breakage at height.
swiftRMS generates glazier RAMS in under 2 minutes with correct legislation citations, manual handling assessments for your glass specification, and work at height controls for your access method.
What Glaziers RAMS Must Include
Compliant risk assessments for glaziers work must cover these specific areas
Manual handling of glass units
Sealed units, frames, and single panes are heavy, awkward, and unforgiving of a lost grip. Under MHOR 1992 the RAMS must state unit weights, team lift numbers, carrying routes, and the point at which mechanical aids replace manual carrying.
Cut and laceration controls
Broken glass causes deep lacerations to hands, forearms, and legs. The RAMS must specify cut-resistant gloves (EN 388 cut level D or above), forearm protection for large units, safe breakage clean-up procedures, and first aid arrangements for severe bleeding.
Working at height for external glazing
Upper-floor windows, curtain walling, and roof glazing all engage WAHR 2005. The RAMS must name the access method — MEWP, scaffold, or tower — with fall protection, and address fragile roof surfaces and fall-through risk for rooflight work.
Vacuum lifters and lifting operations
Glass vacuum lifters and crane lifts of panels fall under LOLER 1998: thorough examination records, safe working loads, and a lift plan for crane operations. Daily pre-use checks of seals, pumps, and batteries sit alongside under PUWER 1998.
Wind monitoring and exclusion zones
Large panes act as sails; a gust can take a panel and the person holding it. The RAMS must set a maximum wind speed for the panel size in hand, name who monitors it, and define exclusion zones below external glazing and lifting operations.
Safe stillage storage and transport
Glass stored on site must be kept in stillages or A-frames on firm level ground, strapped, and segregated from site traffic. The RAMS should cover loading and unloading method, stillage capacity, and never leaning loose panes against walls.
COSHH assessment for sealants and primers
Silicone sealants, polyurethane adhesives, primers, and glass cleaning solvents are controlled under COSHH 2002. Each product needs an assessment from its safety data sheet, with gloves, ventilation, and vapour controls for enclosed glazing bays.
Common Glaziers Tasks That Require RAMS
Generate RAMS for any of these tasks in minutes, not hours
Window replacement
Removing old frames and glazing, handling potentially cracked units, and fitting new sealed units. Hazards include lacerations from failed glass, work at height on upper floors, manual handling in stairwells, and protecting occupants below.
Curtain walling installation
Large-scale external glazing with crane lifts, MEWP access, and wind loading that changes hour by hour. The RAMS must cover the lift plan under LOLER 1998, exclusion zones, panel restraint until fixed, and coordination with other facade trades.
Structural glass and balustrades
Frameless systems, glass floors, and balustrades use heavy toughened or laminated panels demanding millimetre positioning. Vacuum lifters, temporary edge protection where balustrade glass is not yet installed, and crush risk controls are central.
Shopfront glazing
Very large panes installed at pavement level with the public passing. The RAMS must cover pedestrian segregation and barriers, delivery vehicle management, suction lifter checks, and out-of-hours working where the high street demands it.
Roof glazing and skylights
Work on or near fragile surfaces with genuine fall-through risk. WAHR 2005 requires crawl boards, netting or covers, and harness systems to be named in the RAMS, alongside weather limits and safe routes for moving glass across the roof.
Emergency glazing and board-ups
Call-out work on failed or vandalised glazing, often alone and at night. The RAMS must address lone working procedures, clearing broken glass safely, temporary boarding fixings, lighting, and working next to live pedestrian or traffic routes.
UK Legislation for Glaziers Risk Assessments
Every RAMS automatically cites the relevant UK legislation and industry standards
Work at Height Regulations 2005 (WAHR)
Governs external glazing, curtain walling, upper-floor window replacement, and rooflight work. Requires planned access with suitable equipment, fall prevention before fall arrest, and specific controls for fragile surfaces.
Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER)
Applies to glass vacuum lifters, crane lifts of panels, and MEWPs. Lifting equipment must be thoroughly examined at statutory intervals, marked with its safe working load, and lifting operations planned and supervised by competent people.
Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 (MHOR)
Sealed units, frames, and stone or glass composites are heavy and awkward. Requires the handling task to be avoided or mechanised where reasonably practicable, and otherwise assessed with team lifts, handling aids, and planned routes.
COSHH Regulations 2002
Covers silicone sealants, polyurethane and MS polymer adhesives, primers, and solvent cleaners used in glazing. Each product requires assessment against its safety data sheet, with skin protection and ventilation controls documented.
CDM Regulations 2015
Glazing packages on construction projects fall under CDM 2015. Principal contractors require site-specific RAMS before work starts, and glazing lifts and exclusion zones must be coordinated through the Construction Phase Plan.
Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER)
Applies to glass cutting equipment, suction lifters, power tools, and powered access. Requires equipment to be suitable, maintained, and inspected, with daily pre-use checks on vacuum lifter seals, pumps, and alarms.
BS 6262 Glazing for Buildings
The British Standard code of practice for glazing, covering glass selection, safety glazing in critical locations, and installation practice. Not statutory, but clients and building control expect glazing work to comply, and RAMS should reference it.
How swiftRMS Generates Glaziers RAMS
You describe the job in plain English: replacing first-floor sash windows, installing a shopfront on a live high street, or craning curtain walling panels. swiftRMS identifies the hazards specific to that task — laceration controls, wind limits, vacuum lifter checks, fragile roof procedures — instead of listing generic site risks.
The generated RAMS cites the legislation that applies: WAHR 2005 for the access method, LOLER 1998 for lifting equipment, MHOR 1992 for glass handling, COSHH 2002 for sealants. In around 2 minutes you have a formatted PDF ready to review, sign, and submit.
Frequently Asked Questions
There is no single statutory limit, but industry practice based on CIRIA guidance and manufacturer instructions typically sets a maximum wind speed of 17-23 mph (Beaufort Force 4-5) for glass installation. Above this, the risk of loss of control of glass panels becomes unacceptable. Your RAMS should specify the wind speed limit for the specific glass size and weight being installed, and include a procedure for monitoring wind conditions.
Yes. Vacuum lifters used for lifting glass are lifting equipment under LOLER 1998. They require thorough examination by a competent person at intervals not exceeding 6 months (as they lift people indirectly by holding loads over or near workers). Daily pre-use checks of vacuum seals, pump function, and battery condition are also required under PUWER.
Minimum PPE includes cut-resistant gloves (EN 388 Level 5/D), safety footwear with metatarsal protection, eye protection, and long sleeves to protect forearms. For work at height, a harness may be required. When cutting glass, RPE (FFP2) and hearing protection should be added. Gauntlets or forearm guards are recommended for handling large units.
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