Glass industry Safety Matters

Comment

Comment by Raymond Armstrong on March 5, 2012 at 1:26pm

George, the subcommittee has what i think submitted the following:  ASTM WK22587 - New Guide for Personal Protective Equipment for the Handling of Flat Glass.  Just waiting on this to turn into a proper standard so that we can have some uniformity when it comes to thge proper PPE to wear.

Comment by Raymond Armstrong on February 13, 2012 at 2:30pm

George your latest post about the new sub committee has sparked my interest.  i will have to look that up and see where it is at right now.  thanks for the info.

Comment by George Wilson Bowskill on September 26, 2009 at 1:38am

ASTM Looking at Safer Glass Handling

ASTM has formed a new subcommittee within ASTM E34 on Occupational Health and Safety that will be focused on developing standards for safer glass handling. According to the ASTM magazine, "Recent accidents involving annealed glass have heightened industry and US OSHA interest in establishing standards to improve safety and health in the industry. The standardization effort of Subcommittee E34.35 on Safe Handling of Flat Glass will focus on practical personal protective equipment as well as levels of protection for various tasks in handling annealed glass."

Comment by George Wilson Bowskill on September 15, 2009 at 5:59pm

Thank you Bill, and yes you are correct the safety issues are very similar, and I appreciate your input and look forward to your experience and knowledge being aired thanks again
George

Comment by Bill West on September 15, 2009 at 10:17am

George:
I do not currently work in the glass industry, however, I did spend 9 years working for a company that made optical fiber (glass) for the telecommunications companies. While rod glass is not the same as sheet and plate glass, I am sure we have some of the same safety concerns. If I can be of any help, please let me know. The best to you.

Bill

Comment by George Wilson Bowskill on September 11, 2009 at 2:29am

UK G.L.A.S.S. Charter Initiative.
(Glass. Less. Accidents. Safer. Sites.)

In 2001 the British glass industry in conjunction with the Health and Safety Executive (H.S.E.) took up the governments revitalizing health and safety initiative to launch the Glass Charter. In 2003 the glass and glazing federation joined the partnership expanding the group far beyond manufacturing and processing to encircle all sectors of the UK glass industry.
In line with the revitalization health and safety initiative the UK glass industry adopted the following targets.
Organizations within the UK glass industry will contribute towards a 30% or equivalent reduction in lost time accidents.
Its aims are to improve health and safety performance in all sectors of the glass industry, by providing best practice guidelines and advice.
Actively encouraging members of the charter to continuously exchange ideas to improve health and safety practices
The charter also provides a forum that enables members to air views and concerns, and have an input in to consultations and legislation.
The industry continues to make progress in the reduction of accidents and incidents in the work place and in recent years has gained a success record that as a result rates the UK glass industry as having some of the best safety systems in the world.
Their continuing success relies on their strategy for identifying causes and taking positive action to eliminate or reduce potential reoccurrence.
Companies who join the Glass Charter (which is free to join) receive the following.
Best practice guidance on health and safety in a simple and easy to understand format. Guidance on safety legislation in the form of a quarterly update. A forum for raising and discussing health and safety issues. Regular safety newsletters.
The use of an industrial health and safety audit tool to help identify appropriate action. The opportunity to participate in a prestigious safety award scheme. And a range of training packages that include Safety for senior executives, managers. Owners. Managing safety for supervisors, and team leaders, Online training for operatives, and Specialist workshops.

Comment by George Wilson Bowskill on September 10, 2009 at 9:59pm

vironmental, Health, and Safety Guidelines for Glass Manufacturing

Environmental, Health, and Safety Guidelines GLASS MANUFACTURING A PRIL 30, 2007 1 ... provides guidance to users on common EHS issues potentially applicable to all industry sectors.

* www.ifc.org/ifcext/sustainability.nsf/AttachmentsByTitle/gui_EHSGuidelines2007_​GlassMfg/

Comment by George Wilson Bowskill on September 10, 2009 at 9:48pm

Take action
It is not easy to change the way we perceive our work environment; it takes practice and a watchful eye. One employee injury can affect many facets of your organization. It can reduce staff and require new hires or shifting employees around to accommodate the injured worker. It can affect the annual renewal on your insurance coverage and rates. Most importantly, an injury impacts the affected employee’s quality of life, personally and professionally.

We are all responsible for providing a safe working environment for our employees and must watch out for each other. When you observe an unsafe practice, alert the employee and his or her supervisor. Educate employees about safe practices as often as possible. Reinforce and enforce safety on a regular basis. Changing old habits takes consistent communication.

For the most part, safety is common sense. We all deal with unsafe situations on a daily basis. We mow our lawns and use chemical cleaning solvents and power tools. I take safety precautions when I do these everyday tasks. I wear safety glasses when mowing my lawn, chemical-resistant gloves when using cleaning solvents and cut-resistant gloves when handling power tools.

Hazard perception is a way of anticipating danger and taking steps to avoid that danger. Develop a checklist to evaluate work conditions in each location. Identify safety concerns and take the necessary steps to correct them immediately. Sample checklists are available on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration Web site, www.osha.gov. The information OSHA provides is comprehensive. Use this checklist to develop best safety practices companywide.

Take these steps, change your perception of the environment around you, and begin to create safe working conditions for your employees.

Comment by George Wilson Bowskill on September 10, 2009 at 9:39pm

UPDATE 12.00pm: THE death of a man crushed by glass in an industrial accident highlights the dangers of working alone, the construction union says.

Ian Wheeler, 45 from St Andrews, was working alone in the company factory of GW Glass when he tried to move large storages of glass at about 9.20pm last night.

The small, family-run company has machinery to move glass, however somehow the man became caught between two piles that fell in a domino effect and crushed him.

Mr Wheeler's parents, who own the factory, went to the scene of the accident last night and then travelled to the man's wife and children to tell them the bad news.

Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union assistant secretary Leo Skourdoumbis said nearly a tonne of glass fell on Mr Wheeler.

"A huge number of the injuries and fatalities that have occurred in the glass industry have happened with workers working on their own, he said.

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"The union would remind its members in the industry and the broader community that working with glass 'one out' is highly dangerous and should occur only in extremely limited circumstances.''

Police and Worksafe officers are investigating the last night and police will prepare a report for the coroner.