The Workplace (Heath, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992
Since 1975 the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (HSWA) has required employers, the self employed and certain people who have control over workplaces to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of anyone who may be affected by their work activities. So if glazing constitutes a risk, reasonably practicable measures need to be taken to deal with it.
What Regulation 14 Requires
Regulation 14 requires that every window or other transparent or translucent surface in a wall, partition, door, or gate should, where necessary for reasons of health or safety, be of a safety material or be protected against breakage of the transparent or translucent material. As well as this it must also be appropriately marked or incorporate features to make it apparent.
Employers who fail to meet this legal obligation of regulation 14 run the risk of costly litigation should an accident occur involving these glazed areas.
Initially, a risk assessment of your glazing is undertaken to ascertain whether or not there is a risk of injury (recommendations can be found in BS6262 part 4).
The First Steps to Compliance
Determine the type of glass and it’s safety rating within those critical locations as stated by regulation 14.
Below gives examples of glazing in windows, partitions, walls, doors and side panels. ‘Critical locations’ are shaded grey. Any glazing within a shaded area must comply with BS 6206.
Glazing unit No. 10 falls wholly within a ‘critical location’ and so the glazing must comply with BS 6206.
Where only part of a glazing unit falls within a ‘critical location’ the whole of that unit must comply with BS 6206. This applies to units Nos. 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11 and 12.
Only glazing units Nos. 1, 4 and 8 fall wholly outside the ‘critical location’ and need not comply with BS 6206.
Create a detailed report of work to be undertaken so that all glazing identified as unsafe for it’s location will be upgraded.
Ensure that both the assessment and the schedule of work are fully documented.
Instigate a programme to monitor and review the current situation on a regular basis (ensure the schedule of work is completed and any subsequent reorganisation does not create a new potential risk).
PLEASE CALL 03300 881 051 if you require further assistance or if you are having difficulty interpreting regulation 14.
Sureguard Window Films® Surveys and Risk Assessments
Sureguard have many years of experience in providing accurate, unbiased guidance on this and other glass related safety legislation.
We can adapt our reports to include only glass within critical locations or expand our details to incorporate other areas of concern identified in other glass safety related legislation and guidance.
Recommendations are presented in a clear form with costing provided for compliance including the application of Safety Window Film and/or, if required, glass replacement.
Contact us to find out more about how this legislation affects you and the solutions available to assist you in complying with your obligations.