Glaziers & Window Installers

Glaziers handle large, heavy, fragile panels of glass, often at the edge of a building. Breaking glass causes severe cuts, and the work itself puts them right at fall edges.

• Construction

Top hazards

• Severe lacerations from breaking or sharp-edged glass
• Falls from edges, lifts, swing stages and ladders
• Strains from heavy panes; crushing from tipping glass racks
• Vacuum lifter failure

Key practices

• Wear cut-resistant gloves and sleeves, safety glasses, and boots.
• Inspect glass for chips and cracks before lifting; carry it vertically.
• Use vacuum lifters rated for the load; check the vacuum gauge and battery, and never lift people or go under a suspended pane.
• Secure glass racks and A-frames so they can’t tip.
• Tie off when working at open edges and openings. See Leading Edge Work.
• Use enough people or equipment for heavy units, and watch the wind.

Glass handling

• A large insulated unit can weigh several hundred pounds. Know the weight before lifting, and use enough people or a glass lifter.
• Carry glass vertically, never flat, so it doesn’t flex and break.
• Wear cut-resistant sleeves; many glazier cuts are to the forearm and wrist, where major blood vessels are.
• Watch the wind. A sheet of glass acts like a sail and can pull workers off balance or off an edge.

If glass breaks

• Let it go and step back. Don’t try to catch falling glass.
• Treat deep cuts as emergencies: apply firm pressure and call 911. See Bleeding Control.
• Clean up with a broom, dustpan and gloves; put shards in a labeled, puncture-resistant container.

Curtain wall and storefront

Setting curtain wall panels from inside a building means working at open slab edges, often with a crane or monorail lowering the panel. Use fall protection, keep the edge zone controlled, and coordinate with the signal person. See Rigging Basics.

Before the lift

• Glass weight known and lifter rated for it
• Vacuum cups clean, gauge reading in the safe zone, battery charged
• Glass inspected for chips and cracks
• Path clear and drop zone barricaded
• Fall protection in place at edges and openings
• Wind within limits
• Cut-resistant gloves and sleeves on

Last updated: October 1, 2026