Glass And Hard Plastic Risk Assessment Template for South Africa

A Glass And Hard Plastic Risk Assessment is a comprehensive workplace safety evaluation that identifies, assesses, and manages risks associated with glass and hard plastic materials in your workplace. This document is mandatory under South African health and safety legislation and helps you systematically evaluate potential hazards while implementing appropriate control measures to protect employees, visitors, and contractors from injury.

When do you need this document?

You must conduct this risk assessment when your workplace involves glass or hard plastic materials that could pose safety risks. This includes manufacturing facilities using glass components, offices with large glass panels or windows, retail environments with glass displays, laboratories handling glassware, and construction sites involving glazing work. The assessment is also required when introducing new processes involving these materials, following any glass-related incidents or near-misses, during routine safety reviews, or when workplace layouts change significantly. External safety consultants and Department of Employment and Labour inspectors may also require this documentation during compliance audits.

Key legal considerations

Your risk assessment must identify all potential hazards including cuts from broken glass, impact injuries from falling objects, eye injuries from glass fragments, and slips from broken materials on floors. The document should evaluate existing control measures such as personal protective equipment requirements, safe handling procedures, proper storage methods, and emergency response protocols. You need to assess the adequacy of current safety measures and implement additional controls where risks remain unacceptable. The assessment must also consider the competency of personnel handling these materials and ensure appropriate training programs are in place. Documentation should include clear risk ratings, control measure effectiveness, and review schedules to maintain ongoing compliance.

Legal requirements in South Africa

Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act No. 85 of 1993, employers must ensure workplace safety through systematic risk assessments and appropriate control measures. The General Safety Regulations specify requirements for personal protective equipment when working with hazardous materials like glass and hard plastic. Your assessment must comply with SANS 1263:2017 standards for safety glazing materials and testing requirements. The Facilities Regulations mandate proper storage and handling areas for these materials. You must involve employee representatives and Occupational Health and Safety Committee members in the assessment process. The document requires regular review and updates when workplace conditions change or incidents occur. Failure to maintain adequate risk assessments can result in enforcement action by labour inspectors and potential liability for workplace injuries.