Welcome Guest! The IOSH forums are a free resource to both members and non-members. Login or register to use them

Postings made by forum users are personal opinions. IOSH is not responsible for the content or accuracy of any of the information contained in forum postings. Please carefully consider any advice you receive.

Notification

Icon
Error

Options
Go to last post Go to first unread
lenihan1974  
#1 Posted : 24 November 2010 15:21:25(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
lenihan1974

Hello I urgently need some advice. We have a large atrium area in the middle of our 6 storey building. A large pane of glass has shattered and could fall down 6 flight of stairs into our main atrium area. The precautions that have been taken so far 1. A glazer has been called ASAP 2. Staff have been warned not to use the area 3. The area has been cordoned off 4. We have stopped the nearest left to the pane of glass as we thought this could cause vibrations Is there anything else that I should be considering? I'm in a bit of a panic!!! Thanks Lorna
sean  
#2 Posted : 24 November 2010 15:30:44(UTC)
Rank: Guest
Guest

Lorna, what about the outside the building? Maybe that needs cordoning off as well
lenihan1974  
#3 Posted : 24 November 2010 15:32:40(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
lenihan1974

Hi, the outside is fine, this is purely an inside problem. One side of the window could fall down into the center of our building, the other side of the window is an office - the people in there have been moved.
sean  
#4 Posted : 24 November 2010 15:36:56(UTC)
Rank: Guest
Guest

Lorna, it sounds like you have covered all the bases, ensure the staff do not go near the area and wait for the glazier. if all else fails, run!
Alan Haynes  
#5 Posted : 24 November 2010 15:39:50(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Alan Haynes

Are there any other similar panes around the atrium? - if so, they need checking asap How old is the building/glass? Was the glass 'special' [i.e. - heat treated] or 'bog standard'? "Staff have been warned not to use the area" - is that enough? - can you isolate the area to prevent entry to it?
lenihan1974  
#6 Posted : 24 November 2010 15:54:03(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
lenihan1974

Alan Haynes wrote:
Are there any other similar panes around the atrium? - if so, they need checking asap -A: I have raised this and they will be checked when the glazier engineer gets here How old is the building/glass? A: the glass is about 10 years Was the glass 'special' [i.e. - heat treated] or 'bog standard'? A: it is a special glass that has built-in safety precautions (so to speak) e.g it has automatically shattered itself into tiny fragments, its just a waiting game until it falls - awful situation... Also I have been told that the glass should fall inwards and not outwards but that is not a risk I want to take. "Staff have been warned not to use the area" - is that enough? - can you isolate the area to prevent entry to it? A: - the area has been cordoned off, no one can get it to it, unless they climb over the barriers but they know not to do this. Thanks Sean
lenihan1974  
#7 Posted : 24 November 2010 16:45:40(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
lenihan1974

Sorted! All safe again. Thanks for all the tips guys
MB1  
#8 Posted : 25 November 2010 12:41:52(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
MB1

The obvious follow up is to determine the reason for the glass shattering and that it is manufactured to standard also?
Users browsing this topic
Guest (2)
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.