Glass-related injuries and cuts

Glass can cause serious cuts. Many children end up in hospital every year because of injuries caused by glass around the home.

Glass can cause serious cuts. Many children end up in hospital every year because of injuries caused by glass around the home. Many are also injured when glasses and bottles break.

• Use safety glass in doors and windows that are easy to reach. Safety glass is glass that's toughened and laminated and passes specially designed impact tests. Normal glass shatters more easily. The British Standard for safety glass is BS 6206. Look for the BS marks on your windows or ask the glazier who is fitting your windows.
• Make existing non-safety glass safe by applying a shatter-resistant film.
• When buying furniture that incorporates glass, e.g. coffee-tables, make sure it's safety approved. The British Standards for glass in furniture are BS 7376 and BS 7449.
• Always dispose of broken glass quickly and safely - wrap it thickly in newspaper before putting it in the bin.
• Garden greenhouses and cold frames (a structure to protect plants from the winter cold), should either have safety glazing or be fenced off from children.
• Don't let young children hold anything anything sharp - such as scissors and sharp pencils, use child safety scissors, crayons etc instead.

Last updated: 01 May 2015