Minor cuts, abrasions are painful. There is a real risk these injuries could become infected and lead to more serious illness. For people with diabetes or renal illness, minor cuts or abrasions can have very significant health impacts. The risk to residents of cuts or abrasions can be reduced at the design and planning stages and through effective housing maintenance. See Reducing Trips and Falls

Glass is one significant safety risk in houses. Under Australian Standards, all windows and doors should have laminated or toughened safety glass where there is any risk of a person falling onto or into the glass. These kinds of glass are stronger than ‘normal glass’ and are less likely to break. If they do break, laminated glass and toughened glass does not break into shards that can hurt people. Safety glass breaks into many small pieces and laminated glass contains a plastic film that holds the broken glass together.

Polycarbonate is another alternative to glass that is widely used in remote communities. Polycarbonate costs about the same as laminated glass but is easier to transport and less likely to break, although it can burn and melt if exposed to high heat. Polycarbonate is also very susceptible to scratching and is not ideal in dusty areas. There are new polycarbonate products that have a toughened surface to make it easier to clean without damaging the surface. Polycarbonate is not as rigid as glass and may not be suitable for use in large windows or louvre windows unless it is thick enough to prevent sagging and bending out of shape.

Other window options include shutters and metal or timber louvres that do not contain glass.

When assessing window options, consider;

• natural light helps to reduce power costs for residents
• people’s personal security
• egress in the event of fire
• insect protection
• people may want privacy inside the house but still want to watch what is going on outside.

Data from 6,000 houses shows no difference in the number of working windows in houses since 2013, with a slight increase in the average number of windows per house.

On average, there are still 3 windows per house not functioning either due to a failed window opening / closing mechanism or defective glazing. These failed windows can increase the chances of cuts and may also impact on security, insect protection and heating or cooling of the house.

Consider

• providing security screens to all windows
• using laminated glass, toughened safety glass or polycarbonate using a mar resistant grade that is less susceptible to scratching
• reducing the number of low level windows
• using metal or timber louvres when there is a need for low level airflow into the room
• designing all shelves and cupboards with mitred or rounded corners
• placing benches, shelves, hooks, rails and other wall mounted fittings clear of the path of travel, particularly in smaller rooms such as the shower and toilet areas
• making sure there are no sharp points or hazardous objects sticking out from  the walls at eye height
• using semi-solid doors rather than solid core doors, which can cause serious injury to children’s fingers
• providing high level storage, particularly in kitchens to store dangerous items out of children’s reach.

• glazing material is supplied and installed as specified, and a glazing certificate is provided for the installation, to the appropriate safety, wind and water rating
  

  When: COMPLETED DESIGN & SPECIFICATION
  DURING CONSTRUCTION
  AT HANDOVER
  FINAL COMPLETION
  TRADE TEST

• polycarbonate is ‘mar resistant’ and the thickness of the polycarbonate is sufficient to prevent sagging and bending
  

  When: COMPLETED DESIGN & SPECIFICATION
  DURING CONSTRUCTION
  AT HANDOVER
  FINAL COMPLETION

• all windows operate properly
  

  When: AT HANDOVER
  FINAL COMPLETION

• there are no cracks, chips or scratches in any glazing materials
  

  When: AT HANDOVER
  FINAL COMPLETION

• security screens are fitted as specified including safety escape screens to bedrooms for fire escape, see A3.3 ‘Escape in the event of fire’
  

  When: DURING CONSTRUCTION
  AT HANDOVER
  FINAL COMPLETION

• there are no sharp edges, nails or screws sticking out, or other items likely to cause cuts and injuries
  

  When: AT HANDOVER
  FINAL COMPLETION

• all builder’s rubbish has been removed from the house and yard.
  

  When: AT HANDOVER
  FINAL COMPLETION

As part of cyclical maintenance:

• check all windows can be opened and closed and their catches are working
  

  Who : Carpenter, Local Maintenance Team

  When : 12 Months

• replace any broken glass
  

  Who : Carpenter, Local Maintenance Team

  When : 3 Months

• re-fix any screws or nails that may have worked loose.
  

  Who : Carpenter, Local Maintenance Team

  When : 6 Months

AS/NZS 2208:1996, Amendment 1–1999, Safety glazing materials in buildings.

HB125–2007, The glass and glazing handbook.