AGWA June 2026 Topic of the Month: Cuts and Lacerations

AGWA 2026 Safety Calendar June Topic of the Month: Cuts and Lacerations

Published 5 June 2026

Safety

Cuts and Lacerations

AGWA Safety June Topic of the Month

This month's focus is Cuts and Lacerations

5 June 2026

15 min read

The most common injuries in the glass industry are severe cuts of hands and crushing of toes caused by sharp edges of glass sheets during their cutting, moving, setting, and other handling operations, or as a result of stepping on sharp glass shards. Cuts and stabs caused by working tools, such as chisels, glass-cutters, knives, etc are also common. These injuries are serious as they can lead to a loss of blood, infections, tissue, muscle, and nerve damage, and even amputations and death.

In 2025, according to SafeWork Australia, around 15% of injuries in the workplace related to wounds and lacerations, mostly from cuts to the hand or crush injuries to fingers. These injuries are in the top 5 that make up 90% of all serious claims. Unfortunately, construction and manufacturing are the second and third highest industries likely to see these sorts of serious workplace claims. Not surprisingly, these injuries make up 17.6% of reported injuries in our industry.

Throughout June, we'll be sharing valuable resources and best practices to help you prevent and avoid injuries in your workplace.

Look out for safety tips, toolbox talks, and other resources throughout the month. Go to our Safety Resources on the AGWA website to help you implement all these tips. There you will find many tools to make these tasks easier.

Let's manage cuts and lacerations together and make sure that every worker gets to go home at the end of the workday!

Review risks for cuts and Lacerations

The main causes of cuts, lacerations and puncture wounds include:

Improper training or lack of established safety procedures
Workers in a hurry taking short cuts
Contact with items such as nails and glass
Failing to wear cut-resistant gloves or none at all
Hand held or powered tools with blades such a box cutters, knives etc
Using improper tools for the job required or using poorly maintained tools
Poor housekeeping including cleaning debris
Poor lighting and reduced visibility

Review how to avoid cuts and lacerations

Are your workers aware of correct ways to handle glass without cutting themselves?

Tips include:

- Keep all cutting tools sharp so you won’t need to use extra force that might cause a blade to slip
- Use the proper tool for the job
- Use self-retracting cutting blades
- Check that all sharp tools have machine guarding to protect from accidental contact and injury
- Teach workers never to leave sharp materials unattended and to report any hazards they see
- Hold safety training classes on preventing cuts, lacerations and punctures
- Replace all sharp items in correct location
- Clear up broken glass immediately
- Keep work area tidy
- Don't rush when handling glass
- Remove all obstacles before moving around with glass
- Store glass safely to avoid it falling (See AGWA May Safety Topic of the Month)

Are your workers using the correct PPE every time they handle glass?
One of the major causes of accidental cuts is improper or no PPE. Let's look at what workers should be wearing:

- Eyewear
- Cut-rated gloves
- Gauntlets
- Long-sleeved shirts
- Long pants
- Safety boots
- Aprons when needed

PCBU Tip: Remind workers to never modify their PPE. Cutting the tips off their gloves means their gloves no longer provide protection.
PCBU Tip: Remind workers to always inspect their PPE before they start work. If it isn't intact don't use it!

Resources

PPE For Glass Handling Poster
Handling Glass Safely Poster
AGWA Safety Series Video PPE Guidelines (at 2.47)

Is your First Aid Kit fully stocked and handy? Do your workers know where it is located?

As a PCBU you have a duty to make first-aid arrangements in your workplace so workers can get immediate help if they are injured at work. Usually these sorts of injuries will lead to blood loss quickly if first aid isn't given almost immediately.
First aid requirements will be different in workplaces depending on a number of things including:
- type of work being carried out at the workplace
- type of hazards at the workplace
- size and location of the workplace
- number and makeup of workers and others at the workplace
When deciding on your arrangements you need to think about all of these things and also consult with your workers. Complete a first aid risk assessment to work out what you need. This should include equipment, training and procedures.
There is a Model Code of Practice First Aid in the Workplace on each state's SafeWork site. Find it and review whether your workplace is up to scratch.
Please also see AGWA's Safety Resources on our website for more information on what should be in your First Aid Kit and other useful information.

General Tips include:

- Make sure you regularly check all fist aid kits for stock
- Make sure every off-site worker has a portable first aid kit
- Make sure you have trained first aiders available at all times

Remember: Always wear appropriate PPE when handling glass or other materials in any way.
Every minute counts with a cut or laceration. Don't waste time being unprepared and put your worker's life at risk by not knowing what to do in an emergency.

AGWA Resources

Not sure where to start? AGWA has developed a number of resources for you to use. To find these, and all those listed in this post, go to the AGWA website (www.agwa.com.au) and Go Business & Technical Tab and then Safety Resources.

Toolbox Talk topic: Tips for arm and hand safety.

Always remind workers that safety is everyone’s business, and they responsible for their own safety as well as looking out for their mate’s.