Safety & Compliance · SOP

Glass And Brittle Plastic Breakage Cleanup & Quarantine Protocol

Standardized procedure for immediate response, safe removal, and quarantine of broken glass, acrylic, polycarbonate, and other brittle plastics in production and warehouse environments. Compliance with WorkSafeBC and CSA Z432.

Estimated Time

15–30 min

Difficulty

Intermediate

Regulation

WorkSafeBC OHS

Version

1.0

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Purpose

To establish a standardized, repeatable procedure for safely cleaning up broken glass and brittle plastics (acrylic, polycarbonate, etc.) and quarantining affected materials. This reduces the risk of laceration injuries, cross-contamination in food/medical production, and product defects from debris. The procedure also ensures compliance with provincial OHS regulations and internal quality management systems.

Scope

This SOP applies to all areas where glass, acrylic, polycarbonate, or other brittle plastic materials are stored, handled, cut, or processed. It covers immediate spill response, cleanup techniques for both large fragments and fine shards, proper waste disposal, and quarantine of affected product, tools, and work-in-progress. All production operators, maintenance staff, and supervisors must follow this protocol whenever a breakage incident occurs.

Safety Precautions

LOTOLock out any machinery involved in the breakage before approaching. Verify zero energy state.
PPECut-resistant gloves (ANSI A5+), safety glasses with side shields, steel-toed boots, and long-sleeved clothing. For fine dust, wear a disposable N95 respirator.
WARNPost “Wet Floor” and “Broken Glass” warning signs immediately. Erect physical barriers to prevent foot traffic through the area.
CONTUse only puncture-resistant containers for waste. Do not overfill; seal bags with tape and label as hazardous.

Required Tools & Materials

Heavy-duty dustpan & brush (non‑sparking if flammables present)
Puncture‑resistant trash bags (woven polyethylene or 6‑mil poly)
Corrugated cardboard box or rigid plastic bin with lid
Duct tape (for sealing bags and labeling)
Flashlight (to locate fine shards and dust)
HEPA‑rated commercial vacuum (optional but recommended for fine debris)
Quarantine bin (dedicated, lidded, labeled “QUARANTINE – BROKEN GLASS/PLASTIC”)
Red quarantine tags (for product identification)
Incident report form and pen
Disposable moist towelettes or damp cloth for wipe‑down

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Procedure: Step-by-Step

1 Clear the area: Evacuate all non‑essential personnel. Establish a secure perimeter at least 3 metres from the breakage point. Post warning signs and set up barriers.

2 Don required PPE: cut‑resistant gloves, safety glasses, steel‑toed boots, long sleeves. If fine dust is visible, add a N95 or P100 respirator.

3 Lock out any machinery that caused or is near the breakage. Follow facility LOTO procedure (padlock, tag, try-out).

4 Collect large fragments (larger than a coin): Using gloved hands, carefully lift each piece and place it directly into a rigid cardboard box or plastic bin. Do not use a trash bag for large shards — they will puncture the bag.

5 Sweep small pieces and dust: Using a heavy‑duty dustpan and brush, sweep all remaining debris into a pile. For hard‑to‑reach areas, use a flashlight to locate glinting fragments. Alternatively, use a HEPA vacuum — empty the canister directly into a puncture‑resistant bag.

6 Wipe down all surfaces within 2 metres of the breakage with a damp cloth to remove invisible dust (especially important in food/medical environments). Dispose of cloths in the waste bag.

7 Seal and label waste: Place all collected debris, cloths, and disposable PPE into a puncture‑resistant bag. Fold the bag tightly, secure with duct tape, and affix a label: “BROKEN GLASS / BRITTLE PLASTIC HAZARD”.

8 Quarantine affected materials: Any product, raw material, tool, or work‑in‑progress that made contact with the breakage must be placed in a designated quarantine bin. Attach a red quarantine tag with date, time, and operator name.

9 Complete incident report: Fill out the facility’s incident report form (paper or digital). Record: location, time, cause (if known), materials broken, any injuries, and list of all quarantined items. Submit to shift supervisor immediately.

10 Dispose and decontaminate: Move sealed waste bag to the hazardous waste dumpster per facility policy. Decontaminate the quarantine bin with a disinfectant wipe before returning it to service. Remove all warning signs after area is cleared.

Glass And Brittle Plastic Breakage Cleanup & Quarantine Protocol

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