Stay Safe Everybody!

Today marks the start of Building Safety Week, as promoted by the International Code Council (ICC). This year’s theme is “Building Safety: Where You Live, Work and Play.” Among the top five building safety tips the ICC proposes for homeowners is the installation of “tempered or multiple pane windows – Windows allow heat to pass through and ignite combustible materials inside. Dual- or triple-pane thermal glass, and fire resistant shutters or drapes, help reduce the wildfire risk. You can also install non-combustible awnings to shield windows and use shatter-resistant glazing such as tempered windows to help prevent breakage from heat and debris.”

I’m sure the glass industry can offer a number of additional ways in which to promote building safety. Are you promoting the many ways in which glass can keep people safe in your community?

For our part, USGNN.com recently ran a preview of an article on skylight safety that will be appearing in our May issue of USGlass. While I found in researching the article a great deal of discussion over whether a human-impact resistance standard was as necessary for glass skylights as compared to plastic skylights, it sure seems like something needs to be done. That same day we ran an article titled “Child Falls Through School Skylight.” The following day we ran this link: "Boy Fighting for Life" (notice the mention of the plastic skylight—I wish more of these articles made note of the type of product involved in these injuries). Unfortunately, these stories aren’t so rare as one might hope. Hopefully programs such as the one ICC is promoting this week will help keep more people safe.

While ICC’s safety promotion might be aimed at the consumer, what better time than the present to take a look at your own safety program and make sure your facility is in full compliance with OSHA regulations.