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Occupation Details

Glass and Glazing Tradesperson



Fact Sheet

Examining a completed leadlight for imperfections

Glass and glazing tradespeople cut, shape and install glass used in windows, including shopfronts, doors, walls, mirrors, display cabinets and furniture.

Duties and Tasks

Glass and glazing tradespeople may perform the following tasks:

  • interpret drawings and plans or measure the space to work out the amount of glass required
  • lay sheets of glass onto glass cutting tables and score (mark) the surface of the glass using a variety of glasscutters
  • remove excess glass with notched tools or glass pliers
  • cut, drill and notch holes in glass with diamond-tipped cutters and drills
  • remove broken glass and mirrors and prepare surfaces for re-glazing
  • smooth and polish edges on a grinding or bevelling wheel
  • fit the glass using putty, chemical compounds or rubber strips into timber, steel and aluminium frames
  • assemble and secure parts of pre-made glass units, such as shop fittings, display cases and shower enclosures
  • install metal window and door frames into which glass panels are fitted, such as for shower screens and sliding doors
  • fabricate aluminium for domestic and commercial applications, and fit and install on site
  • inscribe decorative edges on glass and mirrors

Specialisations

With experience and sometimes further training, glass and glazing tradespeople can progress to positions of leading hand, supervisor, sales representative, estimator or management.

A glass beveller applies decorative or protective-edge treatment to glass. They bevel (smooth) edges of mirrors or other flat glass items using grinding wheels or abrasive belts. Other treatment may include drilling holes, end-notching, cut outs and finger slots.
A leadlight worker designs and constructs stained-glass windows, doors, partitions and decorative works of art in a variety of buildings. The glass is fitted together with strips of lead, using putty to hold the glass.
A glazier/structural glass tradesperson installs glass into prepared openings such as windows, doors, skylights and display units, or fits glass to prepared surfaces such as interior walls. This can be done in a factory environment if fitting glass into prefabricated products, or on site in the case of new construction or repair.
A furniture/millworking tradesperson installs glass during assembly in prefabricated wood and metal products such as doors, window sashes, partitions and cabinets.
A glass silverer selects the polish and scrubs glass for mirror making. A silvering solution is then sprayed over the surface and allowed to drain off. The mirrors are then washed, dried and coated to protect the silvering from moisture.
A glass embosser engraves designs in glass by grinding, sandblasting or using acid. After the design has been made, the operator removes the residue, protective tapes and coatings, and cleans the glass.
A flat glass tradesperson measures, cuts, finishes, fits and installs glass in windows, doors, walls, mirrors, display cabinets and other furniture.
A glass cutter cuts glass sheets by hand or machine to obtain sections of pre-described dimensions, either square or shaped, and removes blemishes.

Quick Facts

School subjects that include some aspect of ART provide a useful background to these jobs. In some cases an art-related subject is a pre-requisite for entry to courses that provide the training for the job.
School subjects that include some aspect of INDUSTRIAL ARTS provide a useful background to these jobs. In some cases an industrial arts-related subject is a pre-requisite for entry to courses that provide the training for the job.
Use of precision or semi-precision tools or instruments or deft hand movements are required for these occupations. Included are jobs where poor co-ordination or incomplete use of hands or fingers may make tasks dangerous or difficult to undertake. Jobs requiring full use of hands/fingers are excluded.\par
These jobs require you to be able to see clearly to examine items close-up. It covers jobs where poor vision e.g. tunnel vision, could make the work place unsafe or the job difficult to undertake, e.g. draftsperson working with detailed drawings; checkout operator reading dockets; work requiring good hand-eye co-ordination for working with precision or semi-precision tools.
The main duties and tasks involved in these jobs require daily physical exertion, such as bending and twisting, lifting, climbing, pulling, pushing, carrying or other effort where physical fitness is required. People with heart, back or other conditions who should avoid physical strain may wish to avoid these jobs. Jobs requiring physical effort have been excluded.
These jobs require moderate or better reading and writing skills. Workers may be expected to prepare, understand or act on written materials, such as letters or reports. People may wish to avoid these jobs if their reading or writing English skills are limited to a small range of words or phrases and symbols. Jobs remaining may still require very basic reading or writing skills.
Included are jobs in architecture, building design, surveying, urban and regional planning and construction.
Included are jobs involved in the making of products requiring chemical processes, such as plastics, rubber, petroleum, tobacco, pharmaceuticals, toiletries and explosives. Also covered are clay, stone and glass-working jobs.
These jobs involve WORKING WITH THINGS, using the hands, or special tools or equipment to make, fix, install or adjust them. Activities include doing practical and physical tasks, and may require an understanding of how equipment or machinery works.
These jobs do not usually require completion of secondary education, however further part-time study usually at Certificate III level, and on-the-job training offered as an apprenticeship, is required.

Work Conditions

The work falls into the three areas of cutting the glass, bevelling or smoothing edges and fitting or glazing glass into prepared openings.

Personal Requirements

  • enjoy practical work
  • steady hands for precise work
  • able to work at heights
  • able to calculate and measure accurately

Labour Market Information

Australian JobOutlook for Glass Trades

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See State Specific Information below for further education and training options.

Using extreme caution and wearing protective gloves when moving large sheets of glass