Risk of occupational glass injury in bar staff

One hundred and twenty-six bar staff (median length of service 2.7 years) working in 42 randomly selected public houses in South Glamorgan were interviewed and examined in the workplace to investigate the incidence, characteristics and treatment of lacerations from bar glassware. 41 per cent reported previous injury, 13 per cent on five or more separate occasions. All injuries but one were of the hand. After 13 per cent of incidents, treatment had been sought in an A & E department, but 58 per cent of incidents causing hand lacerations were not treated. Straight-sided (nonik) one pint (0.6 l) capacity glasses were responsible for two-thirds of injuries, usually during stacking and washing of used glasses. Of bar-workers familiar with toughened glassware, 86 per cent favoured its use on safety grounds. It was concluded that the incidence of sharps (glass) injury was unacceptably high and that this was also a potential cause of cross-infection in this group of workers.