Safety Never Stops at a Sticker
14-11-2025
The annual meeting with TÜV for Glass Handling Holland
At Glass Handling Holland, safety isn’t a checkbox — it’s our daily mindset.
This week, during our annual meeting with TÜV Netherlands, we were once again reminded why our mission matters: to design and deliver glass lifting equipment and vacuum lifters that keep every operator safe, every single day.
When Safety Becomes a Conversation
During our TÜV meeting, the discussion quickly turned to standards, laws, and regulations.
It may sound technical, but behind all those requirements lies one simple truth: no one should ever get hurt when using a glass lift or vacuum lifter.
As the TÜV inspector said so well:
“When an accident happens, in the end, no one is truly responsible. Yet we all end up paying the price.”
He compared it to the current situation with electric cars in parking garages — it’s allowed for now, until something happens, and then the law changes.
The Netherlands is good at control and enforcement, but with a labour inspectorate stretched thin, real improvement often follows only after incidents occur.
That thought stuck with us. Because safety isn’t something you secure with a single CE sticker — it’s something you live and apply every day.
What Does That Mean for Our Glass Lifting Equipment?
The law is clear: every vacuum lifter falls under the Machinery Directive and must carry a CE mark.
That requires a detailed risk assessment, technical documentation, and user manual.
But there’s more. The standard EN 13155 — which covers lifting accessories, including vacuum-based tools for safe handling — isn’t legally mandatory.
Still, we follow it as closely as possible, because it provides strong proof of compliance and quality.
At Glass Handling Holland, we go one step further: we equip every system with dual independent vacuum circuits — two pumps, two lines, two sets of sensors.
Is that required by law? No.
Is it smart? Absolutely.
In the glass industry, this is now the state-of-the-art safety solution, giving our customers the confidence that they’ve done everything reasonably possible to protect their people and projects.
Safety Is More Than Engineering
Even the best glass lift is only as safe as the person operating it.
That’s why we focus on clear instructions, operator training, and preventive maintenance.
Every lifter we deliver comes with visible safety labels, alarms, leak detection, and clear information on working limits — such as maximum load, wind speed, temperature, and daily test procedures.
We also recommend scheduling an annual expert inspection — something the Dutch Labour Inspectorate actively promotes.
We make this simple with a digital maintenance log and inspection tags that keep your equipment traceable and compliant.
Our Promise
We don’t deliver minimum standards — we deliver maximum safety and reliability.
Or, as we said during our TÜV meeting:
“Dual vacuum systems, optional fall protection straps, proper maintenance, alarms, and training — that’s the strongest position towards your client, insurer, and regulator.”
Because when you work with glass, trust and safety are everything.
Behind the Scenes
We also got a little homework from TÜV: our technical documentation could be even better structured.
A perfect project for the comming months — because continuous improvement is part of our DNA.
In Conclusion
Working safely with glass starts with the right glass lifting tools — but it ends with awareness and responsibility.
At Glass Handling Holland, we will always choose the safe path — not because we have to, but because it’s the right thing to do.
Because one thing is certain:
Safety never stops at a sticker.
Astrid de Groot – Glass Handling Holland
Lifting safely. Working smart. With confidence in your craft.
