What is a key step before handling glassware with heat-stress cracks?

Handling glassware with heat-stress cracks requires careful consideration to ensure safety and prevent further damage. The key step in this process is to thoroughly clean the glassware before proceeding to handle it. This is because any residual dirt or contaminants can exacerbate the stress on already weakened areas of the glass, increasing the risk of breakage during handling.

Thorough cleaning helps to create a safe handling environment by eliminating any debris that could trigger additional stress on the cracked areas. It's crucial to inspect the glassware for any further damage after cleaning, ensuring that any cracks or imperfections are noted before any attempts are made to use or transport the glassware.

In contrast, leveraging monitoring, disclaimers of liability, and offering warranties do not address the immediate risk posed by the handling of compromised glassware. While these actions might have their own importance in a broader context, they do not mitigate the risks associated directly with handling glass that exhibits heat-stress cracks. Therefore, thorough cleaning is the most responsible and important step before any handling occurs.