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How to prevent injuries when handling plasterboards

Trade Association for the construction industry

Load out panels by machine and plan ahead to make sure the site is organised so they can be delivered close to where they need to be.
Use panel trolleys or other mechanical aids to move boards around site. Keep them well maintained.
Use plasterboard lifts or adjustable props to position boards safely for fixing. For low-level wall panels, use a foot-operated board lifter to avoid stooping.
Where positioning aids cannot be used, for example in stairwells or tight spaces, use smaller size boards that are easier to handle.

Remember

Injuries from lifting and carrying do not occur because of a ‘one-off’ task. They result from repeated strain on the body from handling heavy or awkward loads with poor posture. If you suffer a significant manual handling injury you may be off work for several weeks and the affected area may be permanently weakened.

Move away from ‘piece-rate’ pay systems. These encourage workers to rush and not to use lifting equipment, which increases the risk of injury.
Create internal access openings such as ‘letterbox’ floor slots so large panels do not need to be carried through doorways or up stairs.
Make sure workers are trained to use lifting equipment and handling aids safely.
Purchase plasterboard panels from suppliers who mark their weight on the board itself.

Panels are difficult to grip. Carrying them causes poor posture and risks injury. Using panel grips enables good grip, better posture and is faster.

Stooping and twisting whilst moving panels cause huge strain on the body over time. A panel handling trolley allows better vision and one person can move several panels at once.

Fixing to ceilings is a common cause of strain for workers holding panels. Using a panel lifter allows one person to quickly fix panels with far better posture.

This article use information obtained from HSE Health and Safety Leaflet and is reproduced under the terms of the Open Government Licence.

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Handling Plasterboards

Preventing injury during plasterboard handling.

Want to reduce down-time due to manual handling injuries on your busy building site? These are essential health and safety tips you should follow, even if you don’t directly employ the people working on your site.