New plasterboard health and safety study released
2010-07-07
Safe working practice for plasterboard is the subject of a new study by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The body found working with plasterboard could pose a risk due to its heavy nature and the repetitive movements and awkward postures required to fit the wall covering.
HSE cited a report into muscular-skeletal disorders, noting plasterers are one of the highest-risk groups for these problems among building professionals.
"Sensible precautions" were recommended in the report, including using mechanical manoeuvring assistance where possible, focusing on safe working practices and improving the physical dimensions of materials to cause less stress to handlers' bodies.
An independent watchdog, the health and safety group deals with public health risks such as asbestos and dangerous professional environments like the agricultural sector.
Plasterboarding could also be made less risky by improving manual handling expertise among labourers and supervisors and making individuals' tasks more varied to reduce the risk of repetitive strain injury.
