Manual handling and lifting guide. Telephone: Fax: Training enquiries:

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1 Gyproc, Thistle, Gypframe, Glasroc and Arteco are all registered trade names of BPB United Kingdom Limited. Isover is a registered trade name of Saint-Gobain. British Gypsum reserves the right to revise product specifications without notice. The information in this document was correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. It is the user s responsibility to ensure that it remains current prior to use. The information in this document is for guidance only and should not be read in isolation. Users should read and familiarise themselves with all the information contained in this document and ensure that they are fully conversant with the products and systems being used, before subsequent specification or installation. For a comprehensive and up-to- date library of information visit the British Gypsum website at: Telephone: Fax: bgtechnical.enquiries@bpb.com Training enquiries: British Gypsum April 008 FM 558 MHG-648-DL Manual handling and lifting guide British Gypsum November 007 -CB-0 A Saint-Gobain Company

2 Contents Introduction Safe systems of work Loading and unloading pallets 4 Mixing 5 Picking from mid level 7 Handling buckets 7 Handling lengths of metal 8 Handling boards Carrying boards up / down stairs Fixing walls Lifting plasterboards into place (including ceilings) 4 Fixing ceilings 5 Board handling equipment 6 Introduction British Gypsum recognises the increasing importance of Health and Safety at work. We have, therefore, been working with Pristine Condition, experts in this field, to develop a series of safe systems of work for manual handling and lifting of our products. The simple guidance in this document suggests appropriate methods for handling British Gypsum products, including Gyproc plasterboards, Thistle plasters, Gypframe metal sections, Glasroc boards and Arteco ceiling products. Information is also included on specialist handling equipment, as featured within the Gyproc Tools Catalogue, available from For more detailed information, please refer to the EUROGYPSUM report on manual handling, available to download from Please note, the information in this document is provided in good faith, as a guide to good practice. It should be used in addition to, and not as a replacement for, the normal processes of on-site assessment and site safety management. Safe systems of work Wherever possible, place one foot in front of the other to produce a good base and reduce the pressure on the body. Assess the load by placing your hand on it and moving it. Only handle what you feel you can manage. Initiate movements with your legs, unlocking the knees and driving with the legs to start the lift. Keep the load as close, or get as close as possible to the load, when lifting or handling. Turn instead of twisting and move your feet. Let your back find its natural curvature. Never lose control of the load. Always wear Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) as directed on site. Hard hat and safety shoes required at all times. Keep your hands warm and dry - dressing warmly in cold weather helps stay warm. Wear gloves and change them if they get wet. The wearing of gloves avoids cuts. Wear your safety glasses and dust mask when handling or mixing plaster ingredients and additives or applying ingredients and additives or applying plaster, finishing ceilings or sanding. Wear your safety glasses when snipping metal pieces such as corner beads, trims, and wire mesh. Do not continue to work if your safety glasses become fogged. Stop work and clean the glasses until the lenses are clear and defogged. Avoid the over specialisation of workers and favour multi-purpose tasks. Specialisation leads to monotonous, repetitive jobs. Rest for 5 seconds, many times throughout the day. Some studies have shown that micro pauses (short breaks) reduces stress and can lead to an increase in productivity. Rotate jobs: if one part of the job requires a lot of overhead work, switch for a while to an activity that uses different work motions. Musculoskeletal problems in bricklayers, carpenters and plasterers: literature review and results of site visits, Health and Safety Laboratory, Sheffield: Health and Safety Executive, 00. All content and imagery in this section has been produced in association with

3 Loading and unloading pallets Mixing PPE: Hard hat, high vis and safety shoes required. Always place one foot forward by operating from the corner of the pallet or placing one foot on the pallet, taking care to ensure that the pallet does not tip in the process. Unlock the knees for low level work. Take a firm grip of the load with both hands. Lift using the legs to start the movement. Emptying bags into a mixer PPE: Mask, eye protection, hard hat, high vis and safety shoes required. Always place one foot down by the side of the mixing container. Unlock the knees if necessary. Turn by moving the feet. Turn by moving the feet. Always keep the load close when carrying. DO NOT EMPTY BAGS WITH FEET IN LINE. DO NOT LIFT WITH FEET IN LINE OR WITH LOAD IN FRONT OF THE FRONT FOOT. 4 5

4 Mixing (continued) Picking from mid level When mixing PPE: Mask, eye protection, hard hat, high vis and safety shoes required. Keep the foot to the side of the mixing container. Unlock the knees if necessary. Maintain a balanced position. PPE: Hard hat, high vis and safety shoes required. Place one foot forward. Take a firm grip of the load. Pull the load to a point of pivot (using the legs if necessary). Pivot against the stack. Keep the load close. Turn by moving the feet 4 DO NOT WORK WITH FEET IN LINE. DO NOT TWIST. DO NOT PICK WITH FEET IN LINE. 6 Handling buckets PPE: Hard hat, gloves, high vis and safety shoes required. Always place one foot alongside the bucket before lifting, or pivot the bucket towards you before lifting. Take a firm grip with both hands. If heavy, you may need to tilt and take a grip of the base and the top of the bucket. Start the lift with the legs. Unlock the knees for low level work. Always turn by moving the feet. If taking two buckets, always carry in a balanced manner. Only handle what you can manage. DO NOT CARRY HEAVY OBJECTS ON ONE SIDE. DO NOT TWIST. 7

5 Handling lengths of metal One person PPE: Gloves, hard hat, high vis and safety shoes required. Always approach the lengths of metal from one end. Place one foot forward. Unlock the knees for. low level work. Take a firm grip. Lift using the legs to start the movement. Option Place over the shoulder. Work your way to the middle (point of balance). 4 DO NOT PICK FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE STACK. Unlock the knees to rest the stack against the shoulder. Allow the stack to pivot against the shoulder as you stand up. 5 Option Work your way to the middle. Pivot the stack and carry in a balanced manner. Only carry over the shoulder if you can remain upright. Be aware of your surroundings when carrying lengths of metal in this way

6 Handling lengths of metal (continued) Handling boards 7 DO NOT LEAN. Handling boards One person PPE: Hard hat gloves, high vis and safety shoes required. Pull the board in towards yourself. 8 If removing from racks PPE: Gloves, hard hat and safety shoes required. Place one foot forward. Drive with the legs to bring the load to one end. Carry in a balanced manner. Unlock the knees for low level work. Lift by using the legs. Try handles for carrying drywall. Improve your grip and help to make the lift less awkward. Tools are available to reduce the time you spend in overhead work and holding, to help hold boards in place for fixing. Use team lifting where appropriate. Carry the board in a balanced manner (for large boards, you can support the board on the top of the chest/ shoulder). Only lift what you feel you can manage. If necessary, seek assistance. When stacking boards, position boards sideways slightly in front of you, so you do not have to reach over your head or twist your body to lift them. Position panels to lean flat against a wall and do not wobble or slide. Push and slide panels along their edge or get assistance from a co-worker. 9 Always communicate during the lifts and carrying. Two person Operate from the corners of the stack. Unlock the knees for low level work. Lift board together to vertical position. Only lift what you feel you can manage. See Gyproc Tools section within this document. 0

7 Handling boards (continued) Fixing walls 4 Carry in a balanced manner across the body. If walking backwards, ensure it is over the shortest possible distance and clear the route beforehand. PPE: Eye protection, gloves, hard hat, high vis and safety shoes required. Operate in a balanced manner. Always keep one foot forward. Unlock the knees for low level work. 5 DO NOT CARRY HEAVY OBJECTS ON ONE SIDE. Always work in front of the body. Use appropriate platforms where necessary. DO NOT OVER-REACH OR STRETCH TO THE SIDES OR ABOVE THE HEAD. Carrying board up/down stairs PPE: Hard hat, gloves, high vis and safety shoes required. Whether going up or down stairs, place one foot forward then bring both feet together on each step. Keep the boards in a balanced manner. Place both feet on each step before moving off to improve control and balance throughout the lift. Work together in timing. Stop wherever necessary (if steps are in poor order, or have a deeper drop, you may need to place the load down first). Only lift what you feel you can manage.

8 Lifting plasterboards into place (including ceilings) Fixing ceilings Two person operation PPE: Eye protection, hard hat, gloves, high vis and safety shoes required. Communicate work together. Take a firm grip of the board in both hands. PPE: Eye protection, hard hat and safety shoes required. Always work in a balanced position. Operate with one foot forward. Keep the body upright. Always use appropriate platforms where necessary. Unlock the knees to place board into position. Always work in front of the body. DO NOT OVER REACH. 4 5

9 Board Handling Equipment Trestle Foldable supports providing a working load capacity of 400kg per trestle. Order Code 955 The Gyproc Tools specialist range of plasterboard handling equipment has been specifically designed to minimise manual handling of plasterboard and therefore increase safety and efficiency onsite. For more information, please contact the Artex Customer Services Centre on G-In Used to hoist plasterboard from delivery vehicle to required destination. Order Code 955 Transit Bench A combined workbench and board transporter. Order Code G-In Truck Branch Rack Used to transport plasterboard to place of installation. Order Code 9550 Suitable for storing strip components off ground, avoiding damage and trips. Ideal for metal stud components. Order Code

10 Board Handling Equipment (continued) 6 Board Lift A safe and efficient tool that makes fixing plasterboard to soffit and ceiling linings simple. Order Code 9408 Drywall Cart A transporter with a removable vertical support bar. Order Code Gyproc Projack Used to assist the fixing of plasterboard overhead. Order Code 940 Gyproc Footlifter Used for jacking boards into position. Order Code Gyproc Jackal Gyproc Steel WallBoard Carriers (pair) Trigger grip board lifter. Order Code 9409 Allow for easy and safe movement of plasterboard. Order Code