UK: From the end of July 2010 UK and Irish plasterboard manufacturers will add new printed guidance on manual handling to plasterboard products, the Gypsum Products Development Association reports.
The board weight value will be displayed either as a maximum weight in whole numbers (eg 26kg), or a range (eg < 25kg) depending on the plasterboard manufacturer.
“This information is provided for reference only and will help installers in their on-site risk assessment of manual handling tasks,” said Crispin Dunn-Meynell of the GPDA.
“The warning label can only be a guide. Actual risk is affected by a wide range of factors such as the route to the job, installation, weather conditions, the size of the operative, so on-site assessment is always necessary.
"The presence of this higher level of safety information on plasterboard products represents a significant improvement in the on-site guidance for drylining installers.
The safe handling guidance is one of a number of initiatives generated by an industry-wide forum led by the Health & Safety Executive and comprises: a warning triangle, a graphic showing a two-person board lift, board weight, and a statement to 'handle safely'.
These four parts will appear on the reverse face of plasterboard products manufactured by GPDA members: British Gypsum, Knauf Drywall, Lafarge Plasterboard, and Gypsum Industries (Ireland).
The new advisories will appear alongside existing technical and compliance information already provided on plasterboard products.
