New research: Plaster lifting and big people shifting
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VIOSH'S RESEARCH INTO safety issues in the fitting and finishing of plasterboard continues to generate new projects more than six years after an initial project identified the industry as one of those overrepresented in its rate of workplace injury.
The first broad-based inquiry (begun in 2002, an initiative of the Coroner's Office) sought to identify small-business activities that had a high-injury rate but were most likely to respond to relatively simple risk reducing interventions. Appropriate interventions were then canvassed and trialed.
For the plastering industry, the VIOSH research team (led by Steve Cowley, working with Susan Leggett) concluded that the most effective intervention would be use of equipment that allowed plasterers to stay at floor level while lifting, fixing and finishing plasterboard. This would minimise the incidence of falls from ladders and scaffolding and of strains associated with manual handling.
A concrete outcome from the project was VIOSH's cooperation with Ballarat engineering firm, ASEMA, in the development of a fail-safe, pneumatic sheet lifter. 'The Lifter' overcame many serious safety flaws associated With imported, cable-operated lifters. Since then another fail-safe lifter (cable operated but with design features that guard against uncontrolled descent) has been developed in Australia.
The latest research project (initiated by the NSW Association of Wall and Ceiling Industries and funded by WorkCover NSW) goes the next step in making a detailed analysis of the risks associated with plasterboard sheet litters currently being used in Australia and New Zealand. The incidence of equipment failure and its consequences, and the factors contributing to such failures will be widely examined.
The research will combine analysis of available data across all elements associated with the plastering industry, direct observation of worksites, and discussion with business operators, employees and union operatives.
Meanwhile another WorkCover-supported research project focused on gathering and analysing injury-data related to the use of stilts in the plastering industry is in its final stages. A report On findings will be included in the next edition.
