Emma Radebaugh
Drywall installation comes right after the construction of a new building or home. It’s also essential for home improvement projects. Occupational hazards are inherent in construction jobs, and drywall installers aren’t exempt from facing several dangers. Get familiar with the common injuries to happen when hanging drywall so that you can keep everyone safe.
Developed Tendonitis
Tendonitis is one of those injuries you may not be aware of until you get it yourself. And it is painful. Tendonitis doesn’t happen suddenly. It progresses over time, and professional carpenters are prone to it because of the work they perform.
Tendonitis is inflammation of the thick fibrous cords that attach muscle to bone. These cords are called tendons. The condition causes pain and tenderness just outside the joint. Lifting drywall sheets and carrying them up the stairs constantly eventually causes pain and strain to those tendons. Move with care and work with a partner to relieve some of the pressure.
Strained Back
A bad back isn’t uncommon, either. Even if you never develop tendonitis, a strained back is around the corner. Drywallers and carpenters overexert themselves on the job site all the time. Even if the action only lasts a couple minutes, it can have a lifetime negative effect on the body.
Always lift with the legs and never the back. Wear a work back brace to help posture. Stores also refer to them as back belts. They provide additional truncal support while the limiting range of motion. Never attempt to lift anything heavy without the belt. Always know the weight of the sheets before attempting to transport them.
Head Injury
There have been cases when drywallers have fallen from ladders and drywall benches. Slips can happen at any moment. You can either sustain a knee injury or a head injury. Try to catch yourself before falling, and you twist your knee. Miss the catch, and your head hits the ground.
Save yourself from any of these dangers by gearing up. Always wear the proper drywall safety gear to avoid mishaps. Even if you hit the ground, your head and knees will remain covered and protected. Hopefully, you can walk away with only a couple of scraps. Sit off to the side for about 30 minutes to ensure you’re okay to start working again if you experience a fall.
Dislocated Shoulder
Attempt to lift a 16-foot-long, 125-pound drywall sheet on a ceiling alone and see how your shoulders survive. They won’t. A dislocated shoulder happens more often than it should on job sites due to miscalculation or underestimation.
There are plenty of supplies, equipment, and tools that can assist drywallers and carpenters. The tools don’t just allow you to work more efficiently; they also improve the safety on the job site. Minimize the need to move the drywall sheets. Have them delivered to the place you need to install them rather than a common area for building supplies.
Avoid these common injuries the next time you attempt to hang drywall for a job.
