Drywall tasks are physically demanding and drywall workers often experience musculoskeletal injuries (MSIs) to the lower back and shoulder. Gypsum Drywall Interiors Ltd (GDI) was motivated to find innovative solutions to prevent MSIs among their drywall workers as the current safe work procedures for prevention of MSIs were generic and not specific to the movements, duration, intensity and repetitiveness of tasks in the drywall industry. The goal of this project was to reduce the frequency and severity of MSIs by training supervisors to identify and correct potentially injurious movements. The project was launched at 16 GDI worksites in Winnipeg and Steinbach.
The project’s successful outcomes resulted in several practical interventions by GDI to invest in job site improvements that support correct work postures and practices. The project’s resources include videos of best practices and a poster to demonstrate correct job movements in drywall installation. The project demonstrated an innovative approach to injury prevention and the findings will be shared with other drywall installers in Manitoba.
Read the project report at the link below.