**2. Drywall panel installation**

The main operation of drywall carpentry is installation of the drywall panels onto the walls and ceilings. Installation of drywall panels is faster and cheaper than

#### *Occupational Wellbeing*

plaster walls. The drywall installers lay out the whole interior wall system and ceiling with studs and hang large drywall panels to the ceiling and sidewalls.

Drywall panels consist of a layer of gypsum (often used as building material) between two layers of heavy paper. In commercial applications, the standard sizes are 4 ft. X 8 ft. and 4 ft. X 12 ft. with a 5/8 inch thickness. The usual weight of a 4 ft. X 8 ft. panel is 70 lbs. and that of a 4 ft. X 12 ft. is 105 lb. [1]. The panels used in residential carpentry are 4 ft. X 8 ft. with a thickness of ½ inch.

The main difference between residential and commercial drywall installation is the use of wood studs in residential carpentry instead of lighter metal studs in commercial carpentry. As far as the hanging of the drywall itself is concerned, there are no other significant differences between the two settings.

In the case of ceiling installation, usually a pair of installers lifts the panels to the ceiling while standing on separate ladders. One of the installers continues to hold the panel to the ceiling while the other installer uses the screw gun and affixes the panel permanently on his side. The first installer then releases one of his hands to use the screw gun until the panel becomes attached to the ceiling (**Figure 1**). In the case of smaller drywall pieces, one installer instead of two carries out the process.

For wall installation, the entire 4 ft. X 8 ft. or 4 ft. X 12′ pieces are attached vertically to the wall; this is often carried out by a single installer. For walls more than 12′ high, wall installation might include horizontal attachment of more than one panel.

The main tasks of the drywall installation process, which the workers carry out in a routine sequential order, are as follows [2]:


**5**

**of exposure**

*The Importance of Exposure Assessment in Blue Collar Jobs: Construction as an Example*

• **Cutting:** The panels are cut into the necessary dimensions. There are two main cutting operations: a) cutting of whole panels into two or more pieces, b) selective cutting of smaller parts to fit them around doors, windows, electrical and

• **Lifting:** In the case of lifting the panels to the ceiling, the workers might stand on a ladder or scissor lift based on the height of the wall, as shown in **Figure 2**.

• **Housekeeping:** At the end of a work day, the workers remove rejected pieces to the trash and keep the unused pieces back at designated places for the next day's use.

• **Fitting:** Cut panels are measured several times before installing them.

• **Attaching:** Attachment of the panels is done with a screw gun. In case of attachment to the ceiling, workers might work in pairs. One of them holds the

**3. Handling and carrying heavy drywall panels as sources of exposure**

Handling and carrying the heavy and bulky drywall panels have been cited as exposure sources for the high amount of back and shoulder muscle injuries of drywall carpenters. Handling of heavy drywall pieces was reported by [3], to be associated with more than 40 percent of the overexertion injuries of drywall workers. In this study, more than 15% of total traumatic injuries were muscle overexertion due to lifting of the heavy drywall panels, whereas 37.2% of total traumatic injuries were

**4. Biomechanical stress exerted on back when lifting panels as a source** 

Ref. [4] analyzed the four most common techniques (three horizontal and one vertical) used to lift a drywall panel and showed that each lifting technique exerted a minimum of 655 lb. disc compression force on the low back (L5/S1 region) of the

panel while the other one screws it into the studs (**Figure 1**).

injuries due to bodily reaction while handling the drywall panels.

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.96678*

plumbing outlets.

**Figure 2.** *Lifting the panel.*

**Figure 1.** *Holding the panel, being on ladder.*

*The Importance of Exposure Assessment in Blue Collar Jobs: Construction as an Example DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.96678*

**Figure 2.** *Lifting the panel.*

*Occupational Wellbeing*

plaster walls. The drywall installers lay out the whole interior wall system and ceil-

Drywall panels consist of a layer of gypsum (often used as building material) between two layers of heavy paper. In commercial applications, the standard sizes are 4 ft. X 8 ft. and 4 ft. X 12 ft. with a 5/8 inch thickness. The usual weight of a 4 ft. X 8 ft. panel is 70 lbs. and that of a 4 ft. X 12 ft. is 105 lb. [1]. The panels used in

The main difference between residential and commercial drywall installation is the use of wood studs in residential carpentry instead of lighter metal studs in commercial carpentry. As far as the hanging of the drywall itself is concerned, there

In the case of ceiling installation, usually a pair of installers lifts the panels to the ceiling while standing on separate ladders. One of the installers continues to hold the panel to the ceiling while the other installer uses the screw gun and affixes the panel permanently on his side. The first installer then releases one of his hands to use the screw gun until the panel becomes attached to the ceiling (**Figure 1**). In the case of smaller drywall pieces, one installer instead of two carries out the process. For wall installation, the entire 4 ft. X 8 ft. or 4 ft. X 12′ pieces are attached vertically to the wall; this is often carried out by a single installer. For walls more than 12′ high, wall installation might include horizontal attachment of more than one panel. The main tasks of the drywall installation process, which the workers carry out

• **Stacking:** After getting unloaded from the truck, the drywall panels are

stacked at the site on different floors. Generally the panels are put on each floor by a crane and then pulled through the window of the respective floors. In absence of an elevator, the workers carry the drywall panels through the stairs.

• **Carrying:** Carrying is required to bring the panels from the place of stacking to the place of installation. Workers also need to carry the panels for house-

• **Measuring:** The panels are measured according to the dimensions needed. This is done before cutting and installing them in the desired place.

ing with studs and hang large drywall panels to the ceiling and sidewalls.

residential carpentry are 4 ft. X 8 ft. with a thickness of ½ inch.

are no other significant differences between the two settings.

in a routine sequential order, are as follows [2]:

keeping and fitting (both described below).

**4**

**Figure 1.**

*Holding the panel, being on ladder.*

