Manual handling injuries remain one of the leading causes of workplace ill health and lost working time in construction, accounting for around 17%* of all reported non-fatal workplace injuries in the UK, making it one of the most significant contributors to lost working time in construction.

In drylining, operatives routinely handle large, heavy and often awkward materials within challenging site environments, making the associated risks particularly significant. UK boards are not necessarily larger or heavier than those used elsewhere in Europe, but their frequent manual handling in UK construction settings increases handling risk, highlighting the importance of awareness and safe practice.

To help tackle this issue, the Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS) has launched a new course – An Introduction to Manual Handling for Dryliners – designed specifically for drylining contractors and operatives.

Developed in partnership with CITB, Construction People Solutions and FIS members, this course addresses concerns around the handling of plasterboard and other drylining materials on site. Its primary focus is to increase awareness of manual handling risks, promote safer working practices and reinforce the collective responsibility for health and safety throughout the construction process. Its other aspiration is to drive industry training that can easily be transposed on-site.

Speaking about the development of the course, Justin Devaney, FIS Vice President and Operations Director at FIS contractor member Platt and Reilly said:

“The FIS Introduction to Manual Handling for Dryliners e-Learning course is an important addition to the FIS Academy and a valuable resource for drylining and fit-out contractors.

“Evidence regularly shared across social media by plasterboard load-out service providers highlights that unsafe and high-risk manual handling practices continue to take place on construction sites. Too often, these activities go unchallenged despite the responsibility shared by site managers, supervisors, and operatives to maintain safe working practices.

“It’s important that everyone in the chain is responsible for site safety and not just the person carrying out the task. This course provides practical, drylining-specific guidance and should form part of every contractor’s health and safety toolkit.”

FIS Head of Skills and Training Beena Nana added:

“We have developed this training with CITB and Construction People Solutions to support our members, providing practical guidance that reflects today’s working practices, helping members handle materials safely, confidently and more efficiently on site.

“By improving handling techniques and raising awareness of best practice, the training aims to reduce the risk of injury while supporting safer, more productive workplaces across the industry.”

The course forms part of FIS’s wider commitment to improving competence across the finishes and interiors sector and supporting members in meeting their obligations under the industry’s evolving competence and safety agenda.

Michael Lordan, Director of M.L.A and Construction People Solutions and developer of the course said:

“I embarked on this project because much of the manual handling e-Learning available today is generic and not tailored to the realities of construction, despite being widely used to demonstrate workforce training.

“Having seen firsthand the impact that poor manual handling practices can have on workers’ health, wellbeing and long-term careers, I felt it was important to start with this subject.

“The drywall trades are among the hardest working trades in the industry and are often exposed to significant manual handling risks, yet many have little understanding of the cumulative impact these activities can have on their bodies over time.

My hope is that this course will help raise awareness, encourage safer working practices, and ultimately contribute to reducing manual handling injuries across the sector.”

Delivered through the FIS Academy, the online course offers flexible learning that can be completed at any time, making it suitable for operatives, supervisors, site managers and business leaders seeking to strengthen their approach to manual handling safety.

By equipping individuals with the knowledge to identify risks, challenge unsafe practices and implement safer methods of work,

FIS hopes the course will contribute to a reduction in preventable injuries and help foster a stronger safety culture across the drylining sector.

The course is available now through the FIS Academy.

Course costs:

£45 + VAT for members  (£54 inclusive of VAT)

£60 + VAT for non members (£72 inclusive of VAT)

**CITB registered employers may be eligible to reclaim 50% of the full course cost. (Please contact your CITB Advisor ahead of booking this course to secure funding (they should also book the course(s) for you)

(*Non-fatal injuries at work in Great Britain – HSE)

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