International Hazard Datasheets on Occupation

Plasterer

This datasheet is one of the International Datasheets on Occupations. It is intended for those professionally concerned with health and safety at work: occupational physicians and nurses, safety engineers, hygienists, education and Information specialists, inspectors, employers' representatives, workers' representatives, safety officers and other competent persons.

This datasheet lists, in a standard format, different hazards to which persons practising this occupation may be exposed in the course of their normal work. This datasheet is a source of information rather than advice. With the knowledge of what causes injuries and diseases, is easier to design and implement suitable measures towards prevention.

This datasheet consists of four pages:

• Page 1: Information on the most relevant hazards related to the occupation.
• Page 2: A more detailed and systematized presentation on the different hazards related to the job with indicators for preventive measures (marked and explained on the third page).
• Page 3: Suggestions for preventive measures for selected hazards.
• Page 4: Specialized information, relevant primarily to occupational safety and health professionals and including information such as a brief job description, a list of tasks, notes and references.

A plasterer is a building worker that is engaged in covering surfaces by layers of plaster; these are later smoothened, in order to create finished surfaces, which may also to be fire-proof, noise absorbing, isolating and decorative.

• The work of the plasterer includes work at heights; plasterers could slip, fall, suffer severe injury and even be killed [Note 1]
• They may get injured by falling objects and other work tools and/or as a result of their work with manual and portable work tools
• Additional risks which the plasterer is facing are: electrocution, exposure to severe climatic phenomena (including lightning), various injuries as well as ergonomic ones that are caused by the lifting and transfer of heavy objects.

Specific preventive measures can be seen by clicking on the respective in the third column of the table.

Accident hazards	Slips, trips and falls of people on the level
	Falls from high places (scaffolding, stair rooms, ladders, etc.)
	Being hit by falling objects (building materials, work tools, etc.)
	Injuries, as a result of working with tools (including portable ones), lifting and moving them
	Stepping on, colliding with or being hit by a static object, or by a motor vehicle at the work site)
	Being caught and/or squeezed between objects
	Exposure to or contact with electric current
	Injury resulting from the use of plaster spraying machines
	Over-exertion or strained movements
	Contact/exposure to extreme temperatures (including risk of being hit by lightning when working outdoors on metal scaffolding)
Physical hazards	Direct exposure to the sun and to its ultraviolet radiation, while doing routine work outdoors
	Potential exposure to radon gas, which may be emitted under certain conditions from concrete
	Exposure to excessive noise from mechanized and manual tools (drills, hammers, saws, etc.)
	Exposure to harsh weather (extreme temperatures, very high or very low, rains, snow, winds, etc.) that causes acute or chronic diseases.
Chemical hazards	Skin injuries, dermatitis and eczemas, as a result of direct contact with cement which may contain chromates (development of chromate allergy)
	Various lung diseases, mostly chronic, resulting from exposure to dust, while smoothening and finishing the plastering of walls and surfaces
	Potential exposure to asbestos in the event of dismantling a structure that contains asbestos or a plaster of asbestos
	Exposure to formaldehyde when working in buildings with walls containing isolating materials that release this gas
	Development of silicosis among plasterers who are also engaged in sand cleaning, or use sand having a high concentration of free silica
	At a construction site, plasterers may be exposed to hazards created by other workers – for example: exposure to paint thinners and solvents, while at the same time painting work is being carried out at the site; within an industrial plant, plasterers working there may be exposed to chemicals specific to the workplace
Biological hazards	Various diseases, such as dermatitis caused by contact with birds secretions, or through contact with parasites residing in birds nests, or by bites and stings of mosquitoes and other insects, rodents and similar pests
	Considerable rise of pulse rate while doing strenuous work under direct sunlight.
Ergonomic, psychosocial and organizational factors	Musculoskeletal injuries, including back injuries that are related to work postures, the moving or carrying of heavy and/or voluminous objects, and repetitive strains
	Wrist and arm diseases, resulting from the specific mode of work of the plasterer, and from excessive efforts of certain muscles
	Diseases of the sensory motor systems, characteristic building workers
	Knee injuries, as a result of prolonged work in a squatting posture.

	Whenever you are at the construction site, wear personal protection equipment, esp., crash helmet and safety shoes with non-slip soles and a rigid inlay to prevent penetration of sharp objects; if necessary wear also gloves, safety goggles, upholstered knee-protectors, clothes adapted to the weather conditions, etc.; verify that no discarded objects and/or building rubbish are spread at the work site; verify that there is sufficient illumination at the work site
	Protective fencing against falling from elevated work surfaces should be installed
	Use appropriate equipment for protection against falls (safety belts, harnesses, nets, canvass sheets, protective railings consisting of lower, middle and upper planks, etc.) in all work areas (scaffolds, etc.) from where falls are possible
	Learn and use safe techniques for lifting and moving heavy and bulky loads; use mechanical lifting aids whenever possible
	The workers should receive sufficient training in the field of general work safety, as well as in the specific hazards of the plasterer’s work. This should include guidance in regard to the correct safe and ergonomic work techniques, appropriate behaviour at the workplace, and the ethics of shift work
	Inspect the safety of the electric equipment before use; suspected or defective equipment should be brought to a certified electrician, for inspection and repair; check and verify that there are no loose “live” electric wires dangling at the work area; don’t stand on metal scaffolding in stormy weather
	Use proper clothing and head cover for protection against unfavorable weather, including strong solar radiation
	As far as possible, avoid direct contact between unprotected hands and knees and wet concrete
	It is desirable to consult with an occupational physician about proper ways of doing the work and the necessary auxiliary means required for that.

Synonyms	plaster caster; plaster coater; Plaster worker.
Definitions and/or description	Applies coats of plaster to interior walls, ceilings, and partitions of buildings, to produce finished surface, according to blueprints, architect's drawings, or oral instructions, using hand-tools and portable power tools: Directs workers to mix plaster to desired consistency and to erect scaffolds. Spreads plaster over lath or masonry base, using trowel, and smooths plaster with darby and float to attain uniform thickness. Applies scratch, brown, or finish coats of plaster to wood, metal, or board lath successively. Roughens undercoat with scratcher (wire or metal scraper) to provide bond for succeeding coats of plaster. Creates decorative textures in finish coat by marking surface of coat with brush and trowel or by spattering surface with pebbles [STUCCO MASON (construction) 842.381-014]. May install lathing [LATHER (construction) 842.361-010]. May mix mortar. May install guide wires on exterior surface of buildings to indicate thickness of plaster to be applied. May install precast ornamental plaster pieces by applying mortar to back of pieces and pressing pieces into place on wall or ceiling and be designated Ornamental-Plaster Sticker (construction). May specialize in applying finish or rough coats of plaster and be designated Plasterer, Finish (construction); Plasterer, Rough (construction). May apply plaster with spray gun and be designated Plasterer, Spray Gun (construction). May perform maintenance work only and be designated Plasterer, Maintenance (construction).
Related and specific occupations	Building-worker (general); gypsum partition installer; mason; paver; stone layer; whitewasher.
Tasks	Binding; brushing; casting (decorative casts); climbing (on ladders, scaffolding; working-surfaces, etc.); coating; coordinating; covering; drawing (decorative motives in the plaster); filing; finishing; gluing; installing; instructing; isolating; joining; lifting; marking; mixing (plaster); plastering; preparing & laying (layers of plaster of different types); polishing; raising and lowering; roughening; scattering; scratching; scrubbing; slitting; smoothing; spraying; sprinkling; straightening; tying.
Primary equipment used	Work-tools of a plasterer, inc. brushes, scourers, scouring brushes, smoothening plates, spatulas, trowels, etc.; hoisting equipment; ladders; lifting equipment; manual tools of a mason; plaster-sprayers; ropes; scaffolding; etc.; various building materials – acrylic resins, cement, gypsum, etc.
Workplaces where the occupation is common	Building and construction companies; building contractors; building renovation companies; institutional departments for maintenance and renovation of buildings.
Notes	1. It has been reported that falls from scaffolding constitute most of the lethal accidents in the building industry, and a considerable part of non-lethal accidents as well; a considerable part of the accidents happened among unskilled and/or temporary workers and or immigrants. The chance of falling is much higher when ice or snow accumulate on the plates or cover building rubbish; also, when other types of harsh weather conditions prevail 2. It is desirable not to stand on scaffolding and work during stormy weather conditions – e.g. when there are showers, strong winds, thunder and lightning. 3. Data published by the British HSE (Health and Safety Executive) reveal that a considerable part of work accidents involving plasterers happen among contractors; usually, most accidents happen within the first ten weeks of employement 4. Data from the USSR (published by the HSE) indicate that women working in plastering may have menstrual irregulatirities related to their work 5. Epidemiological data suggest that there may be considerable increase of lung cancer among plastereres.
References	1. Encyclopaedia of Occupational Health and Safety, 4th Ed., ILO, Geneva, 1998 2. Encyclopaedia of Occupational Health and Safety, 3rd Ed., ILO, Geneva, 1983 3. Occupational Diseases - a Guide to their Prevention. DHEW- NIOSH Pub. 77-181, 1977 4. U.S. Dept. of Labor: Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT), 4th. Ed., 1991 5. U.S. Dept. of Labor: Occupational Outlook Handbook, 1996-7 Ed., NTC Pub. Group, pp 3909-12, 1996.

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