Three ways to a pain free career

A builder’s most important tool is their body, but it’s often the most overlooked on the toolbelt. A recent survey of 800 Aussie tradies (see APA Tradies survey at: https://secure.chasnz.org/downloads/ APA_TradiesResearch.pdf) showed that 88% take care of their tools but only 60% do something to look after their bodies.

Admittedly these are challenging times to be a builder in New Zealand and the whole country is relying on them to deliver. Thinking about preventing an injury could be the last thing on your mind but there’s a few reasons to give it some extra thought. In 2020, there were 120 thousand days of lost work due to strains and sprains to Kiwi residential builders alone. The state of our bodies is becoming the last straw for those thinking of leaving the profession or having to retire early. Many builders are already working with discomfort and pain as we saw at the 2021 New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB) Conference and Expo, where 98 out of 100 builders said they had current aches and pains. Preventing injury in building means doing small things with more care, which over time will make a huge difference to your body over the course of your career. Here are three simple things you can focus on right now:

1. Get your work up off the ground 2. Reduce work above shoulder level

As soon as your hands are working over shoulder height your shoulder becomes prone to developing problems over time. The risk increases when you’re working this way for prolonged periods, holding weight or using force. Take time when faced with lots of overhead work to reposition yourself. Ladders, step ladders and work platforms are key parts of your kit. Tools with longer handles and extensions are readily available for many tasks. If overhead work is unavoidable, make sure you take regular mini breaks and get your arms down when you can.

3. Avoid heavy loads

Heavy loads are the number one cause of wear and tear on our bodies. Find better ways of moving heavy objects rather than hauling them by yourself. Don’t rely solely on team lifting as your only solution to move heavy weights as this is proven to not be failsafe.

Having dollies, sack barrows, wheelbarrows and trolleys as part of your kit will give you other options when you need them. Better still, try to get things delivered and stored so you reduce the need to lift them in the first place. It comes down to planning and taking the time to think about other options. Smarten up don’t harden up needs to become a mantra for all builders.

This will save your back by reducing the thousands of times that you bend and work in a stooped position. Look for every opportunity to complete tasks between waist and shoulder level and avoid putting tools and material on the ground. Just about anything can be used to keep tools off the ground. Sawhorses and trestles are there to cut and prepare materials. Pallets can be used to raise and store materials off the ground. Sitting, kneeling, and squatting should be preferred over stooping. Construction Health and Safety New Zealand (CHASNZ) and NZCB have joined forces to promote better ways to look after yourselves and prevent injuries with the Work Should Not Hurt Programme for Builders. Go to www.chasnz.org/wsnh or look for Work Should Not Hurt on Facebook to find resources for you and your teammates. You can also contact Chris Polaczuk on 0800 CHASNZ (0800 242 769), or email info@chasnz.org

Chris Polaczuk , Programme Manager Ergonomics, Construction Health and Safety NZ (CHASNZ). CHASNZ, a charitable trust developed with the objective of improving the lives of construction workers by raising the standard of health and safety culture and performance across the construction industry in New Zealand. For more information visit www.chasnz.org