Installing Drywall Stabilizing Clip

A drywall secure clip fastens drywall sheets to a wall preventing the risk of tipping sheets.

Description:

Installing a drywall stabilizing clip is a work practice that secures vertically stacked drywall sheets in a leaning position so that they cannot tip over and injure workers.


Figure 1. A worker completing securing drywall with a drywall clip. (Photo courtesy of RockSteady, LLC.)

A drywall secure clip, such as the RockSteady™ Clip, is designed to secure drywall leaning against a wall, preventing it from falling over.  The clip has a fastener that slides over the first sheet of drywall.  Attached to the fastener is connecting cable wire that runs to the wall where it is screwed into a wood or metal stud. A screwdriver is required to remove the clip so that it cannot be removed by accident.

Vertically stacked drywall must always be placed four to six inches from the wall at the bottom of the stack.  It is recommended to place one clip every 6' (feet) and not less than 2' (feet) from butt end of drywall sheet. Sheets over 12' (feet) require 2 clips.  The cable wire must be pulled tight while driving down the set screw. The set screw must also be completely compressed/tightened, with the cable pinched between the set screw head and the top of the RockSteady® Clip.

RockSteady™ Clips come in two sizes, one for 5/8” sheets and one for 1/2” sheets.  They can be attached to 15, 16 and 20 gauge metal studs and to wood studs.  They are designed to secure up to 26 sheets of 5/8” or 34 sheets of 1/2” drywall.  The clips are disposable and should be thrown away after use.  There is a fluorescent warning label at the front of the stack to alert people about the falling drywall hazard.


Risks Addressed:

Working near unsecured drywall stacks may cause traumatic or fatal injuries when the drywall tips and falls over.  A drywall secure clip, installed following the manufacturer's recommendation, can reduce the risk of tipping and falling of drywall stacks.


How Risks are Reduced:

The RockSteady™ Clip secures drywall in a vertically stacked position preventing it from falling over.

Safety and health experts and the manufacturer believe that securing stacked drywall to the wall helps to prevent injuries to workers.


Effects on Productivity:

Using the RockSteady® Clip may increase productivity when compared with placing material horizontally on the floor.


Additional Considerations:

RockSteady™ Clips allow drywall to be stacked vertically to save space in smaller rooms.  In addition, many rooms cannot support the weight of drywall stacked horizontally in the center of the room.


Contributors:

Dan Anton, PT, PhD, ATC and Zack Sinner, SPT – Eastern Washington University


Hazards Addressed:

Availability

RockSteady, LLC.
To obtain information, visit Drywall Stabilizing Clip or contact 1-877-725-7839 mail@rocksteadyclip.com

NIOSH Workplace Solutions Sheet
The National Institute of Safety and Health (NIOSH) has published a series of “Workplace Solutions”, which are easy-to-understand recommendations from NIOSH research results. Related to this Construction Solution, please find more information on: Preventing Injuries from Installing Drywall

Return on Investment

To calculate the return on investment (ROI) for your specific application, please visit our Return on Investment Calculator. While a specific ROI example has not been developed for this particular solution, the ROI Calculator provides a useful tool and guidance on how to generate your own on investment analysis.