By CATHERINE MASTERS
Do-it-yourself accidents cost the country a fortune and have prompted ACC to work with the country's largest hardware chain to put out a safety message for Kiwis who love to fix up their homes themselves.
An amnesty for old, faulty ladders is an option: between 1993 and 1997 16 people died after falling from ladders in the home, and between 1993 and 1998 1250 people were hospitalised after falling from ladders and scaffolding at home.
The price tag for ACC claims runs into the millions - not including hospital costs and lost worktime - and many of the accidents require ongoing treatment.
ACC spokeswoman Margaret Bridge said details of a possible ladder amnesty were still being discussed.
The focus on safety has been caused by the glut of television DIY programmes, the large number of serious back injury claims, and claims for a variety of handyman-related accidents.
ACC says our home-grown DIY TV programmes do not come in for the same level of criticism about safety as some of the overseas ones, but it is working with the hardware chain sponsors to ensure safety aspects are shown on television.
In Britain the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents singled out for criticism two BBC programmes, Changing Rooms and Ground Force, claiming they flouted basic safety rules and encouraged people to work too quickly, according to the Daily Telegraph.
Television DIY shows in Britain were blamed for a 27 per cent rise in domestic injuries (last year 70 people were killed working in their homes).
The newspaper said safety experts claimed two men electrocuted last year in Coventry had been inspired to do the work by a DIY programme.
The programmes cut corners and failed to always use safety equipment and facial protection.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported that home injuries had risen with the increase in popularity of DIY shows.
Margaret Bridge said the hardware stores were one of the best ways to get the safety message because they were staffed by experts who could offer good advice. She said she kept a close eye on the home-grown DIY programmes and praised their responsible attitude.
Mitre 10 sponsors the New Zealand versions of Changing Rooms and Ground Force and chief executive Mike Spraggon said the company was talking to ACC. "If there are things that we can do to make sure that accidents don't take place in homes we would very much like to participate in that."
DIY accidents are avoidable if basic safety precautions are taken. ACC advice includes:
Visit your local hardware store before starting your project. Ask for advice on safety and the correct tools.
Check your ladders before use - and check that a young child is not climbing up behind you.
Do not go bare-footed when mowing lawns.
Do not cut corners and do not try to achieve too much in too little time. If it is a big job ask friends to help - you can help them next time.
Specific statistics on DIY accidents are hard to come by as most accident figures are not fully broken down into specific causes.
However ACC figures show that for the six months to December 2000 non-work related new claims for ladder and stepladder accidents alone (many would be in the home) numbered 308, and cost $601,799. There were also 384 ongoing claims [injuries still requiring treatment] for the same period. Their cost: $1,756,094.
Accidents involving hammers cost $47,064 in new claims and $104,940 in ongoing claims for the same period; spanner and wrench accidents cost $10,154 in new claims and $24,112 in ongoing claims, and chainsaws, powered hand tools and unpowered handtools cost $218,560 in new claims and $535,843 in ongoing claims.
Auckland University's injury prevention research centre statistics show that of 1250 people admitted to hospital after falling off ladders and scaffolding at home, 75 per cent were males.
Amnesty likely for dodgy ladders as ACC tots up DIY injury costs
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