ACC injury prevention leader James Whitaker said the ordinary, everyday things people did without thinking were often the ones that caught them out.
Injuries were more common at this time of year because people were tired and busy during the festive season.
The good news was most home-related injuries were predictable and therefore preventable, Whitaker said, and there was no harm in delaying some tasks to reduce the chance of injury.
“People are much more likely to get injured if they’re tired and aren’t focusing entirely on the task they’re tackling.
“To stay injury free, take some time to get your energy back and do one thing at a time instead of doing everything all at once.
“When you’re about to tackle a task, take the time to ‘have a hmmm’ before you get stuck in. Think about the best ways to avoid injuries and then do things the safe way, so you can get the job done.”
There is also a heightened risk of injuries to children at home during the school holiday.
The biggest causes of injury at home are slips, trips and falls. These account for 42% of all home-related injuries and nearly 40% of all ACC claims.
The risk of a fall-related injury increases with age. One in three people over 65 will have an injury due to a fall this year, rising to one in two for those 80 or older.
The second-largest group of home injuries is caused by lifting, carrying or moving things, making up 16% of claims.
The back and spine top the list at 15%, followed by shoulders, and fingers or thumbs at 7% each.
Most of these injuries are soft-tissue strains and sprains – about 60% of all home-related claims – while cuts and puncture wounds make up 21%.
The impact of these injuries can be significant. A minor strain may mean missing Saturday sport or time off work. But a major injury can have lifelong effects and a huge impact on a person’s life.
In 2024, more than 18 million days of weekly compensation were paid out due to injuries – about 10 million days were from home or community injuries.
Certain age groups are affected more than others. People aged 50–59 recorded over 184,000 home or community-related injuries, including 4530 DIY injury claims. Those aged 60–69 lodged nearly 16,000 gardening claims.
In all, 71,534 people ended up off work after an injury at home or in the community.
The flow-on effects for families, workplaces and the economy are huge.
“Think about the best ways to avoid injuries and then do things the safe way,” Whitaker said.
“You don’t want to end up in A&E on your summer break, thinking about how you could have prevented an injury at home.”
For more information go to www.acc.co.nz/preventiontips
