Avoiding DIY Disasters | 4Homes

Date Published:: 28/05/2008

Know the Risk With Tools and Materials

More than 200,000 DIYers turn up each year in hospitals, 87,000 of them hurt while using machinery and tools.

According to RoSPA, knives are the number one cause of DIY disasters. 22,000 people are hospitalised in the UK each year during DIY as a result of a mishap with a knife.

Here's the rest of the top 10:

Saws (14,000)
Grinders (5,400)
Hammers (4,500)
Chisels (4,200)
Screwdrivers (3,800)
Welding equipment (3,000)
Power drills (2,600)
Axes (2,100)
Spanners (2,000)

It's not just the tools that could be out to get you. Materials are remarkably dangerous too, and real care should be taken.

The top 5 materials that cause damage to DIYers every year are:

Paving blocks and bricks (21,000 accidents)
Planks (19,000)
Nails and tacks (18,000)
Metal bars (4,500)
Tiles (2,300)

As you can see, there are all kinds of hidden dangers lurking on even the simplest of DIY jobs, so the advice is to plan properly and be very careful, using full safety equipment and consulting experts if you're ever unsure. RoSPA provide DIY training leaflets and advice, which can be found at www.rospa.com.

It's sad to say, but 70 people are killed every year carrying out repairs and improvements to their homes. If you don't want to be one of these people, follow our advice and make sure your DIY endeavour doesn't become a DIY disaster for yourself, your friends and your family.

Useful Links

Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA)
www.rospa.com

Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI)
http://www.trustcorgi.com/consumers.htmx

Government Planning Portal
www.planningportal.gov

DIY Safety Help from B&Q
http://www.diy-safety.co.uk/

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