It’s not uncommon that people end up in A&E because of injuries they’ve sustained while undertaking some DIY. When making improvements to your home, you’re not only potentially putting yourself at risk of harm, but your property too. Here are some top tips to follow to make sure everything runs smoothly.
Heavy objects
Over 15% of DIY injuries are caused by falling objects, so it’s worth protecting both your head and your feet with the correct attire. Depending on your task, wear a hard hat, and a pair of steel toe capped Dickies boots to reduce the risk of injury from heavy objects. Before you start on a project, get rid of any clutter in the area that may cause a problem.
Gardening
Tasks in the garden such as hedge cutting can be dangerous, which is why it is always important to decrease your risk of injury by doing things such as wearing protective eye goggles and a facemask.
This also applies to anything whereby you may be doing something that involves an enormous amount of dust or grit particles which can cause irritation if they reach your eyes.
Slips, trips and falls
This includes anything from tripping over a wire to falling off a ladder and can account for up to 7% of DIY injuries. Clear the area before you start to reduce the risk of a trip and if you need to use a ladder, read the instructions carefully to ensure that you’re using it in the correct way. For most ladders, it helps to know the four-to-one rule: for every four feet of height climbed, the base of the ladder should be one foot away from the wall.
Overexertion
When you’re doing DIY in the house, it’s easy to go beyond your means and overexert yourself. Be careful, as this can lead to injuries such as torn ligaments, slipped discs and muscle cramps – these can all be avoided with a few simple tips. If you have a heavy load to carry, ask for help. Always make sure to bend your knees rather than your back when you’re lifting and if you feel overworked, take a break.
Cuts and scrapes
Almost a quarter of DIY accidents involve an unwanted run in with a sharp blade. To avoid this injury, always make sure to cut away from your body. Also, wear protective gloves whenever you can so if something goes wrong, you have a layer of defence between the blade and your skin. This kind of protection is vital if you’re using a hand tool.
Painting and decorating
If you’re undertaking some painting and decorating, then the likelihood is that you’ll be working above shoulder height. This can increase the risk of injury to your arms, upper back and neck, but can be easily avoided.
When using a ladder or stool, try not to overreach and make sure that you are standing on it correctly. To get to hard-to-reach spots, you may need to move the ladder more than once, but this will certainly decrease the risk of falling.
