This is how you're likely to injure yourself at home
Tripping over the cat seems harmless enough, but it turns out falling is the highest single cause of home-based ACC claims.
About 10,000 more of us took a tumble at home last year than in the previous year, according to the state-run accident insurer’s figures, but don’t worry, this doesn’t mean we’re getting clumsier.
Of the more than 991,000 new claims in 2023, slightly more than 275,000 of them were for the ACC category “loss of balance or personal control”.
This is compared to 2022’s figures, which showed 953,000 new claims, with nearly 267,000 of them for loss of balance.
Home and community injury claims cost the nation about $1.97 billion in 2023, up from 2022’s $1.75 billion.
ACC injury prevention leader James Whitaker says the small increase year-onyear in home accidents is less down to us being more clumsy, than to factors such as an increase in our population, and the fact we’re all spending more time at home.
The weather and cost of living may also have contributed to the small uptick in injuries, he says.
“People may have postponed safety-related home improvements due to a reduction in disposable income,” he says.
Injuries are more likely to happen in our homes than anywhere else. To prevent them, he say it’s crucial to “have a hmmm” moment before you get stuck into tasks, to consider possible ways you could be injured before proceeding.
“We spend heaps of time there [at home], do a wide range of jobs, and try lots of fun and interesting things. These injuries are preventable though, and you can stop them from happening.”
FIVE WAYS TO PREVENT SLIPS, TRIPS, FALLS AND DIY ACCIDENTS
Ensure you have clear walkways throughout the home.
Place power cords and phone cables along the sides of walls instead of across places you walk. Tidy up. Move things away from the parts of your floor you usually walk through and place anti-slip mats or double-sided tape under rugs or mats.
“Make sure stairs have a handrail and have good lighting – remove anything that might cause you to trip. If your staircase is wooden, apply anti-slip tape to the edge of each step,” Whitaker says.
Ensure there’s plenty of light in the home.
Make sure your lights are bright enough for you to see easily, and that you have them in all the necessary places, such as steps and staircases.
Ensure you’re using the right equipment, that it’s in good condition and functional, and you’re using it correctly.
Use a stepladder to reach things, rather than standing on a chair, or anything else.
Make sure it’s fully extended before you climb on it, and use it carefully.
“Use the right size and type of ladder – make sure it’s balanced, fully extended and that you avoid the top rungs.”
Make sure you have safety gear - and use it.
Use the right safety gear for each job, such as a hard hat, helmet, earmuffs, overalls, eye protection, and safety mask or respirator, depending on the job.
Make sure everyone in the home knows what to do in the event of an accident. Try not to rush jobs, so you’re less likely to skip cumbersome safety gear.
“Keep your safety gear with your tools so you remember to use it.
Finally, remember that you don’t have to do every job yourself.
“If the job is too tricky or needs special gear, get a professional to do it,” Whitaker said.
According to ACC claims criteria, injuries around the home can include accidents during DIY, gardening, and lifting and carrying, and can involve animals, ladders, steps and stairs, burns, and poisoning. Some claims may also be counted in two or more of these categories.
The three most common home injuries claimed for in New Zealand for about a decade have been loss of balance or personal control, lifting or carrying strain, and slipping or skidding on foot.
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