It’s a rite of passage to do a bit of DIY around the home.
After all it can not only save time and money waiting for a professional, it can give you that personal sense of satisfaction.
However Do-It-Yourself can also lead to unexpected bills if you don’t don’t it properly, and one of those bills is a doctors one.
According to a report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, in conjunction with Flinders University, over 3300 Aussies ended up in hospital after a DIY injury in 2013-14. The most common of those injured were men aged 55-74.
Falling from a ladder was the most common of the DIY injuries for both males and females. For men it was outside the home or garage, while females were most likely climbing in the kitchen.
Contact with a powered hand tool or machinery was second, with falling out of or through a building or structure third on the list.
When it comes to the damage from a fall, 63 per cent of the DIY injuries resulted in a fracture. Most of the falls recorded were from the household roof.
Non-powered tools were also a danger in some of the DIY accidents, with screwdrivers, handsaws and pitchforks mostly likely to cause an open wound. Amputation was most likely thanks to a lawnmower or power saw.