From the department of can this possibly be right

ACC has just released figures showing that home handy men in New Zealand injure themselves to the tune of $50 million a year.

Which is a drop in the bucket when compared with the total ACC bill of $4 billion per annum.

Unsurprisingly this is the worst time of year for DIY accidents. Obviously when you are not at work slaving over a hot keyboard all day you have time to clean the gutters and fall off the ladder in the process.

Another reason for the Christmas DIY injury increase is that Santa leaves dad a new nail gun in his stocking and in his excitement and eagerness to try it out Dad nails himself to the wall.

Not clever.

Anyway the bit that has me scratching my head is the number of spanner injuries.

According to the Herald's report on last years figures there were 12 spanner injuries last year that cost ACC $144,000 or on average $12,000  for each one they covered.

Unsurprisingly chainsaws accounted for more ACC covered injuries than spanners, 61 in fact but the total bill for these injuries was $207,000 or an average of  $3393  for each one.

To be sure I have suffered a few spanner injuries myself over the years, usually by using a crescent spanner instead of a ring spanner or socket and banging my knuckles as a result.  But how do you seriously hurt yourself with a spanner?

I'm sure there is an obvious answer that I have missed.

Anyway one proposed solution to the DIY injury problem is to run courses on ladder safety and so forth. Courses are the solution to everything in our complex world. Usually run by people who are living proof of the old adage "them that can do, them that can't teach".

So in order to save the skin on my knuckles I will be purchasing a new set of ring spanners this summer but will probably not bother with signing up for the  course     "safe use of   spanners".

Source: $50m hospital bill for our DIY disasters

Comments

[reid]

Wouldn't it be tragic to give away our ACC scheme that prevents litigious scum-sucking-bottom-feeders from filing a frivolous suit for say a hot cup of hot coffee spilt on one's lap through one's own carelessness.

OTOH, does the public get enough insight into the reasons for their fees? For example, what's the ACC Corp's admin component? Should they not publish that?

[Rick]

Well, if they pay people to declare accidents...what do they expect?

[usabikes]

"But how do you seriously hurt yourself with a spanner?"

My dear Andrei, nothing is easier - first crawl under the car with ratchet A in hand to remove oil drain plug B. Then gradually apply more and more pressure with hamfist C until both hands (C1 & C2) are required to get drain plug B to budge.

Using legs D & E as strainers against wheel F and apply full might to ratchet A. Ratchet A will then slip off drain plug B and connect with nose G at full force thus producing blood, temporary loss of vision and loud unseemly noises of various kinds. Retire to house H to lick wounds and realise once again that yes, cars are dangerous and this would never have happened with a motorcycle!