Three chairs for home safety

Media Release
4 October 2012

Three chairs for home safety

The world’s most expensive chair was sold at auction in 2009 for $1.6 million. For thousands of Kiwis who fell from chairs last year, the price they paid was a personal injury, which in many cases caused huge disruption to their home and work life.

It’s day 4 of ACC’s Home Safety Action Week 2012 today, which is ‘Treacherous Chairs Thursday’.

Using a chair as a ladder is the fourth of five common hazards in the home that we’re spotlighting this week, along with simple things you can do to reduce the risk of injury and keep you and your family safe.

John Beaglehole, ACC’s General Manager, Insurance and Prevention Services, says climbing on a chair to reach a high object caused 7,500 fall-related ACC claims last year.

John suggests taking the following steps to reduce the risk of this dangerous hazard:
• use a ladder or step ladder to reach high objects
• store heavy, regularly used objects down lower
• use long-life smoke alarms and light bulbs so you don’t have to change them often.

Over 1,100 businesses, schools, community groups and government agencies are helping ACC spread the safety message this week.

Falls are the biggest cause of injuries at home, leading to over 280,000 ACC claims last year. It’s not just young children and older people who fall, either – around 40% of home falls last year happened to people aged 25-64 years.

Find out more about Home Safety Action Week 2012 at www.homesafety.co.nz or follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/NZhomesafety.

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