New Australian research estimates the cost and impact of injuries from modifying and using power tools inappropriately are underestimated.
According to the research, a third of power tool injuries are from grinders, mostly causing lacerations; followed by saws, causing amputation in about 15.5 per cent of cases; then welders, causing flash burns in 66 per cent of incidents; and drills, also causing serious lacerations.
The ‘Do it Yourself revolution’ has popularised power tools with 53 per cent of homes having at least one, and The University of Queensland’s research manager at the PA emergency department Dr Rob Eley, says nearly all weekday visits to the department were work-related while weekend visits were DIYers.