Home falls safety information sheet
Spreading the word on home safety (ACC6032)
Here’s a little known fact:
falling in the home causes more injuries to New Zealanders than road accidents and
workplace injuries combined.
And we aren’t talking ‘skinning your knee’ here. These are serious falls that mess up your
plans for the future.
Pruning a hedge on a shaky ladder could mean you miss a family wedding. Or badly lit stairs
could result in you not being there for your kid’s first school play. The results of falls aren’t just
felt by you. They’re felt by your loved ones too. And what hurts most, is that these falls are
easily avoidable.
Making your home a fall-free zone is easier than you think. Following any of the advice in this
information sheet and you’ll be taking a step in the right direction.
Further information on home safety and a selection of case studies is available at
www.homesafety.co.nz
Key messages/talking points
The following key messages can be used as a guide for content for any internal
communications including newsletters, email and team presentations to explain the
rationale behind the module and why your organisation is involved in the programme.
Falls in the home
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Last year, falls made up over 40 percent of home injuries.
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There were over 260,000 claims for falls in the home last year.
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The cost of these falls in the home was $272 million.
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It’s not just older and younger people who fall at home. 25-64 year olds make up 41
percent of all home falls and account for 60 percent of the cost.
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There were over 107,000 claims for falls in the home made by 25-64 year olds
The effects on work
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Over two thirds of the 25-64 year olds who fell last year were in the workforce
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Over 3,000 people were off work for more than 3 months as a result of falls in the home
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Almost 10,000 people were off work for more than a week as a result of home falls
Trends
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You are more likely to fall on weekends, holidays and in the summer months –
basically when people are spending more time at home.
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Interesting facts
Specific statistics
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Last year over 15,000 people in New Zealand were seriously hurt falling down the
stairs at home.
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Last year over 2,500 people in New Zealand were seriously hurt from a fall indoors on
a wet floor.
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Last year over 78,000 people in New Zealand were injured from a fall outside the
home
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Last year over 4,000 people in New Zealand were seriously hurt from a fall on a
garden path.
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Last year more than 27,000 people in New Zealand were seriously hurt falling down
the stairs or steps at home.
•
Last year 11,000 people in New Zealand were seriously hurt slipping over in the
bathroom at home.
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Last year over 4,000 people in New Zealand were seriously hurt falling off ladders in
the home.
•
Last year over 9,000 people in New Zealand were seriously hurt by a fall while
gardening.
10 safety tips to avoid falls at home
1. Wet bathroom floors are slippery, so use a non-slip mat in bathrooms.
2. When you spill something on the floor, wipe it up immediately.
3. Ladders can tip easily, so when you’re on one, don’t over-reach sideways. Ensure
ladders are on flat, firm ground.
4. Polished floors can be very slippery. Always were slippers or non-slip shoes around
the house.
5. Stairs you can’t see can be dangerous. Always turn on the light switch.
6. Chairs are for sitting on, not standing on. If you need to reach up high, use a
stepladder.
7. Cords can become tripwires, so plug in electrical appliances close to the socket, and
avoid trailing cords over walkways.
8. Glass doors and windows are hard to see, so put stickers on the glass to make it more
visible.
9. Outside steps and paths can be very slippery, especially when wet. Clear away moss
and leaves.
10. The more you drink, the greater your risk of injury - plan activities so drinking isn’t the
focus of your social occasions.
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Available resources
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The attached resource sheet outlines the available resources useful for promoting
home falls awareness.
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To order resources contact your ACC Relationship Manager or Injury Prevention
Consultant on 0800 844 657.
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Alternatively, all resources can be ordered from www.acc.co.nz/publications or
downloaded from www.homesafety.co.nz.
At work activity ideas
When it comes to talking about home safety with your staff, interactive activities are a
great idea!
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Messages to staff – include interesting facts and safety tips on noticeboards,
internal newsletters, payslips or the intranet.
•
Interesting facts and personal stories – promote an interesting fact or personal
story each week. Encourage your staff to share their own stories of falls at home.
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Did you know? Presentations – ACC has four presentations available at homesafey.
co.nz for you to use. These have compelling facts about home safety coupled with
simple tips to prevent home injuries.
•
Home safety quiz – use the interesting facts and safety tips to develop your own five
minute quiz for staff.
•
Cake baking competition – run a competition for the best cake which highlights a
home safety issue. Possibilities could include someone falling down steps or off a
ladder, or a gingerbread house full of hazards.
At home activity ideas
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Home safety skit competition – get groups of staff to write and rehearse a short
home safety skit to perform at the end of the week.
•
Staff competitions – encourage staff to bring in photos or videos of them doing
something at home to prevent falls. Incentives could include winning a prize or being
published on the intranet or other staff communication channels.
•
Online home safety game – Will you make it to the party, or will an injury get in the
way? Fame or Shame (www.fameorshame.co.nz) is a fun interactive online game
designed to get people talking about home safety. Post the link to this game on your
organisation’s intranet and circulate the link to staff by email. Encourage them to
forward this to friends and family.
For further information contact your ACC Relationship Manager or local Injury
Prevention Consultant on 0800 844 657.
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