Most of us will have been inspired to carry out a touch of DIY from time to time but take care before you reach for the tool box.

Perhaps it’s make-over programmes or tales of huge profits made through property renovation but whatever it is that inspires us to take on home improvement projects, too many of us are failing to put safety first.

A survey from The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) has revealed that DIY results in 200,000 hospital visits each year. The figures also reveal which tools and tasks are involved in the worst mishaps.

Around 87,000 accidents involve the use power tools and other machinery, 30,000 result from people falling from ladders while cleaning windows.

Top 10 tools involved in accidents each year are:

  • Knives and scalpels (25,000)
  • Saws (15,000)
  • Grinders (6,500)
  • Hammers (6,000)
  • Chisels (4,000)
  • Screwdrivers (3,500)
  • Power drills (3,000)
  • Equal position – planes, axes and welding equipment (2,000 each)

DIY materials can also lead to disaster. The top five to take extra care with are: paving blocks and bricks (21,000 accidents), planks (19,000), nails and tacks (18,000); metal bars (4,500) and floor and wall tiles (2,300).

Every year 70 people are killed and 250,000 are injured doing DIY.

As we are in DIY season, the Department of Trade and Industry is circulating thousands of free tool safety leaflets in major DIY outlets.

David Jenkins, RoSPA Product Safety Adviser, said: “We urge people to take these leaflets home and read them carefully before starting a DIY job.

“One of the biggest problems is that people do not plan well enough in advance, they often don’t have the right tools for the job or read the instructions that go with them.

“If you are hiring tools, it is vital you have a demonstration, wear the appropriate safety gear and are given the necessary safety advice.

“People must be honest, if they are not up to doing a job they should leave it to the professionals.”