This Is the Number One Way Folks Injure Themselves During a DIY

In a recent episode of At Home With Family Handyman’s Ask… Scott McGillivray, the real estate and renovation expert, shared his experiences assisting DIYers on projects and his insights on what exactly went wrong in some clips viewers sent in of their own DIY fails. Scott explained what, in his experience, is the number one way people injure themselves during a DIY project, as well as some runners-up, and what to do to avoid making these mistakes.

What’s the Main Way DIYers Injure Themselves?

Scott introduces the topic before he begins watching any viewer-submitted clips. He reminisces on his past experiences working with DIYers on home improvement projects and says that more than anything else, people often neglect to wear the proper safety gear. He explains that he can’t even begin to count the number of times he’s had to wrangle homeowners and DIY enthusiasts and help them select the right safety equipment and wear it properly. Whether it’s hard hats, safety goggles, or job-specific gear, Scott stresses the importance of always protecting yourself on a job.

Honorable Mentions

Scott doesn’t just focus on the number one way people injure themselves during a DIY project. He also reacts to videos from viewers, demonstrating some of the runners-up in this category.

Don’t pick the wrong base

First on the runner-up list: bases. Scott reacts to two different videos in which the viewers in question injure themselves during a DIY project because they pick bad bases. The first clip shows a man using a wheeled chair as a ladder, while the second clip shows a man trying to use a stool as a ladder on grass. In both of these cases, the chosen bases are ill-equipped for the task at hand. The men fall off and appear to get the wind knocked out of them.

Scott’s take is this: pick your base carefully. Don’t ever use something with wheels. It’s too easy for it to roll away and leave you hanging-no pun intended. And when it comes to working on grass, avoid objects that have strong but small legs. They’ll start to sink into the grass and tip, causing you to fall.

Keep your barbecue away from railings

Scott’s next tip has to do with barbecues and fire safety. He watches a clip of someone grilling burgers. Everything seems fine until the camera pans to the back of the grill. The wooden railing that it sits against is scorched and aglow with embers. Not only is the railing weakened, rendering it unsafe for the deck, but it’s actively smoldering and could cause a house fire at any moment. Scott sees this and stresses to viewers the importance of keeping your grill sufficiently far from anything flammable. Otherwise, you’ll run the risk of injuring yourself and burning down your home.

Make sure you know exactly what you’re doing during a demonstration

Finally, Scott reacts to a video of a man demonstrating…something with what appears to be a pipe. His actual point is rapidly lost because he bends the material, releases it, and seconds later it straightens itself out and nearly smacks him in the face while it does. Scott’s advice is this: make sure you know exactly what you’re doing during a demonstration. If you aren’t adequately prepared, you run the risk of badly injuring yourself.

Tune in to Ask…Scott McGillivray on At Home with Family Handyman for epic builds, DIY fails and pro tips from a guy who’s seen it all.

About the Expert

• Scott McGillivray is a triple-threat expert in real estate, renovation, and finance with decades of experience in the field. Best known for the award-winning series Income Property, he is the host of At Home With Family Handyman’s Ask… Scott McGillivray.

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