Home Makeover 101

Reported April 2007

BLACKSBURG, Va. (Ivanhoe Broadcast News) -- Many homeowners want to bang it, saw it, and take on home improvement projects themselves. But homeowners doing speedy repairs or hurried remodel jobs on their own need to be aware of the dangers of weekend warrior projects.

Yvan Beliveau is making sure his latest job is done right. "I want to get it done in a particular way," he says.

Many picky do-it-yourselfers want it done right and done fast. But finishing up a project too quickly can cause serious accidents. The most common injuries are caused by ladders, cuts from saws, and screw driver and hammer mishaps. But human factors engineers say many injuries can be avoided by following a few simple steps.

"If it's a windy day, maybe it's not the best time to put up a ladder," Brian Kleiner, Ph.D., an ergonomist at Virginia Polytechnic Institute in Blacksburg, Va., tells Ivanhoe. He says to also read warning labels, wear safety glasses, use the correct equipment and -- if it's a difficult job -- call a professional.

Human factors engineers and researchers like Dr. Kleiner are also working on making tools safer to help reduce accidents, re-designing protective gear -- such as ear plugs and respirators -- and finding better ways to handle pre-fabricated walls.

"We can either change the system or we can change the person," Dr. Kleiner says. "We change the person through training, and we change the system in terms of tool design."

So far, Beliveau's project has been accident-free, and he's looking forward to a finished product. "At the end of the day some very significant piece is complete, and it's a great reward."

The Human Factors and Ergonomics Society contributed to the information contained in the TV portion of this report.

Click here to Go Inside This Science or contact:

Brian Kleiner, Ph.D.
Ergonomist
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA
(540) 231-4926
bkleiner@vt.edu

Human Factors and Ergonomics Society
Santa Monica, CA 90406
(310) 394-1811
http://www.hfes.org

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