Be careful with equipment

Hospital emergency departments across the United States report more than 330,000 emergency room visits a year for injuries from home workshop equipment, including more than 180,000 accidents involving ladders, the Home Safety Council says.

"We see a significant number of falls resulting in head, neck, back and extremity injuries," says Jennifer Elliot, director of emergency services at Baptist Hospital in Nashville. "We also see a number of lacerations, electrical injuries and fume inhalation."

Among the top mistakes many folks make: Not wearing safety glasses or protective gear; not securing ladders on firm ground; and not reading directions on use of equipment.

Many homeowners also fail to unplug power tools when they're not in use. Perhaps the biggest error, says the council, is letting children play around a work site.