| By :
Martin Hofschroer
People who want to perform home improvements should take practical courses in order to protect them from injury. Research by the College of Optometrists revealed that nine out of ten people fail to wear goggles when carrying out DIY and this has resulted in an estimated 30,000 people suffering from eye injuries every year. DIY devotees who have completed decorating courses and carpentry courses are unlikely to sustain eye injuries as they will have learned the importance of wearing goggles which conform to European standards, listed as BSEN 166. Optometric adviser to the College Dr Susan Blakeney said: "You only have one pair of eyes so it's vital to protect them when undertaking certain DIY tasks. "Generally the rule of thumb is that if there is a risk of any foreign bodies entering the eye, wearing protective eyewear is essential." Homeowners should not rely on glasses or contact lenses to provide them with the appropriate protection against DIY debris such as flying wood, metal and concrete chips. Wearing goggles is of great importance to the large number of British homeowners who said they are looking to increase the size of their home by performing DIY tasks. Research by Halifax found that 76 per cent of people said they would tear down walls to boost living space in their homes, while 65 per cent claimed they would convert a loft or basement. Stephen Noakes, commercial director of mortgages at Halifax, said: "There's often a difference between the dream home and the reality of more traditional properties on the market but now, more than ever, people are willing to take on their own project." An increasing number of British homeowners are investing in DIY tasks as Sainsbury's finance reported that one in five of their personal loan products were used to pay solely for home improvements in the first half of 2010. Steven Baillie, head of loans at Sainsbury's said: "Despite increasing positivity in the housing market, many may still be choosing to improve rather than move." This research has been supported by the latest CBI survey which revealed that 53 per cent of retailers said sales were up this August compared to last year with the DIY sector experiencing some of the best growth. People who complete decorating courses and carpentry courses may find that they enjoy the work so much that they would like to take an accredited qualification which will allow them to find jobs in the home improvement industry.
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