A burning issue – check it’s alright before you light
The sizzle of the grill is one of the sounds of summer. But barbeques are also a common cause of injury so we’re encouraging people to ‘Have a hmmm’ before they fire up the barbie.
In 2022, we accepted 1,022 barbeque-related injuries which came at a cost of almost $2 million to help people recover.
Like most Kiwis, ACC Injury Prevention Leader James Whitaker is a fan of barbeque season but is encouraging people to ‘Have a Hmmm’ before they suffer a summer injury to regret.
“No one wants to have their friends or whānau around for a meal and then have to head to A and E,” he says.
“It’s a busy time of year so our biggest piece of advice is to slow down and take a moment to consider the risks.
“We often have a ‘she’ll be right’ attitude, which can lead to us getting hurt.
“Research shows the majority of injuries are predictable and therefore preventable. If we take a moment to think about how we can use the barbeque safely, we can continue to enjoy that time and do the things we love.”
Doing damage on the grill
ACC data from 2022 shows males are almost twice as likely to suffer a barbeque-related injury than females.
Most injuries were soft tissue (505), ahead of laceration/puncture/sting (205) and burns (201).
The most common sites of injuries were lower back/spine (207), hand/wrist (122) and fingers/thumbs (90).
Auckland (331) had the greatest number of barbeque-related injuries in 2022, ahead of Waikato (134), Canterbury (102) and Bay of Plenty (88).
The age group from 40 to 59 (363 injury claims) made up 36 per cent of all barbeque-related claims in 2022, while there were also 59 young children (four years and under) hurt in an incident involving a barbeque.
“We know some of these injuries can be life-changing, so we encourage people to take care,” James says.
How to ‘Check It’s Alright’
It’s a good idea to check the local council rules and bylaws, as there may be additional rules about gas barbeques, cookers and heaters on public conservation land.
Adrian Nacey, Community Education Manager for Fire and Emergency New Zealand, says everyone needs to take safety seriously when lighting up the barbeque.
He says people should head to the ‘Check It’s Alright’ website for information about when it’s safe to light a fire and whether you need a permit.
The website also has tips on how to barbeque safely.
“Check the weather first,” Adrian says.
“If it’s windy, hot or dry, don’t light up.”
Adrian believes it’s important people understand the risks before engaging in any activities involving fire this summer.
Barbeque safety tips from Fire and Emergency NZ
- Check for damage or debris
- Set up on a stable surface
- Keep a method to extinguish nearby
- Use in an open, well-ventilated area
- Keep unused gas bottles or canisters five metres away
- Keep kids and pets away
- Refuel gas cookers in a safe area
- Never leave the barbeque unattended – and leave that beer until you’ve finished cooking
For more information visit the ‘Gas BBQs, cookers and heaters’ section of the Check It’s Alright website.
