A study of homes in Taranaki shows many contain hazards which have led to preventable injuries and Accident Compensation Corporation claims.
The research carried out on behalf of ACC looked into how hazards in the home could be reduced and the cost effectiveness of hazard proofing a house.
The Taranaki Home Injury Hazards Study reveals most houses do not have working smoke alarms and hot water was turned up dangerously high in almost half of homes.
The lead investigator Dr Michael Keall says 20% of homes had a ranch slider or low windows without a visibility sticker.
Dr Keall says the hazards could be fixed at a low cost and would reduce the risk of potentially serious injuries.
