43 million people will tackle a home improvement project this year.  1 in 5 will suffer an injury. 
                  
 Do-it-yourself projects can be fun and rewarding. They can also save homeowners lots of money. And with everyone pinching pennies these days, more DIYer's than ever are picking up their own tools and taking on home improvement projects. But safety isn't always on the minds of these handymen and women. 

Meri-K Appy, home safety expert from the Home Safety Council, shares the results of a new survey about DIY safety, frequent safety issues that are often overlooked by the eager DIYer and simple solutions for protecting yourself while you're on the job.

Meri-K Appy is a nationally recognized home safety expert from the Home Safety Council. She is a sought-after national spokesperson, on the topic of preventing unintentional home injuries. Under her leadership, the Home Safety Council steadily expanded its role as a valued and respected safety resource, reaching broader venues. Appy is a member of the Advisory Board of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health's Center for Injury Research and Policy. She serves on the Board of the nonprofit Cribs for Kids and on the steering committee for Vision 20/20. In 2006, Appy received the Mason Lankford Fire Service Leadership Award and was also named as the 2006 Fire Sprinkler Advocate of the Year. Appy also serves on the Safe Kids Worldwide Board of Directors.