Hot Safety Topics
Safety Products
Loading ...SafetyXChange on Twitter
New blog post: The Ontario Workplace Violence Law http://www.safetyxchange.org/compliance-risk-management/ontario-workplace-violence-lawSafetyXChange Feedback
Thoughts? Let us Know
Topic: HOME SAFETY
15 Ways to Improve Your Home for Safety
March 25, 2010
Rather than approaching your home renovation projects from solely an aesthetic perspective, set aside at least one weekend this spring to give your house a clean sweep for safety. Here are 15 suggestions:
- Install security alarms.
- Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
- Repair worn carpets.
- Install fire escape ladders on high windows.
- Install window guards on high windows.
- Install grab-bars in the bathroom.
- Test GFCIs in the bathroom and kitchen.
- Check for mold or condensation in the bathroom and windows throughout the house.
- Look for water seepage in the bathroom and kitchen.
- Upgrade ventilation in the kitchen and bathroom.
- Repair or replace water-damaged walls and floors.
- Tighten handrails on the stairway.
- Reduce concrete floor dust with water-based wax sealer in the basement.
- Install night lights in the hallway.
- Check heating, cooling & hot water equipment for electrical or fire hazards in the basement.
Story Tools: 
E-mail this to a friend
Print This Post
Top
E-mail this to a friend
Print This Post
Top
Story Comments (2)
Leave a Reply
A home is no different than a factory or office. We tend NOT to notice the defects when they develope slowly over time as we walk by day after day. The difference is in a factory there is an eagle-eye Safety mgr whereas in our home we do NOT have the critical eye. Visitors to our home of course will spot the problem areas but are very unlikely to say much. Catherine's checklist is a good one.
I'd encourage offering employees a one or two page 'audit' form slightly modified for home use and encourage them to go around their homes, clipboards in hand & truly "look"!
Looking at the list, CO2 is covered at point 2 but why not make certain there will not be a CO2 problem in your house. If you have an open fire place check and clean the chimney at least ones a year. If you use gas, make certain to check your gas systems and if it is not a fixed gas supply and you use bottles, take a close look at the tube, normally there is an expiry date printed on them.