Once in a while, it is good to go through the home and perform a safety risk assessment. Many accidents and injuries that occur each year take place in the home. Small children and the elderly are most at risk so it’s a good idea to look for ways to improve household safety. Let’s look at one safety concern – tip-over risks.
Self-assembly or flatpack furniture is a very popular furniture choice these days. Most of these items come with a strap or bracket intended for securing the item to a wall which prevents it from becoming a tip-over risk, so you must use them.
When you are deciding on a piece of furniture for your home, think about how safe it will be as well as how good it will look. Try to select pieces that have a wide, solid base as these are less likely to tip. Another way to prevent tip-overs is to store heavier items in lower drawers and shelves which will make them less top-heavy.
If you have a television that sits on a unit rather than being attached to a wall, try to keep it as far back on the unit as possible and keep wires and cords out of sight – this is especially important if you have small children who are likely to grab and pull the television and its wires.
The home should be a safe and secure environment for our family. Taking a little time to review household safety will help to ensure it stays that way.