Home Safety Council - Home Office/Work Space Safety Tips

Blog Forum Videos Send to Friend HSC Store

Welcome!

Safety Guide

Choking and Suffocation Prevention

Water Safety

Disaster Preparedness

Baby and Toddler Safety

Backyard - Lawn & Garden

Backyard - Outdoor Poisons & Chemicals

Bathroom Poison Safety

Bathroom Safety

Cooking Safety

Christmas Tree Safety

Do-it-Yourself Safety

Electrical Safety

Garage Safety

Grilling Safety

Handling Kitchen Fires

Home Office

Home Security

Kitchen Poison Safety

Ladder Safety

Playground Safety

Pool Safety

Preparing for Holiday Guests

Stairway Safety

Window Safety

Home Safety Videos

NBC's TODAY Show - Poison Prevention
Length : 6:56

NBC's TODAY Show - Scald Prevention
Length : 4:55

Visit the Video Library

Home Office/Work Space Safety Tips

Many people work at home these days. But these convenient work spaces present serious hazards for families. With home injuries resulting in almost 20,000 deaths and 21 million medical visits each year, home office workers need to think about their safety. It's especially important if children live in or visit your home.

Careful supervision is the best way to keep young children safe.

Closely watch young children at all times.
Keep your work space off-limits to children unless a grown up is with them.

If you work and take care of young children at the same time, set aside one area of your work space for the playpen or mark out a play area with a blanket. Make sure these areas are in your direct line of vision, and away from equipment and office supplies.

If you have an entire room to use as an office, install a door lock and keep it locked when not in use.

When you establish a work area, look at it from a child's point of view and take steps to make it safer.

Put home office equipment so it is out of children's reach. Place desktop equipment away from the edges of tables and desks so children cannot reach it.

When choosing a paper shredder, look for one that comes with safety features to protect children and larger pets from injury.

Be aware that shredders, paper cutters, paper hole punchers, electric pencil sharpeners, and other home office equipment can be tempting for children. These should be placed well out of children's sight and reach.

Make sure taller bookcases are bolted to the wall so that they cannot tip over. Don't permit children to climb on any furniture.

Keep file cabinet drawers closed when not in use.

Locate the trash barrel away from children's reach.

If your work space is in its own room, install a smoke alarm and test it regularly.

Be aware of work space hazards and control them.

Only an adult should use office equipment.

Unplug shredders and other office equipment when they are not in use.

If you smoke, smoke outside. Use a large ashtray and put water on the cigarette or cigar butts before you throw them away.

Keep matches, lighters and cigarettes out of children's sight and reach. It is safest to keep these dangerous materials locked.

Thumb tacks, paper clips and other small objects are choking hazards. Keep these where young children cannot see or reach them.

Keep power strips and electrical cords out of walkways and out of children's reach.

Install safety covers on unused electrical outlets.

Keep scissors, letter openers and all sharp office supplies away from the edges of the desk. Ideally, these should be kept in a drawer, out of children's sight and reach.