Home Office/Work Space Safety Tips

Home offices are growing in popularity. But these convenient work spaces present serious hazards for families with young children. Whether you’ve dedicated only a corner of the kitchen or an entire room as your work space, you can make it safer with just a few simple steps. Consider the following advice from the nonprofit Home Safety Council (HSC):

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 care for young children simultaneously, 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 devoted to work space, consider installing a door lock and keeping 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.

• Install all 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 purchasing 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. 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 it is not in use.
• If you smoke in your work space, use a large ashtray and empty it frequently. 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.
• Keep emergency numbers posted by the telephone.