Running a business from home can be hazardous for your loved ones. Small children and your pets love to explore every hole and tiny space. Their tiny fingers and paws can access small places our hands could not even get into. So how can you make your home business child and pet proof?
A good way to do this is to get on your hands and knees and look around from a child s point of view. Whatever you can see so can your children and pets. Whatever you can touch, tug or reach so can they! Get a little pen knife and examine every hole that you can poke it into. Rather then getting angry at your children every time they touch something remove all potential sources of trouble from easy reach!
1) Loose Wires
Wires trailing across the floor can be a trip hazard not only for the children but also for you. Where possible clip loose wires along the skirting and buy cable tidies so that all your loose wires can be bundled together. Ask your electrician to fit extra sockets so that you always have power nearby.
2) Electronic Equipment
Remove all electronic equipment from the floor including your CPU & printers. You are asking for trouble if you leave any available holes near ground level for children to stick small things into.
3) Cords & Ropes
Cords hanging from curtains and blinds could easily become dangerous in the hands of small children If possible remove them all together or wind them up and tie them so that they are not easily reached.
4) The Tug Test
Move all your equipment at the back of the desk near the wall so that they can not be pulled down easily. If a child can reach anything on your desk they will try and give it a tug!
5) Locks and Security
Fit locks on the door and if possible locks on your drawers and cupboards. There is no point in having this done if you do not put all the dangerous stuff away! Small items whilst harmless to us can be a choking hazard for little children. Polythene bags, rubber bands, staples and paper clips should all be stored away at the end of each day.
6) Tasting and Swallowing
Children and pets love tasting new things. Hide all your glue, tippex, medicines and anything else that could be tasted, drunk or swallowed.
7) Password Protection
Get into the habit of logging off your computer every time you leave the office and do not make your password easy to predict. It is amazing how many children know their parents passwords!
8) Quality Time
Schedule your breaks around the children s timetable. This has nothing to do with safety but your children will definitely be happy to spend a little time with you when they arrive home from school or nursery.
Work & Life Balance
One of the main reasons that people choose to work from home is that they can spend quality time with their partners and children. By taking some common sense measures you can prevent your home business from harming your loved ones. Most of the steps outlined above are simple and relatively inexpensive. Some of them only need to be done once to make your home a safer and more relaxed environment.
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