Preventing Accidents At Home

January 26, 2015 by Admin

Security is the application of methods and procedures used to make our lifestyle secure against any vulnerabilities, threats and risks. By applying security appropriately, we will maximize safety. Accidents are a threat to our safety and security, so we will take a brief look at accident prevention in the home. Most injuries are caused by accidents inside the home, resulting in injuries and fatalities.

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Some if the most common accidents are the following.

Falls/slips/trips

Causes include loose carpet; toys left on stairs and steps; trailing wires and loose floorboards etc.; using inappropriate items to climb to reach high objects (climbing on furniture instead of using a ladder); small dogs (tripping elderly people); and wet floors/oil spillage etc.

Burns/scalds

Causes include spills or misuse of boiling water; food (hot drinks and soup), cooking oil; household chemicals (bleach and other caustic materials); hot utensils (burns from cooking dishes) etc.

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Poisoning

Causes include gas (faulty gas appliances/blocked air vents/faulty devices/poor installation and maintenance); misuse of household and garden chemicals (child drinks weed-killer kept in lemonade bottle) etc.

Cuts

Includes cuts from broken glass; misuse of knives and tools (using a knife as a screwdriver); and carelessness (cutting your hand as you open a baked bean tin) etc.

Electrocution

Often caused by unskilled people attempting to repair a vacuum cleaner or other faulty device, and unskilled attempts to install or amend electrical wiring.

Explosions

Caused by misuse of gas and/or flammable fluids, such as naked flame exposed to gas leak, or perhaps careless storage and use of petrol.

Fire

Can be caused by some of the above behavior and activity, careless disposal of cigarettes; carelessness in the use of gas and electric fires; paraffin heaters; or lack of care when burning rubbish or letting off fireworks.

Machinery injury

Often caused by misuse of garden equipment (lawn mowers, hedge trimmers, chain-saws), vehicles, kitchen equipment (blenders, waste disposal units), electrical tools (drills, planes or disc cutters).

Combination

Any of the above causes could act in combination, for example misuse of electric drill causing fuel to leak which causes fire and explosion.

 

Accidents At Home – Countermeasures

  • Don’t make your home as secure from crime as you can and then allow yourself and family members to be injured or killed by careless accidents.
  • Use or wear recommended safety equipment, safety glasses, gloves and steel-toed boots etc.
  • Read, understand and follow carefully all instructions for any tool or equipment.
  • Use safety guards and equipment at all times.

If you are unsure or have any safety concerns, stop what you are doing. Seek advice, guidance and/or training.

  • Keep your working area clear of obstructions or hazards before beginning work.
  • Take all safety measures seriously and never take shortcuts.
  • Always keep tools and equipment in perfect working order and check them before using them.
  • Warn anyone else when you are about to start a job, and if necessary erect protective barriers.
  • Before you begin any job, take some time first to consider and assess the risk and to get everything ready before you start.
  • As a general rule, make sure that your living and working areas are clean, clear and tidy.