Safety in the Home Office for Work at Home Moms
Mom’s home office is rarely just mom’s home office. It’s an office, a playroom, sometimes a den, a dining room and even a sanctuary. Crowded into what is often a small space, you’ll find electronics, a computer, probably some kids’ toys, and even a few of dad’s papers and files mixed in. To keep everyone – including the pet curled up at your feet – safe, here are a few tips to follow:
Watch your Wattage
Don’t overload extension cords or plugs. Check the wattage on each component you plug in and avoid using adaptors to “make it work.”
Get unplugged
Unplug electronics when not in use. Not only do they draw unnecessary energy, but they can also pose a hazard if turned on accidentally: think paper shredders, fax machines, and space heaters or fans.
De-clutter
A clean office is a safe office. Piles of papers are potential tripping hazards if on the floor and potential fire hazards if near a heat source. Also, if children’s toys are stored in the room, have an out-of-the-way place designated for easy storage.
Steer the heater clear
Keep space heaters at least three feet away from any combustible materials and do not place anything on top of a space heater.
Childproof it twice
Cords and electronics can be incredibly tempting and incredibly dangerous to small children. Be sure to manage your cords with cord containment systems, keep outlets and surge protectors covered, and make sure that no small items such as paper clips and staples are within a child’s reach. Large furniture such as bookcases should also be firmly attached to the wall to prevent tipping. Drawers should also be locked with childproof latches.
Contain your cords
Cords should not be placed under a rug or heavy furniture to avoid a potential fire hazard. Instead, consider a cord containment system to safely keep your cords organized and out of reach of small hands or mouths.
In addition to safety tips, UL has gathered some ideas and suggestions from work from home moms on how they keep their kids safe in their offices:
- Provide glue, tape, child-safe scissors and paper for your school-age kids so that they aren’t as tempted to steal yours.
- If you need to do a little work and watch the kids at the same time, set up a special kid-sized desk for your child to play on while you work.
- If you have an infant swing or bouncy seat for your child, never put it on the desk. Always put it on the floor.
- Get down on the floor and crawl around. As silly as it seems, when your eyes are at the right level, you can see what you might have missed when childproofing.
- Remember to re-check for safety as your kids get bigger. Toddlers want to grab things and taste them; school-aged kids want to see what happens when a product is turned on.
- Most times, kids just want to be with you, give them a similar project either with a kid’s computer or notebook and pen so they can “work too” letting you focus on getting your job done. It’s a special quiet way to be together.
