With so many accidents that take place within the home, it is a good idea to perform a periodic safety risk assessment. Let’s look at one potential for accident and injury inside the home; tipping furniture.
Before deciding on a piece of furniture for your home, think about how sturdy it is and whether it would tip over easily. Ideally, you should choose items that have a wide base which will help stabilize them. If you are buying a bookshelf or set of drawers, you can increase their stability by storing heavier objects on the lower shelves and in the bottom drawers.
Children and those with limited mobility will be most at risk of tip-overs, so keep this in mind when designing a room. Keep electrical wires out of sight, and do not stretch them across a high-traffic area as they will become a tripping hazard. If your television sits on a stand, try to keep it as far back as possible and on a unit that is low to the ground.
A popular furniture choice these days is self-assembly or flat-pack furniture. These items generally come with a strap or bracket for securing the item to a wall. Make sure you do this to prevent the item from becoming a tip-over hazard.
If a child notices some desired item placed high on a shelf, etc. they will be more likely to put themselves in danger by reaching for the item. So, a good safety step is to store any items you do not want a child to have, not only out of reach but also out of sight.
