Safety
Injuries in the home result in nearly 2½ million medical visits each year.
Many of those injuries take place in the garage. Use this simple checklist to make that “other” room in your house – the garage – a safe place for you and your family.
Tips for a Family-Safe Garage
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♦ Organise all items in designated, easy-to-reach places so large piles don’t accumulate.
♦ Store shovels, rakes, garden chairs, bikes and other sharp objects on the wall to prevent trips and falls.
♦ Clear floors and steps of clutter, grease and spills.
♦ Keep children’s play things in one area and within their reach to prevent children from exploring potentially dangerous areas.
♦ Light your garage brightly with maximum safe wattage as designated by light fixtures.
♦ Protect light bulbs near work areas with substantial guards to reduce risk of breakage and fire.
♦ Light stairs brightly and install secure handrails or banisters.
♦ Make sure poisonous products such as pesticides, automotive fluids, lighter fluid, paint thinner, antifreeze and turpentine have child-resistant caps, are clearly labelled and are stored either on a high shelf or in a locked cabinet.
♦ Do not use barbeque grills and electric generators inside the garage as they emit carbon monoxide and pose a fire hazard.
♦ Install a smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector in the garage.
♦ Never leave cars running inside a closed or open garage to prevent CO poisoning.
♦ Store petrol in small quantities only, and in a proper tightly sealed container labelled “petrol”
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♦ Do not keep fuel in a garage with an appliance that contains a pilot light. ♦ Mount a fire extinguisher and stocked first aid kit in the garage and make sure every family member knows where they are and how to use them.
♦ Store pool chemicals according to the manufacturers’ directions to prevent combustion and potential poisoning exposures.
♦ Do not overload outlets and make sure the electrical ratings on extension cords have been checked to ensure they are carrying no more than their proper loads.
♦ Lock electrical supply boxes to prevent children from opening them.
♦ Clean garage of dust, cobwebs and rubbish, which can interfere with the electrical system.
♦ Secure shelving units to the wall, making sure they are not overloaded and store heavier items closest to the ground.
♦ Keep a sturdy step stool within easy reach to aid in reaching for items stored up high.
More information can be found at www.garagesafety.co.uk
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