Safety in the home www.rooftopgroup.org 1
Safety in your home Your home is the place where accidents are most likely to occur. Everyone should be aware of the dangers in the home so that accidents can be avoided. This leaflet aims to raise awareness of some of the dangers and the steps you can take to prevent accidents happening. Fire safety Fires can start suddenly and spread quickly, damaging your home and furniture and putting lives in danger. They are caused in a variety of ways, but there are a few simple hints you can follow to prevent them starting. Keep all fires and heaters well guarded, especially open fires For fitted or portable heaters with a built in guard, give extra protection by adding a surrounding guard, particularly if you have young children or older people in the home. For children, use a nursery guard with side clips that fit into fixed wall brackets Keep portable heaters and candles away from furniture and curtains Position safely where they cannot be knocked over. Make sure that candles are in secure holders on a surface that doesn t burn. Never leave candles lit in rooms no one is in or where children are on their own Don t dry or air clothes over or near the fire, or the cooker Do not smoke in bed Make sure cigarettes are stubbed out properly and are carefully disposed of. Keep matches or lighters where children can t see or reach them Never leave a pan unattended Many fires start in the kitchen, especially fat fires. When deep fat frying, watch for overheating. For safer frying use a thermostatically controlled deep fat fryer Test your smoke alarm If you have a smoke alarm, test it weekly by pressing the text button and holding it until the alarm sounds. Change the battery in the alarm once a year unless it is a long life battery or is connected to the mains. Don t overload electrical sockets Always switch off and unplug electrical appliances when they re not in use Plan your escape route Keep doors and windows clear and make sure that keys to both doors and windows are easy to find. 2 3
Electrical safety We carry out periodic inspections of electrical installations and upgrade as required. Remember that you are responsible for the repair and safety of your own electrical appliances and fittings. Allow Rooftop access to inspect the electrical installations Do not use appliances with worn or damaged flexes. Don t wire flexes together Keep portable mains-operated appliances out of the bathroom Have electric blankets serviced and checked regularly Look for the CE mark when you buy electrical equipment Never overload an electric socket Unplug appliances when you are not using them. Gas safety When gas leaks from a heating appliance or doesn t burn properly, too much carbon monoxide is produced. Carbon monoxide is a gas with no smell, taste or colour but it s poisonous. Carbon monoxide can kill without warning in just a few hours. This is why you must let us service the gas appliance in your home once a year. It s the law and part of your tenancy agreement. Never cover an appliance or block air vents or grilles, air bricks or outside flues If a gas flame, which normally burns blue, burns orange this may be a build up of carbon monoxide. Have your appliance checked immediately When buying gas appliances look for the British Standards safety mark or British Seal of Approval and beware of second hand bargains and cowboy installers If you suspect a gas leak, open the windows, turn off the supply and call your gas supplier. Don t operate switches as a spark could ignite the gas Find out where to turn off the gas supply in your home. If you suspect a gas leak: Open doors and windows to get rid of fumes Check to see if the gas has been left on unlit or if a pilot light has gone out Call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999. Call from outside your home Don t use switches or anything electrical. 4 5
Safety with medicines and cleaners Chemical preparations of any sort, whether in the form of medicines or household cleaners should always be treated with caution. Consider having a proper lockable cabinet fitted in the kitchen for medicines and chemicals Keep medicines in their original containers, clearly labelled Do not take other people s medicine, or let them take yours Return leftover medicines to the pharmacist for destruction - don t hoard them Keep medicines, chemical and cleaning products such as bleach, turps and caustic soda where children cannot see or reach them Chemicals used in the garden, garage or workshop need to be used and stored with great care. Store them in a safe place where children can t see or reach them Keep cosmetics, perfumes and essential oils away from children. 6 7
Rooftop Housing Group 70 High Street Evesham, Worcestershire WR11 4YD 01386 420800 enquiries@rooftopgroup.org www.rooftopgroup.org @Rooftop_Housing Rooftop Housing Group Printed April 2014