{"id":1171,"date":"2021-05-05T18:43:25","date_gmt":"2021-05-05T18:43:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.underfloorheatingtradesupplies.co.uk\/blog\/?p=1171"},"modified":"2023-11-07T14:16:31","modified_gmt":"2023-11-07T14:16:31","slug":"the-essential-home-safety-checklist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.underfloorheatingtradesupplies.co.uk\/blog\/the-essential-home-safety-checklist\/","title":{"rendered":"The Essential Home Safety Checklist"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Home \u2013 a place that you feel comfortable, secure and safe. But how safe is your home? Although it might feel like the least dangerous place that you could be, your home is where you are statistically most likely to have an accident<a href=\"#_edn1\">[i]<\/a>. Accidents in the house cost UK taxpayers a whopping \u00a345.63 billion annually, with an estimated 2.7 million people having to have home-related injuries treated at the hospital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You may be wondering what you can do to reduce these numbers, stop accidents happening in your own home and make it safer overall. Read on and use our ultimate home safety checklist to avoid your family adding to the accident-at-home statistics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fire Safety<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a ref=\"magnificPopup\" href=\"https:\/\/www.underfloorheatingtradesupplies.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/house-fire.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"463\" src=\"https:\/\/www.underfloorheatingtradesupplies.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/house-fire.jpg\" alt=\"house fire\" class=\"wp-image-1175\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.underfloorheatingtradesupplies.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/house-fire.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.underfloorheatingtradesupplies.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/house-fire-300x154.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.underfloorheatingtradesupplies.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/house-fire-768x395.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.underfloorheatingtradesupplies.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/house-fire-600x309.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>We all have a generally good idea about fire safety, and it is something most of us have had drilled into our heads from a very young age at both school and home. Your risk of having a house fire is statistically quite low \u2013 with only 1% of households in the UK having a fire across 2016 and 2017<a href=\"#_edn2\">[ii]<\/a>. Despite this, it\u2019s vital not to adopt an \u2018<em>it could never happen to me\u2019<\/em> mind frame when it comes to fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><em>Hazards<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>These are the top fire hazards that could be present in your home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Faulty\/damaged electrical wiring<\/li><li>Electrical products such as electric blankets, fairy lights, straighteners and space heaters<\/li><li>Overloaded electrical sockets<\/li><li>Candles and any other exposed flame<\/li><li>Built up dust in electric sockets and heaters<\/li><li>Grease build ups and hot oil in the kitchen<\/li><li>Faulty appliances<\/li><li>Mess and clutter around the home \u2013 making it easier for fire to spread and harder to escape<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><em>Safety<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Although you may think your home is up to scratch when it comes to fire safety, there may be several things you can do to make it even safer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Smoke alarms \u2013 <\/strong>you should have a smoke alarm on each floor of your home<a href=\"#_edn3\">[iii]<\/a>. Your smoke alarms should be tested once a month at least, and the batteries should be changed once a year. Smoke alarms should be replaced after 10 years.<\/li><li><strong>Fire escape plan \u2013 <\/strong>discuss a fire escape plan with your family, especially with younger children. Make sure they know what to do if a fire breaks out.<\/li><li><strong>Kitchen safety \u2013 <\/strong>when cooking, don\u2019t leave the kitchen unattended. Keep fabrics away from the stove and keep anything that could be easily knocked over away from the stove. Make sure your appliances are kept clean.<\/li><li><strong>Out of reach \u2013 <\/strong>don\u2019t let children handle matches or lighters, and keep them well out of reach.<\/li><li><strong>Annual checks \u2013<\/strong> you should be having your boiler and\/or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.underfloorheatingtradesupplies.co.uk\/\">underfloor heating<\/a> system checked on an annual basis to make sure they are running smoothly and don\u2019t pose any fire or safety risks.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Before going to bed, make these quick checks:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\" type=\"1\"><li>Check cooker and other kitchen appliances are off, including the washing machine<\/li><li>Make sure candles are properly extinguished<\/li><li>Ensure exits are clear and that everyone knows where window and door keys are kept<\/li><li>Close all internal doors at night<\/li><li>Do not leave your phone charging unattended at night, especially not on or around your bed<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Electrical Safety<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a ref=\"magnificPopup\" href=\"https:\/\/www.underfloorheatingtradesupplies.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/wires.jpeg\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"461\" src=\"https:\/\/www.underfloorheatingtradesupplies.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/wires.jpeg\" alt=\"wires\" class=\"wp-image-1176\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.underfloorheatingtradesupplies.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/wires.jpeg 900w, https:\/\/www.underfloorheatingtradesupplies.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/wires-300x154.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.underfloorheatingtradesupplies.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/wires-768x393.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.underfloorheatingtradesupplies.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/wires-600x307.jpeg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Electrical safety is as important as fire safety, though people are often not mindful of all the risks. Electricity is something we take for granted and it\u2019s easy to forget how dangerous it can be, and the risk of injury or death it carries when we aren\u2019t careful around it<a href=\"#_edn4\">[iv]<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><em>Hazards<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Defective, damaged and poor wiring<\/li><li>Fake or knock off items which haven\u2019t been tested properly and don\u2019t meet industry standards<\/li><li>Electrics being handled with wet hands<\/li><li>Outlets in close proximity to water<\/li><li>Lightbulbs which are close to curtains, drapes, or covered in any way<\/li><li>Electrical cords and wires which are covered with heavy materials, causing them to overheat<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><em>Safety<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As well as looking out for hazards, you should carry out the following safety checks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Damage &#8211; l<\/strong>ook out for damaged wires and\/or cables, and don\u2019t allow them to touch heat sources. Tidy cables and ensure they aren\u2019t stretched\/bent. This can damage the insulation around the wires. If you spot any damage, have the wires replaced immediately.<\/li><li><strong>Don\u2019t overload &#8211; <\/strong>never overload electrical sockets and make sure the maximum voltage of extension leads isn\u2019t passed.<\/li><li><strong>Clean &#8211; <\/strong>keep extractor fans clear of dirt and grime. Clean fans reduce fire hazards and keep electrical goods running efficiently.<\/li><li><strong>Keep clear of shocks \u2013 <\/strong>if you are shocked by an appliance or see it spart, stop using it immediately and either get it repaired by an expert or replace it.<\/li><li><strong>Read instructions \u2013<\/strong> before you use an appliance for the first time, make sure you carefully read any instructions or documentation that come with it.<\/li><li><strong>Keep away from water \u2013<\/strong> don\u2019t touch electrics with wet hands or put them in proximity to water.<\/li><li><strong>Watch children near electrical items \u2013 <\/strong>when children are about, it can only take 2 seconds for something to go wrong. Keep them out of danger by using safety covers on unused sockets, leaving handheld devices like hairdryers out of reach, and making sure cables can\u2019t be tripped on or pulled.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Never take risks with electricity. If something seems wrong with an electrical item, don\u2019t take any chances, stop using it straight away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Gas Safety<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a ref=\"magnificPopup\" href=\"https:\/\/www.underfloorheatingtradesupplies.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/gas.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"459\" src=\"https:\/\/www.underfloorheatingtradesupplies.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/gas.jpg\" alt=\"gas\" class=\"wp-image-1177\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.underfloorheatingtradesupplies.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/gas.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.underfloorheatingtradesupplies.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/gas-300x153.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.underfloorheatingtradesupplies.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/gas-768x392.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.underfloorheatingtradesupplies.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/gas-600x306.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Gas can be an invisible killer. Although some UK households are switching to fully electric systems, gas is present in &nbsp;85% of British homes, with 23 million houses connected to the gas grid<a href=\"#_edn5\">[v]<\/a>. This makes it important to know the hazards of gas and how to make sure you home is safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\" type=\"1\"><li>Install a carbon monoxide detector in your home.<\/li><li>Install a gas detector in your home.<\/li><li>Have gas appliances such as boilers, ovens and stoves fitted by a registered engineer. Have these serviced regularly.<\/li><li>If you think a gas appliance is broken, stop using it immediately.<\/li><li>Ensure gas appliances are turned off before going to bed or leaving your house.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>If you smell gas OR suspect that there is a leak <\/em><\/strong>leave the house straight away. Once you are clear of your home, you should call the National Gas Emergency Service on this number for assistance 0800 111 999.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Assess your home safety<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We hope the above advice will help you to assess your home safety and put your mind at ease. Try to run through these checks a couple of times a year, and always be on the look out for hazards and accidents that are waiting to happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">References<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Beetham Electric. (2016). <em>EIGHT MOST DANGEROUS ELECTRICAL HAZARDS IN YOUR HOME<\/em>. Retrieved from Beetham Electric: http:\/\/www.beethamelectric.com\/industry-news\/eight-most-dangerous-electrical-hazards-in-your-home\/<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>gov.uk. (2015). <em>The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015: Q&amp;A booklet for the private rented sector \u2013 landlords and tenants<\/em>. Retrieved from gov.uk: https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/publications\/smoke-and-carbon-monoxide-alarms-explanatory-booklet-for-landlords\/the-smoke-and-carbon-monoxide-alarm-england-regulations-2015-qa-booklet-for-the-private-rented-sector-landlords-and-tenants<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ministry of Housing, Communities &amp; Local Government. (2017). <em>English Housing Survey<\/em>. Retrieved from Ministry of Housing, Communities &amp; Local Government: https:\/\/assets.publishing.service.gov.uk\/government\/uploads\/system\/uploads\/attachment_data\/file\/724327\/Fire_and_Fire_Safety.pdf<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>ROSPA. (2021, April). <em>Facts and figures<\/em>. Retrieved from ROSPA: https:\/\/www.rospa.com\/home-safety\/advice\/general\/facts-and-figures<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The CCC. (n.d.). <em>Annex 2. Heat in UK buildings today<\/em>. Retrieved from The CCC: https:\/\/www.theccc.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Annex-2-Heat-in-UK-Buildings-Today-Committee-on-Climate-Change-October-2016.pdf<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Sources<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#_ednref1\">[i]<\/a> https:\/\/www.rospa.com\/home-safety\/advice\/general\/facts-and-figures<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#_ednref2\">[ii]<\/a>https:\/\/assets.publishing.service.gov.uk\/government\/uploads\/system\/uploads\/attachment_data\/file\/724327\/Fire_and_Fire_Safety.pdf<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#_ednref3\">[iii]<\/a> https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/publications\/smoke-and-carbon-monoxide-alarms-explanatory-booklet-for-landlords\/the-smoke-and-carbon-monoxide-alarm-england-regulations-2015-qa-booklet-for-the-private-rented-sector-landlords-and-tenants<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#_ednref4\">[iv]<\/a> http:\/\/www.beethamelectric.com\/industry-news\/eight-most-dangerous-electrical-hazards-in-your-home\/<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#_ednref5\">[v]<\/a> https:\/\/www.theccc.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Annex-2-Heat-in-UK-Buildings-Today-Committee-on-Climate-Change-October-2016.pdf<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Home \u2013 a place that you feel comfortable, secure and safe. But how safe is your home? Although it might feel like the least dangerous place that you could be, your home is where you are statistically most likely to have an accident[i]. Accidents in the house cost UK taxpayers a whopping \u00a345.63 billion annually,&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":1172,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,6,7,9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1171","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-energy-saving","category-guides","category-home-improvements","category-maintenance"],"acf":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/www.underfloorheatingtradesupplies.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/home-safety-checklist.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Gary Jones","author_link":"https:\/\/www.underfloorheatingtradesupplies.co.uk\/blog\/author\/gary-jones\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.underfloorheatingtradesupplies.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1171","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.underfloorheatingtradesupplies.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.underfloorheatingtradesupplies.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.underfloorheatingtradesupplies.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.underfloorheatingtradesupplies.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1171"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.underfloorheatingtradesupplies.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1171\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.underfloorheatingtradesupplies.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1172"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.underfloorheatingtradesupplies.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1171"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.underfloorheatingtradesupplies.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1171"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.underfloorheatingtradesupplies.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1171"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}