Safety at Home

This is the time of year when we produce our annual Safety-at-Home issue. You no doubt have plans for disruptions at work, but have you made a plan for your family and your home? You should think about the same things as you do at work - identifying risk, mitigating risk and responding to emergencies. If you haven't done this yet, this week we offer some help to get you going. If you have thought about making a plan, maybe these articles will help you refine what you already have.

Protect your employees and their families with the resources, tools and skills to keep them safe and healthy in their homes, on the roads and in their communities. (Item #1)   Here's everything you need to know to keep your kids safe during the holidays. (Item #2)   Use these checklists to make a safety check of your home. (Item #3)  

Be smart about fire and electrical safety. (Item #4)   Falls are a major problem for older adults; here's help on how to prevent them. (Item #5)   Follow these guidelines for firearm safety in your home. (Item #6)  

This will be our last issue in 2013. We hope you and yours have a very happy holiday season followed by a safe and prosperous 2014.

Bob Mellinger, President
Attainium Corp

1. Family Safety for Employers

A safe and healthy workforce is good for business. Off-the-job safety and health is the extension of an organization's on-the-job safety culture. Off-the-job programs educate employees about bringing their safe and healthy workplace practices to their homes and their families. A growing number of businesses now consider off-the-job safety and health critical to good management of health care costs, productivity, and profits.
http://www.nsc.org/safety_home/FamilySafetyforEmployers/Pages/FamilySafetyforEmployers.aspx

2. Holiday Safety Tips

It's that time of year again when we enjoy festive meals with family and friends, deck our halls with colorful decorations and listen to squeals of delight as our children open their brightly-wrapped presents. To help ensure your kids have fun and stay safe this holiday, here are a few tips to remember.
https://www.safekids.org/sites/default/files/documents/holiday_safety_tips.pdf

3. Household Safety Checklists

An accident or injury can occur in any part of your home. Some safety hazards are obvious - such as a toy truck left lying at the top of the stairs. Others are not so easily identified - such as a stairway railing that has become loose. To get started, click on a checklist below. You should answer "yes" to all of the questions.
http://kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/home/household_checklist.html

4. Fire Prevention Strategies

Electrical failure or malfunction is a leading cause of home fires year after year. Yet, many home electrical fires can be prevented simply by understanding basic electrical safety principles and following safe practices. The many links in this article direct you to additional helpful information.
http://esfi.org/index.cfm/pid/10255

5. A Home Fall Prevention Checklist for Older Adults

Each year, thousands of older Americans fall at home. Many of them are seriously injured, and some are disabled. In 2002, more than 12,800 people over age 65 died and 1.6 million were treated in emergency departments because of falls. Falls are often due to hazards that are easy to overlook but easy to fix. This checklist will help you find and fix those hazards in your home.
http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/pub-res/toolkit/Falls_ToolKit/DesktopPDF/English/booklet_Eng_desktop.pdf

6. Ten Tips for Firearm Safety in Your Home

As part of its "S.A.F.E. Summer" campaign to focus attention on the importance of safe and responsible firearm handling and storage, the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) today announced its "Top Ten" list of safety tips firearm owners should remember to help ensure they are taking responsible precautions with firearms in their home.
http://www.projectchildsafe.org/news/ten-tips-firearm-safety-your-home