Since the onset of the pandemic, home offices have become the norm. People have set up rooms or corners that they call their workspace or home office. However, while creating or building these makeshift home offices, one also needs to take all sorts of precautionary measures to prevent possible hazards.
While this might sound a little far-fetched, it is pretty common for home office hazards to occur, especially with the umpteen number of gadgets, devices, wires, and pieces of equipment involved. Hence, work from home safety is essential.
To keep yourself and your family safe, it is essential to be precautious. In this article, I’ll take you through some of the possible hazards that can occur at your home. I’ll also suggest simple steps on what to do if there’s a hazard and how best to tackle the situation.
Types of Home Office Hazards
Fire
Fire can erupt from any place; it can start with equipment malfunctioning or might be due to a minor mishap with a candle.
So, try to avoid these things. Treat your home office like your actual workplace. Do not keep unnecessary gadgets, candles, or space heaters around. Do not smoke in your workplace just like how you wouldn’t in your office and ensure that you have fire extinguishers in place in case there’s a hazard. Furthermore, ensure that these extinguishers work with electrical fires.
Overloaded Circuit
If your work is extensive and requires you to use too many devices simultaneously, you’ll try to connect them all according to your convenience. But do not forget that it could cause an overloaded circuit.
When a circuit takes on much more load (too many electricity-consuming devices), it short circuits. This might cause electrocution, loss of power, failure of the home power grid, and so on.
Ensure that you use power strips with their own surge protectors instead of using extension cords. If heavy machinery such as air conditioners are involved, have a circuit of their own.
Surge protectors protect your circuit if and when the load exceeds the threshold amount.
Stray Cords
This is perhaps the most careless mistake we all make. We just have too many wires from different gadgets and devices lying around unorganized. These can be causes for possible straining of cords, leading to a damaged wire that can even result in electrocution.
So instead, move your desks closer to the power sources and plugs such that extension cords aren’t necessary. Furthermore, since home offices might soon become the norm, invest a little and install a convenient power outlet that doesn’t require long wires.
Heavy Boxes
Injuries can happen while lifting or transporting heavy boxes and equipment. So, ensure that you store them in cabinets closer to the ground and not in high places. You can also use safety belts while lifting since they always come in handy.
Emergency Exit Plan
One of the most common mistakes people make is not having a proper emergency exit plan. So, plan your space accordingly and put together an evacuation plan that can help you escape if there's a hazard in your home office.
Conclusion
These are some of the home office hazards that can take place. I’ve also given some tips and measures you can take to prevent these hazards in your home offices and ensure work-from-home safety.