Work at home safely

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The home office. Most Americans have one, whether it be a section of the living room or bedroom or an area in the house all its own. Advances in technology, along with an ever-changing work culture, have made the home office an skd224278sdcimportant part of our lives and our homes.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in its Monthly Labor Review of June 2012, 24 percent of employed Americans work at home at least a few hours each week. In addition, 2.6 percent of the American workforce (some 3.3 million, not including the self-employed or unpaid volunteers) consider their home their primary place of work.

Whether you telecommute a couple of days a week, own a home-based business or simply spend a few hours catching up on work at home, Indiana Electric Cooperatives encourages you to keep safety in mind for your home office.

“Keeping our members safe in all types of situations, including electrical safety at home, is of primary importance to our cooperative,” said Rick Coons, CEO at Indiana Electric Cooperatives.

Here are some tips to consider regarding electrical safety in your home office:

  • Connect your office equipment to a surge protector.
  • Make sure your electrical system is adequate for office equipment.
  • Check that all electrical plugs, cords, outlets and panels are in good working condition. Make sure there is no damaged or exposed wiring and electrical outlets are grounded with three-pronged plugs.
  • Remove extension cords that are permanently in use.
  • Remove cords from high-traffic areas. Do not nail or staple cords in place.
  • Do not daisy chain (multiple devices wired together in sequence or in a ring) extension cords and power strips.
  • The office electrical equipment should be turned off when not in use.

Other safety tips to keep in mind for your home office include:

  • Keep the work area free of hazards and clutter.
  • Consider keeping the area off-limits to little children and lock the door when the room is unoccupied.
  • Make sure office equipment (computers, printers, etc.) is out of the reach of children and secure from falling.
  • Keep small office equipment (scissors, letter openers, paper cutters, etc.) away from the reach of curious youngsters.

Following these simple tips while working at home can prevent tragedy including an electrical fire or injury.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Gerber Life Family Times, chooseyourbwaybellevue.org and GlobalWorkplaceAnalytics.com

Work at home safely
Are you among the estimated 3.3 million Americans who consider home their primary place of work? Or, perhaps, you work from home a few days a week or on occasion? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, is your home office area safe from electrical danger? Here are some tips, courtesy of Indiana Electric Cooperatives, to ask yourself to determine if you are practicing electrical safety in your home office:

  • Connect your office equipment to a surge protector.
  • Make sure your electrical system is adequate for office equipment.
  • Check that all electrical plugs, cords, outlets and panels are in good working condition. Make sure there is no damaged or exposed wiring and electrical outlets are grounded with three-pronged plugs.
  • Remove extension cords that are permanently in use.
  • Remove cords from high-traffic areas. Do not nail or staple cords in place.
  • Do not daisy chain (multiple devices wired together in sequence or in a ring) extension cords and power strips.
  • Turn off the office electrical equipment when it’s not in use.

 

Safely using a home office
Do you have a home office? Here are some electrical safety tips you can use, courtesy of Indiana Electric Cooperatives:

  • Connect your office equipment to a surge protector.
  • Make sure your electrical system is adequate for office equipment.
  • Check that all electrical plugs, cords, outlets and panels are in good working condition. Make sure there is no damaged or exposed wiring and electrical outlets are grounded with three-pronged plugs.
  • Remove extension cords that are permanently in use.
  • Remove cords from high-traffic areas. Do not nail or staple cords in place.
  • Do not daisy chain (multiple devices wired together in sequence or in a ring) extension cords and power strips.