Asbestos, poisons and power tools on the agenda.
Home renovators have been warned to be vigilant on the deadly dangers to children during home renovations.
High on the Kidsafe renovation checklist is safety around power tools, potentially poisonous substances (e.g. paints and cleaners) and driveways with vehicles such as trucks, utes and vans frequently visiting to the home to deliver equipment and supplies.
According the Australian Bureau of Statistics, in the last financial year Victorian’s spent $2.15 billion on home renovations, the highest of any state or territory.
Jason Chambers, Kidsafe Victoria Project Manager, said that renovations or extensions can expose children to a wide range of hazards that aren’t usually present in the home.
“Before any work begins on a renovation or extension, parents should research and plan to ensure their family’s safety,” said Mr Chambers.
“With a major renovation, sometimes the safest option is to move the family out of the home while the works are undertaken.”
Kidsafe Victoria recommends that home owners talk to tradespeople about potential hazards that might be present while they are working on the renovation, and appropriate safety measures that can be taken to reduce the risk of injury to children.
Kidsafe Victoria has released a set of renovation safety tips to assist parents and carers to reduce the risk of injury to their children.
Kidsafe Renovation Safety Tips
Supervision
Tools, Equipment and Furniture
Poisonous Substances
Water Safety
Driveway Safety
With vehicles such as trucks, utes and vans delivering equipment and supplies, your driveway will be a very chaotic and dangerous place for children. Ensure they are kept safe by:
Use Renovation to Increase Safety around your Home
Renovating or extending can also be an opportunity to install safety products around your home to keep children safe after renovations have been completed.
Some safety products to consider include stair gates, curtain and blind-cord safety kits, finger-jamb protectors on doors, TV safety straps and lockable poisons cupboards in the bathroom and kitchen.
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