The 10 worst home safety hazards (and how to fix them)

Even the safest of homes can have many sharp objects that can cause injury. The kitchen is notorious for sharp objects that should be kept out of reach of children, ideally in locked drawers: knives, graters, scissors, skewers, peelers, corkscrews, and blender blades, just to name a few.

When cutting or chopping, the Public Health Association of Australia says it’s safer to use a sharp knife than a blunt one, as the latter requires more force and may slip. Mesh gloves will further reduce the risk of cuts.

If using a power tool, read the manual and make sure you understand how it works. Wear protective gear, such as safety glasses, and ensure that any safety guard is in place. Always put tools away after use.

A buildup of oil, grease or soap on walking surfaces can create slippery conditions, increasing the risk of slips and falls. Likewise, trip hazards such as a loose rug, uneven floor surface, or power cords left on the floor can contribute to falls and injuries. Outdoor areas can be just as hazardous. Attend to uneven or cracked surfaces, and clean up leaves, moss and other debris.

Seniors are particularly prone to falls, and typically experience greater injuries when they do have a fall. Consider placing non-slip mats in baths and showers to avoid falls, nailing down any rugs, and regularly checking floors for trip and slip hazards.

Many people are likely to attempt cleaning or DIY tasks that require a ladder. But the latest government data shows hospital admissions for ladder falls around the home are increasing, with men aged 40 to 79 years making up more than half (55 per cent) of the people who presented to hospital emergency departments after falling off a ladder.

It’s not only tall ladders that pose a risk: people who fall from stepladders tend to fall backwards and risk hitting their head, which can cause serious injury, even if the fall is only a metre or less.

It's prudent to leave tasks that require a ladder to professional tradespeople. If you do use a ladder, make sure you’re wearing secure footwear, the ladder is stable, and there’s someone to keep an eye on you.

More: Guide to ladder safety around the home

Falling down a staircase can be life-threatening no matter your age. Always make sure stairs are well lit to keep them highly visible to the household.

If you have young children, install stair gates at the top and bottom of the steps to stop them climbing stairs without supervision.

For older people, installing handrails and non-slip treads can help prevent falls. A contrasting coloured edge strip fitted to each step can also help with visibility.

More: How to make your home safe for seniors

Many common household items, from cleaning products to fertiliser, herbicides and insecticides, can cause serious injury if swallowed by young children.

Keep your medications and household chemicals out of reach and locked away. Magnetic locks on cupboards are a great product. Never store chemicals in soft-drink bottles, which may entice children to take a sip.

More: How to baby and childproof your house

Lithium-ion battery fires from damaged or overcharged devices are on the rise. It's important to disconnect your charger once the device is charged, use the appropriate charger for your device, keep your smoke alarms maintained, and keep charging devices out of direct sunlight and off soft furnishings that can easily catch fire.

To help prevent electric shocks, check for damaged cords, powerpoints and light switches, and be careful with power points near water.

Always ensure you have a working safety switch that will shut off the power if an appliance fails. If you have an old-style electrical switchboard or can't see a safety switch, consult a professional electrician.

More than 90 per cent of serious scalds occur in the bathroom, according to the Victorian Building Authority. It takes just one second for hot water at 68°C to cause a full thickness scald, compared with five minutes at 50°C.

By law, showers and bathroom taps must be set to a maximum water temperature of 50°C, but older systems installed before the law was introduced in 1998 may not comply. While it's not mandatory to retrofit older units, safety-conscious homeowners can install a device called a tempering valve to reduce bathroom water temperature with the help of a qualified plumber.

Bear in mind, though, that the maximum bathing temperature recommended for young children is 37°C to 38°C.  If there are young children in the house, close the bathroom door when vacant and never leave a child alone in the bath, or even in the care of an older child, to help prevent scalds.

If you're thinking about getting a new hot water system, a heat pump hot water system is considered the best energy-saving option. If your home has rooftop solar panels, your smart heat pump hot water system can even use excess solar power to heat the water.

Glass doors can easily be mistaken for an open doorway, which can be especially dangerous in older homes where the glass might not be shatterproof. Avoid accidents by fitting any glass doors with a visual glazing strip to help alert people and prevent collisions and injuries.

If you have children in the home, avoid leaving furniture such as beds and cots near windows. It’s all too easy for children to climb up and fall out a window. Consider installing strong security mesh on windows to prevent falls or double-glazed windows, which have added strength.

Curtain and blind cords may seem harmless enough, but they can strangle a young child with tragic results. Consumer Affairs Victoria says unsecured blind or curtain cords claim the lives of one to two children each year.

In 2010 it became law that all new curtain and blind cords must be fitted with a safety device to prevent them forming a loop and to keep them out of reach of children. But the legislation was not retrospective and many homes still have this risk.

Check all rooms in your house for any blinds or curtains with long cords. Any cords that are either loose or looped, including those within children’s reach at floor level or near furniture they can climb on, should be secured with cleats or a tension device. You can order a free curtain and blind cord safety kit from the Victorian Government here.

It’s also important to make sure that furniture, such as cots, beds, tables and bookshelves that children might climb on, is not placed near a window where children can reach a curtain cord.

Swimming pools are the leading location for drownings in children aged one to four years old, accounting for 40 per cent of incidents, according to the latest data from the Royal Lifesaving Society of Australia (RLSSA).

As a result, Victorian homeowners must now register their pool or spa with their local council, plus receive a Certificate of Compliance from a registered swimming pool inspector to ensure the mandatory safety barrier/s are up to standard.

Accidents can happen even if you have a compliant pool fence. Make sure that the gate isn’t propped open and there is nothing next to the pool fence that a child can climb on to get over the fence. Most importantly, never leave children unattended near a pool or spa.

More: Swimming pool safety tips to keep the whole family safe