Home safety checklist

Children 0–4 years generally, but particularly children 1–2 years of age, are vulnerable to injuries as they begin to explore their environment, but are unable to recognise danger, or take action to keep themselves safe. Nearly 60% of injuries in children 0–4 years happen in the home and backyard.

Home safety Home safety
  • General safety 

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Is there an electrical safety switch (circuit breaker) to prevent electrocution?  

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Do you have working smoke alarms fitted in the house?

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Are safety plugs fitted in unused power points?

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Are appliances, and plugs in good condition? (No frayed cords or damaged plugs)

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Have long cords been bound with twist ties, or extra cord hidden?  

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Are there barrier gates on steps, stairs, and changes in floor levels to prevent falls?  

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Are all railings/balustrade free of footholds that your young child can climb?

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Do you have a home fire escape plan? 

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Are all mouse and rat traps/baits inaccessible to your young child? 

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Do you have a dog? If so, do you always supervise your dog with your child or if you can’t supervise them together, separate them? Never leave a child alone with a dog, no matter how friendly it is. 

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Kitchen

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Do your appliances have short cords that do not dangle over the bench? 

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Do you use the back hot plates and turn pot handles around to prevent pots being pulled from the hot plate, or do you have a stove guard?

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Do you have a child-resistant lock on your oven door?  

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Are matches, lighters, knives, scissors, and other dangerous objects stored in a place where your young child cannot reach them?

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Are plastic bags tied in the middle and kept out of reach?

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Is the kettle/jug, including the cord, out of your young child’s reach?

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Do you have locks on cupboard doors and drawers where dangerous household goods (e.g. cleaning products) are kept or do you store them out of reach?

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Is the high chair stable and does it have a 5 point harness to restrain your young child safely?

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Do you have a fire blanket and a fire extinguisher located near an exit?

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Are all medications stored safely i.e. do you have a locked medicine cupboard, a lock on the fridge door or a lockable storage box in the fridge?

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Is the microwave positioned out of reach of your young child? 

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Do you use placemats, rather than tablecloths? 

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Are cups of hot tea/coffee kept out of reach of your young child?  

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Do you keep the dishwasher closed at all times?  

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Bathroom

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Are medicines and razors kept in a locked cupboard, or out of reach?

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Are the shampoos, soaps, and cosmetics kept out of reach? 

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Are hair dryers, straighteners/curlers and electric razors unplugged when not in use?

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Is your young child constantly supervised by an adult when in the bathroom?

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Is there a child-resistant lock on the toilet or bathroom door? 

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Have you removed all chemicals from the toilet and bathroom floor?

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Is the hot water delivery temperature for your bathroom at a maximum of 50°C, or do you have tap protectors fitted?

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Does the bath have a non-slip surface or non-slip mats?

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Is the bath water temperature always ‘tested’ before putting your young child in (start with cold, then hot,  then finish with cold)?

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Is the bath always kept empty when not in use?

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Laundry

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Are cleaners, bleaches, and detergents stored out of reach, or in a lockable cupboard?

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Are all buckets, the sink and washing machine kept empty when not in use?

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Does the top loading washing machine switch off when the machine is opened?

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Are front loading washing machines and dryer doors securely closed to prevent your young child opening them  and climbing in?

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Young child’s/spare bedroom

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Is your young child’s bed/cot safe? (children under 9 years should not sleep in bunk beds, and cots need to meet the Australian Standard(AS/NZS 2172). Check that cot rails are between 50mm and 95mm apart to avoid head entrapment)

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Does the cot mattress fit snugly to avoid your young child becoming wedged?

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Is the cot free of all soft items – toys, bumpers, and pillows? 

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Is the cot away from the window and power points? 

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Are electrical appliances and their cords out of reach of your young child? 

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Are curtain and blind cords secured up high and out of reach of your young child?

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Is everything you need kept close to the baby change table, as it is important never to leave a baby unattended on a change table?

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Are the toys suitable for your young child’s age? (e.g. no loose small parts that could pose a choking hazard)

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Are toys kept where your young child can reach them without climbing on furniture?

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Is all top heavy furniture, such as bookcases and tall-boy drawers, secured to the wall to prevent them from tipping over if your young child climbs on them?

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Living areas

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Are sharp edges on tables and furniture covered?

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Are blind and curtain cords secured up high and out of reach of your young child?

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Are glass doors protected by safety film, colourful stickers, or made of safety glass?

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Is alcohol stored in a lockable cupboard, or stored up high and out of reach?

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Are cigarettes, ashtrays, matches, and lighters out of reach?

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Are hot drinks placed well out of reach of your young child?

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Are there child resistant fire screens attached to the wall around fire places, fuel stoves, and heaters?

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Are heaters kept at least 1 metre away from curtains, furniture, or other flammable material?

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Are large televisions secured to prevent toppling over onto your young child? 

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Are all breakable items removed, or moved so they are out of reach of your young child? 

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Backyard

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Is your young child supervised at all times while playing outside? 

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Is your young child’s play area separated from the driveway, and is access to the driveway and the street/road restricted?

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Are the ignition keys removed from all vehicles, and the vehicles locked? 

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Do you have the correct child restraints fitted in your car? 

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Do you use the child-proof locks on the car doors? 

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Is the swimming pool or spa fully enclosed by a safety fence with a functioning self latching gate, and with nothing near the fence that could be used to climb on?

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Is the backyard free of drowning hazards? e.g. uncovered ponds, pet’s water containers, buckets, tanks, troughs, dams etc. 

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Is the play equipment stable, secured, and in good condition? 

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Is there a soft surface under play equipment in the backyard to cushion falls? e.g. bark chips or well watered lawn

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Does your young child wear a helmet and protective gear when riding a bike or scooter, or when using in-line skates, skateboards or rollerblades? 

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Can the shed/garage/workshop be locked?

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Are all garden tools, mowers, chainsaws and other dangerous tools locked away?

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Do you make sure that your young child is well away from the lawn mower when mowing the lawns to prevent injury from flying stones and other objects?

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Are pesticides, paints, chemicals and other poisons stored in tightly covered and labelled original containers, out of reach of your young child? 

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Are ladders stored safely so that your young child cannot climb them?

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Are rain water tanks sealed securely and any ladders removed?

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Are garden statues and birdbaths cemented in to prevent a crush injury?

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Farm yard and rural safety

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Do you know where your young child is at all times?  

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Is there a safe playing space outside which is visible from the house?  

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Do you have a fence around the house with a self-latching gate to keep your young child close to the house, and away from machinery and livestock? 

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Do you check outside for snakes before letting your young child into the yard? 

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Are firearms stored unloaded and locked away in the gun safe?  

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Are guns kept out of reach of your young child, and unloaded, when being transported in a vehicle?  

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Are fuels tanks locked, and other highly flammable substances stored safely?  

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Are agricultural chemicals stored in their original containers, correctly labelled and safely stored?  

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Are silo doors locked, with ladders removed? 

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Do you let workers know when your young child is on the farm?

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Do you check your young child is a safe distance away before starting a tractor or any other farm machinery or equipment?

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Have you removed all keys from farm vehicles and machinery when not in use?

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Have you the correct child restraints in your farm utility/car and use them on every trip, not matter how short?

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Are you able to lock sheds and workshops? 

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Are water tanks sealed and ladders removed? 

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Do you keep your young child away from Quad bikes and farm bikes? (Many burns and crush injuries result when these types of vehicles overturn – Always supervise a child.)

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Are animal pens and stockyards inaccessible to your young child?

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Are working dogs kept securely away from your young child?

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Do you always supervise your young child around any animal?

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Do you ensure your young child is supervised at a safe distance from where hay is being cut, baled and stacked?

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Do you always supervise your young child around water hazards? 

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Have you established a clear set of rules for your young child to follow and are you consistent in applying those rules? 

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:
  • Have you erected a sign at the entry to your property stating children are present and to reduce speed to 20 km/hour.

    ×

    How to do this task:
    Subtasks:

588 copy saved

588 copies saved