As the New Year approaches, many people will be clearing out their home office, fixing it up and preparing for the busy year ahead of them. While the piles of paperwork may be what your eye is drawn to, there are several other things that go unnoticed. UL has focused on Safety at Home this Holiday Season and Safety in your Home Office is just as important. Here are some tips from UL about how to make your home office safe:
Watch your wattage
Don’t overload extension cords or plugs. Check the wattage on each component you plug in and avoid using adaptors to “make it work.”
Get unplugged
Unplug electronics when not in use. Not only do they draw unnecessary energy, but they can also pose a hazard if turned on accidentally. Think paper shredders, fax machines, and space heaters or fans.
De-clutter
A clean office is a safe office. Piles of papers are potential tripping hazards if on the floor and potential fire hazards if near a heat source.
Steer the heater clear
Keep space heaters at least three feet away from any combustible materials and do not place anything on top of a space heater.
Childproof it twice
Cords and electronics can be incredibly tempting and incredibly dangerous to small children. Be sure to manage your cords, keep outlets and surge protectors covered, and make sure that no small items such as paper clips and staples are within a child’s reach. Large furniture such as bookcases should also be firmly attached to the wall to prevent tipping.
To help you get your office in order and keep it safe, UL is giving one of our Parent Trend readers a $100 Best Buy Gift Card!
To Enter:
Tell us your best organizational tip for the home office!
Extra Entries:
- Follow ParentTrend.com (1 extra entry)
- Subscribe to ParentTrend.com (1 extra entry)
- Follow @SafetyatHome on Twitter and Tweet the giveaway (2 extra entries)
- Follow @ParentTrend on Twitter and Tweet the giveaway (2 extra entries)
- Be a Fan of UL Safety at Home on Facebook (2 extra entries)
- Grab our NEW button (5 extra entries)
- Blog about the giveaway (10 extra entries)
- Leave a relevant comment on a post that is not a giveaway and comment here and tell us (1 extra entry per post)
Contest is open to US only. Contest ends January 3, 2010. Winner will be chosen by random.org and will have 24 hours to respond to my email.
**UL sent me a wreath for Christmas. I did not receive any monetary compensation for any of my UL posts or giveaways. Although, the wreath is pretty sweet.**
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New Winner!!!!
Karen with Comment #1315!!!
Congrats Patricia!!! You won with comment #10!!!tweeted http://twitter.com/annedoggett/statuses/7369940251
My best tip is to declutter
Subscribed to ParentTrend.com via email and confirmed subscription.
I am a fan of Safety at home via Facebook. #2
I am a fan of Safety at home via Facebook. #1
Following ParentTrend.com via Google Friend Connect.
If you’re naturally unorganized like I am, set aside one day of the week to get your office in shape. It will allow you time to just wind down from thinking processes and get up and move around. Then you can come back the next day mentally rested and ready to get back to work.
have your button 5
have your button 4
have your button 3
have your button 2
have your buton on my blog
following parenttrend 2
following parenttrend and tweeted http://twitter.com/spalka/status/7356491209
following safetytrend and tweeted #2
following safetytrend and tweeted http://twitter.com/spalka/status/7356491209
My best home organizational tip is to clean as you go along instead of doing like weekly huge cleanings. That way maybe you only need to do big cleanings bi-weekly.
i am a follower and a fan on twiter
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My best organizational tip for the home office is to have file cabinets and plenty of storage space.
I follow SafetyatHome on twitter as yadgirl.
If you’re naturally unorganized, spend one day a week getting the office back in order.
I am a fan of Safety at home via Facebook #2
I am a fan of Safety at home via Facebook
I follow @parentTrend via twitter @stanza_rae
I am following Safety at Home via twitter. @stanza_rae
Get a laptop. Ever since I went wireless my desk in my home office stays clean.
I set a timer for 15 minutes each day to de-clutter my work area. A great deal is accomplished in a small amount of time!
You don’t HAVE to put all like items together. If you use some items daily, put one of each of them close by, then store the rest until you need them. For example: No need for 20 pens and 20 stick-it pads in your drawer.
Declutter! My biggest challenge, but the best rewards.
Keep the cat out so he doesn’t jump on the computer, causing you to spill coffee on your laptop! Cats have a THING for computer screens.
About once a week I do a 20 minute “clean around” to clean up as much stuff out of the office as I can.
You should take 5 minutes a day cleaning up any visible mess.
I became a fan on Facebook. (Matthew Jones)
Tweeted: http://twitter.com/mrssquigg/status/7343721692
Am a Facebook fan!
Brandy Byrne
I’m a fan of UL Safety At Home on Facebook (ID-CherylS22)
#2
I’m a fan of UL Safety At Home on Facebook (ID-CherylS22)
#1
I subscribe via Google Reader
I follow in GFC
My best organizational tip for my home office is filing everything as I go along rather than having a “To Be Filed” folder or pile.
I follow @ParentTrend on Twitter and Tweeted about the giveaway (entry 2):
http://twitter.com/ErinReisman/status/7352082721
I follow @ParentTrend on Twitter and Tweeted about the giveaway (entry 1):
http://twitter.com/ErinReisman/status/7352082721