Test Your Home's Safety

KITCHEN - Do You . . .
1. Have stove and sink areas well-lighted?	YES	NO
2. Turn pot handles away from stove front, but not over another burner?	YES	NO
3. Wipe up spills immediately?	YES	NO
4. Have a rack or compartment tray for sharp knives?	YES	NO
5. Make sure your hands are dry before operating electric appliances?	YES	NO
6. Use potholders and make sure they are dry?	YES	NO
7. Use a step stool when reaching into high cupboards?	YES	NO
8. Have emergency phone numbers handy to your telephone (police, fire, doctor, utilities)?	YES	NO
9. Look for the UL (Underwriters' Laboratories) or AGA (American Gas Association) label whenever you buy appliances?	YES	NO
10. Replace old cracked or frayed electrical appliance cords?	YES	NO
11. Keep insecticides, household cleaners and disinfectants in their original containers and separate from food and out of the reach of children?	YES	NO
12. Know that water should not be poured on a grease fire?	YES	NO
13. Shield yourself from hot steam when removing covers from hot pans by lifting the far side first?	YES	NO
14. Avoid wearing loose, flimsy garments around source of flame?	YES	NO
15. Cut away from you when using a knife?	YES	NO
16. Have a 20-ampere line to safety carry the heavy load needed to operate kitchen appliances such as electric grills, waffle irons and rotisseries?	YES	NO

BATHROOM - Do You . . .
1. Have nonskid mats or textured surfaces in tubs and showers?	YES	NO
2. Have a sturdy grab bar for your tub or shower?	YES	NO
3. Have medicines clearly labeled and read the label before taking any medicine?	YES	NO
4. Keep medicines stored safely out of the reach of small children?	YES	NO
5. Dry your hands before using electric appliances -- and never operate them when you're in the bathtub?	YES	NO
6. Avoid using hair spray near open flame or when smoking?	YES	NO
7. Keep night lights in bathrooms for children and elderly persons?	YES	NO

OUTSIDE - Do You . . .
1. Return garden tools to their storage racks after use?	YES	NO
2. Get help for heavy or difficult jobs?	YES	NO
3. Keep children and pets a safe distance away while operating your power mower?	YES	NO
4. Shut off the mower when cleaning, adjusting or emptying grass catcher, and never refuel when motor is hot?	YES	NO
5. Keep ladders in good shape -- replace loose rungs, worn ladder shoes, frayed ropes on extension ladders?	YES	NO
6. Use extra care putting up screens or storm windows when you're on a ladder especially in windy weather?	YES	NO
7. Repair broken walls and driveways?	YES	NO
8. Keep snow off walls and steps and spread salt or sand on ice patches?	YES	NO
9. Keep childern's swings, slides and other outdoor play equipment in safe condition?	YES	NO
10. Keep the yard clean of broken glass, nail-studded boards and other litterNO?	YES	NO

GARAGE AND DRIVEWAY- Do You . . .
1. Have your garage in order -- tools in place, flammable liquids stored in safety cans?	YES	NO
2. Have your garage well-lighted with switches at the doors?	YES	NO
3. Check area around car before backing?	YES	NO
4. Always keep garage door open while running car engine inside?	YES	NO
5. Inspect lift up garage doors regularly for safe operation?	YES	NO

LIVING, DINING, BEDROOM - Do You . . .
1. Have nonskid backing on small rugs, and avoid use at top of stairs?	YES	NO
2. Keep traffic areas and exits clear of furniture, obstructions and tripping hazards?	YES	NO
3. Use a screen in front of your fireplace?	YES	NO
4. Have plenty of wall outlets for lamps and appliances -- avoiding octopus connections?	YES	NO
5. Have a lamp in reach of bed?	YES	NO
6. Have a good lighting in heavy traffic areas, night lights in bedrooms of children and elderly persons?	YES	NO
7. Use large, deep ashtrays and never smoke in bed or when you're likely to doze off?	YES	NO
8. Secure firearms in a locked rack or cabinet and store ammunition separately?	YES	NO

STAIRWAYS - Do You . . .
1. Have sturdy handrails for outside steps and inside stairways?	YES	NO
2. Have sturdy bannisters on open stairs and stairways?	YES	NO
3. Keep children's toys off stairs?	YES	NO
4. Avoid using stairways as temporary storage areas?	YES	NO
5. Have stairs well-lighted with switches at top and bottom?	YES	NO
6. Keep treads, nosing and carpeting in good repair?	YES	NO
7. Avoid carrying vision-blocking loads on stairs so that you can see where you're going?	YES	NO

BASEMENT OR UTILITY ROOM - Do You . . .
1. Know where your main gas and water valves are located and know how to close them?	YES	NO
2. Have gas and water line distinctly tagged so they can be quickly identified?	YES	NO
3. Know how to light the pilot light on your furnace and water heater?	YES	NO
4. Call the gas company if you suspect a leaky valve or pipe?	YES	NO
5. Know where your main electric switch is and know how to turn it off?	YES	NO
6. Have extra fuses on hand and pull the main switch before changing a fuse?	YES	NO
7. Determine what caused the fuse to blow and eliminate the cause before replacing the fuse?	YES	NO
8. Have fuses or circuit breakers labeled to identify outlets and fixtures they protect?	YES	NO
9. Keep combustibles away from hot light bulbs?	YES	NO
10. Have washer and dryer electrically grounded?	YES	NO
11. Keep cleaning fluids, drain openers, ammonia and similar items locked up or out of reach of small children?	YES	NO
12. Avoid using your attic, basement or utility room for a "dumping ground," especially for combustible material?	YES	NO
13. Know the proper fuse ratings for your electrical circuits?	YES	NO

WORKSHOP - Do You . . .
1. Keep paint thinners and solvents in metal cans?	YES	NO
2. Keep power tools disconnected or switches locked when not in use?	YES	NO
3. Keep tools out of the reach of small children?	YES	NO
4. Have workshop well-ventilated and work areas well-lighted?	YES	NO
5. Use safety glasses when drilling, sanding or doing eye-threatening work?	YES	NO
6. Keep power tool guards in place?	YES	NO
7. Make sure that a tool is properly grounded if it is not of the double-insulated type?	YES	NO
8. Make sure extension cords are the right capacity for the wattage of the tool or appliance on which they are use	YES	NO

A. SERVICE ENTRANCE EQUIPMENT
1. Occupant has access to his main disconnect.	YES	NO
2. Main disconnect permanently identified.	YES	NO
3. Water pipe ground installed on service entrance enclosure (100 ampere service less -- #8 AWG bare or green insulated copper wire).	YES	NO
4. Conductors splice ahead of the main service disconnect.	YES	NO
5. Has "link fuses" as main overcurrent device.(Contact the appropriate electric utility.)	YES	NO

B. BRANCH CIRCUIT PANEL
1. Occupant has access to his branch circuit panel(s).	YES	NO
2. Connections in enclosure made in a workmanlike manner.	YES	NO
3. Each terminal post connector has only one conductor in it.	YES	NO
4. Terminations are tight.	YES	NO
5. Discoloration of terminals which indicates excessive heating.	YES	NO
6. Conductors or taps are overfused (#14 AWG copper -- 15 A, #12 AWG copper -- 20 A).	YES	NO
7. Overcurrent device in grounded conductor.	YES	NO

C. BRANCH CIRCUIT COMPONENTS
1. Splices made outside of outlet boxes.	YES	NO
2. Devices (switches, receptacles, ect. ) installed without a box.	YES	NO
3. Boxes or fittings subject to moisture not watertight.	YES	NO
4. Insufficient space in box for the number of conductors therein.	YES	NO
5. Splice boxes not covered.	YES	NO
6. Holes in boxes not in use plugged.	YES	NO
7. Circuit conductors being used as clothes rack.	YES	NO
8. Outlet boxes, fittings, cabinets not properly supported.	YES	NO
9. Cords fastened to woodwork.	YES	NO
10. Frayed and spliced wiring in lightning fixtures, appliances and outlet boxes.	YES	NO
11. Extensive use of extension cords.	YES	NO
12. Motorized appliances clean and free to breathe.	YES	NO

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