Risk Assessment: Cooking Area
The cooking area is rendered inaccessible to children by means of a staggered Lindam gate which is permanently secured. Children are supervised not to cross the threshold of this gate where cooking is done. Children are always supervised not to access both fridge and freezer. We have an upstanding freezer with pull-out drawers rather than a chest freezer with its potential hazards. Both fridge and freezer are fitted with child safety locks.
The large breakfast table is always covered in a waxy tablecloth which removes any danger from hard edges, and all its corners are supplied with rubber child-safe edges. The breakfast bar is also fitted with such rubber corners on both of its exposed sides.
All unused sockets are fitted with child plugs. Children are always supervised around all equipment, particularly electricity sources, batteries (eg in toys), and we have had PAT tests around the house to guarantee that all electrical equipment is safe.
In addition, we have both trained with St John ambulance as Fire Marshals and keep 4 fire extinguishers on the ground floor (one upstairs) plus 2 fire blankets downstairs and one upstairs. (Children only use the downstairs.) We also keep a Kidde escape ladder for emergencies.
Risk Assessment ;Hazardous substances
Cleaning Fluids:
Some cleaning fluids including laundery detergent and shoe polish are kept in the Utility room in high cupboards which are sealed with child safety locks. Other fluids, such as for the kitchen, and bathroom are kept within the kitchen area which is sealed with the child safety gate..
The pantry in the atrium room contains articles such as fly spray and is kept locked at all times.
The dining room is out of bounds for the children and never used in the daytime. It is kept permanently locked and marked “No Admittance”. The office may be used by your Practitioner during the day and is occasionally used by children for computer games, etc but only under the strictest supervision. All electrical equipment has satisfied PAT tests
Cable
The cables in the atrium room and study have been covered in cable tidies.
The washing machine and dryer in the utility room are both front loading but have child-resistant opening mechanisms.
Radiators are kept to a moderate heat when required and may be covered in light material