WORKING SAFELY AT HOME

WORKING SAFELY AT HOME

Increasingly, businesses are allowing their employees to telecommute and entrepreneurs ar= e running businesses from their homes. Offices are standard in many homes today and a= re equipped with the latest in computers, scanners, printers, faxes, and other expensive equipment. Remember= , it is important to secure yourself and your equipment when you’re working from home.

t = Install solid doors and good deadbolt locks on = all exterior doors—and use them.

t = Hang window treatments that obstruct the view i= nto your office. You don’t want to advertise what equipment you have.

t = Consider installing motion-sensored lighting th= at will come on if someone is walking around your yard.

t = Keep bushes and trees trimmed so that you can s= ee into your yard and neighbors can see your house.

t = Install a wide-angle viewer in the door of your= home office if it is detached from the main house.

t = Look into an alarm system. A basic system can be purchased for less than $100, plus a monthly monitoring fee.

t = Keep a cellular phone handy.<= /p>

t = When meeting a client for the first time, arran= ge to meet in a public place, such as a coffee shop or the library—not your home.

t = Let someone know when and with whom you have appointments.

t = Review your insurance policy—almost all policies require an extra rider to cover a home office. In the event someth= ing does happen, you want to be covered.

t = Mark your equipment with identification numbers= and keep an updated inventory list (with photos, if possible) in a home safe or= a bank safe deposit box. It’s a good idea to keep back-ups of your work= in a secure, separate location as well.

t = Use the same caution with deliveries as busines= ses do. Anyone making a delivery to your home office should be properly identif= ied before you open the door. Do not let the person enter your home.=

Use this as a guide as you check your home for = safety measures. Boxes marked “no” indicate areas where you could take action to improve your home’s security. These are just some of the st= eps you can take to decrease the likelihood that your home is targeted.

HOME SECURITY CHECKLIST

YES&= nbsp; NO = Exterior Doors=

❏ &nb= sp; ❏ All doors are lo= cked at night and every time we leave the house—even if it’s just fo= r a few minutes.

❏ &nb= sp; ❏ Doors are solid hardwood or metal-clad.

❏ &nb= sp; ❏ Doors feature wide-angle viewers at heights everyone can use.

❏ &nb= sp; ❏ If there are gla= ss panels in or near our doors, they are reinforced in some way so that they cannot be shattered.

❏ &nb= sp; ❏ All entryways ha= ve a working, keyed entry lock and sturdy deadbolt lock installed into the frame= of the door.

❏ &nb= sp; ❏ Spare keys are k= ept with a trusted neighbor, not under a doormat or planter, on a ledge, or in = the mailbox.

YES NO = Garage and Sliding Door Security

❏ &nb= sp; ❏ The door leading from the attached garage to the house is solid wood or metal-clad and prote= cted with a quality keyed door lock and deadbolt.

❏ &nb= sp; ❏ The overhead gar= age door has a lock so that we do not rely solely on the automatic door opener = to provide security.

❏ &nb= sp; ❏ Garage doors are= all locked when leaving the house.

❏ &nb= sp; ❏ The sliding glass door has a strong, working key locks.

❏ &nb= sp; ❏ A dowel or a pin= has been installed to prevent the door from being shoved aside or lifted off the track.

❏ &nb= sp; ❏ The sliding door= is locked every night and each time we leave the house.

YES NO = Protecting Windows=

❏ &nb= sp; ❏ Every window in = the house has a working key lock or is securely pinned.

❏ &nb= sp; ❏ Windows are alwa= ys locked, even when they are opened a few inches for ventilation.<= /span>

YES NO = Outdoor Security

❏  &nb= sp;      ❏         Shrubs and bushes are trimmed so there is no place for someone to hide.

❏  &nb= sp;      ❏         There are no dark areas around our house, garage, or yard at night that would hide prowlers.<= o:p>

❏  &nb= sp;      ❏         Every outside do= or has a motion-sensored, bright, working light to illuminate visitors.

❏  &nb= sp;      ❏         Motion-sensored floodlights are used appropriately to ensure effective illumination.

❏  &nb= sp;      ❏         Our house number= is clearly displayed so police and other emergency vehicles can find the house quickly.

YES    NO      = Security When Away From Home

❏  &nb= sp;      ❏         At least two lig= ht timers have been set to turn the lights on and off in a logical sequence wh= en we are away from home for an extended time period.

❏  &nb= sp;      ❏         The motion detec= tor or other alarm system (if we have one) has been activated when we leave hom= e.

❏  &nb= sp;      ❏         Mail and newspap= er deliveries have been stopped or arrangements for a neighbor/friend to pick = them up have been made when we go away from home for a period of time.

❏  &nb= sp;      ❏         A neighbor has b= een asked to tend the yard and watch our home when we are away.

YES    NO      = Outdoor Valuables and Personal Prope= rty

❏  &nb= sp;      ❏         Gate latches, ga= rage doors, and shed doors are all locked with high security, laminated padlocks= .

❏  &nb= sp;      ❏         Gate latches, ga= rage doors, and shed doors are locked after every use.

❏  &nb= sp;      ❏         Grills, lawn mow= ers, and other valuables are stored in a locked garage or shed, or if left out in the open, are hidden from view with a tarp and securely locked to a station= ary point.

❏  &nb= sp;      ❏         Every bicycle is secured with a U-bar lock or quality padlock and chain.
❏  &nb= sp;      ❏         Bikes are always locked, even if we leave them for just a minute.

❏  &nb= sp;      ❏         Firearms are sto= red unloaded and locked in storage boxes and secured with trigger guard locks.<= o:p>

❏  &nb= sp;      ❏         Valuable items, = such as televisions, stereos, and computers have been inscribed with an identify= ing number approved by local police.

❏  &nb= sp;      ❏         Our home invento= ry is up-to-date and includes pictures. A complete copy is kept somewhere out = of the house.