How's your home office looking?

With the growth of telecommuting, safety in the home office is an issue for employers and workplace safety organizations worldwide, who are trying to unravel the legal and social implications of bringing home offices into line with general workplace standards.

But what of the self-employed freelancer? Should home office safety be an issue for the likes of us? You bet.

The image of the harried freelancer, surrounded by computer equipment, books and papers perched on the kitchen table, trying to meet a deadline, is a familiar one. But the safety issues it raises deserve a closer look.

Electrical Safety

Where is all this equipment plugged in? Does it have its own line and a multi-outlet unit with kill switch? Or does it erupt from one of the wall plugs in a mass of piggyback double adaptors resembling some monstrous electronic cancer, spewing electric cables over the benches and floor?

This kind of arrangement would not occur in a well run workplace and would incur fines if it did. It presents both fire and electrocution hazards, not just to the freelancer but also to the freelancer's family—including the children.

Making sure your electrical connections and equipment are safe is vital. Get an electrician's advice on this and make sure there is a kill switch in case of an accident. Losing a file on your computer is less traumatic than losing a family member.

Uncluttering the Filing System

Speaking of files, there is a common hazard most writers never think of.

Paper doesn't look dangerous, but it can present a major fire hazard if not properly contained.

I once worked in a newspaper office where the modular desks were set about a foot from the walls. Over the decades, journalists dumped old newspapers and dead copy into this space. One day, a new workplace safety broom from HQ came down to inspect us and had a conniption when she saw the "storage bin." She scolded us for working next to a major fire hazard.

Other things bothered her as well. The upshot of it was that we were relocated to a safer environment. But the general untidiness of the office was something we journalists should have prevented by storing the stuff safely.

A good filing cabinet doesn't just keep your papers in order, it also keeps them out of harm's way. Investigate the paper storage options that are best for your situation. Cardboard boxes are probably not the best option, but you can get a wide range of inexpensive cardboard storage boxes and file and magazine holders that will not only improve safety but will also make you more efficient. A lost document can be just as damaging to your career as a fire.