Source: Environmental Protection Authority
Here are some top EPA Safer Homes tips to help you do this.
- Cosmetics and toiletries: If you are re-stocking your toiletries and cosmetics from online stores, buy brands that you know from retailers that you trust.
What to look out for when buying cosmetic and toiletries
- Crayons, finger-paints and art supplies: When buying kids’ art supplies it’s also important to stick to online shops and retailers you know and trust.
Guidance on buying and using kids’ art supplies safely
- Face painting: Face painting at home is fun! If you are doing this, make sure you read the label and follow the instructions; for example, many face paints shouldn’t be used around the eyes.
More tips to help you keep safe when using face paints
- Protecting our pollinators: Consider pulling weeds by hand instead of using chemical sprays to keep your ‘bubble’ bees safe. Also think about mowing your lawn less to allow bee-friendly clover to grow.
More tips to help keep protect bees and other pollinators
- Gardening chemicals: If you are spraying your garden, choose a calm day to do it: the wind can blow products into your eyes and face, or onto other people.
Look after yourself and others around gardening chemicals
- Rat and pest poison: Keep your fur baby safe around rat and pest poison by keeping them on a leash and well fed and watered when walking in the outdoors.
Protect your pets and whānau around rat and pest poison
- Paints and thinners: With trade stores reopening online, you can re-stock your paints and other supplies for those DIY projects! If you are painting or using solvents, wear gloves and long sleeves and trousers to stop it from getting on your skin.
Follow these other tips to keep safe around paints and thinners
- Treated timber: Finally, as we enter autumn and cooler weather make sure you don’t burn treated or painted timber in your fireplace.
Guidance on using treated timber safely
Resources for kids
If you want to get your kids involved with spotting chemical dangers in the home, try this fun activity sheet with them
Download the find the chemical dangers activity sheet (jpg, 179KB)
And when you’re done, check out the answers (jpg, 264 KB)
Take care and keep safe.
