ONLINE EXCLUSIVE: Safety tips for domestic staff
It is critical that domestic staff are empowered and equipped to look after their own safety, as well as the safety of anyone else on the property.
Domestic workers play an integral part in security at home.
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It is critical that domestic staff are empowered and equipped to look after their own safety, as well as the safety of anyone else on the property, such as children they may be looking after.
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“Everyone wants and deserves to be safe, no matter who they are and where they work. In the same way that you should share safety tips with your friends and loved ones, you should also share them with anyone who works on your property,” said Stuart Clarkson, managing executive for Fidelity ADT.
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He urged domestic workers to ask themselves what they would do if someone tried to break into the house they are working at.
Do domestic staff know where the panic buttons are and do they know how to call for help?
When it comes to personal safety, Clarkson said a cellphone could be both a friend and a foe.
“It can assist you by allowing you to take a photo of a suspicious person or vehicle you have noticed in your community. However, it could also distract you from what is happening around you if you pay too much attention to social media updates or text messages.”
Clarkson said home owners should consider enrolling any employees who may be working for them for an extended period of time, in local crime-prevention forums that take place in most neighbourhoods every month.
These are often arranged by the SAPS or community members and teach valuable crime-prevention and safety tips.
5 tips for domestic staff to remember:
• Be careful of having unguarded conversations about your employer or the property you are working at. You never know who might be listening.
• Be observant and speak up if you see something suspicious anywhere in the suburb.
• Use the camera on your cellphone. If you see something or someone that appears to be out of place, take a photo.
• Don’t let your phone be a distraction. Pay attention to your surroundings.
• Never allow anyone onto the property or indoors unless they have an appointment or if they have a legitimate reason to be there, and your employer has confirmed this with you.
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