Simple steps to help accident-proof your home and keep your valuables safe

Furniture anchors are vital if you have small children or pets. While Australia isn't earthquake-prone, occasional tremors occur, making proper anchoring essential to protect your glassware. 

Securing furniture such as cabinets and bookcases to the wall can stop them from tipping over. You can fasten items using metal brackets, steel cables or straps. This will depend on your wall type. For instance, with stud walls (plasterboard on a wooden frame), you'll need to find the stud and screw the anchor point directly to it rather than the plasterboard. If it’s a brick wall, you’ll need a drill with a masonry bit to bore a hole and then insert a wall plug to take the screw. 

Furniture anchors found at DIY stores or baby stores come with installation instructions. You can also get a handyman in to do the job for you. 

Anti-tipping devices are a great idea if you have small children or pets capable of toppling furniture onto themselves. While Australia isn’t especially earthquake-prone, the occasional tremor does happen. If it does, a properly fitted anchor may help stop your cabinet of irreplaceable glassware from crashing down.

Big screen TVs are another furniture item you can fasten securely to prevent from toppling over. Flatscreen TVs typically have anchor points on the back for attaching special safety straps. These are then fastened to either the TV cabinet or a wall. If the anchor is attached to the cabinet, make sure the cabinet itself is securely fastened to the wall. 

As with furniture anchors, TV anchors are recommended to child-proof your home and prevent harmful accidents. Mounting your TV securely on the wall is another option. Make sure it’s fully locked on, so it won’t fall off if knocked.

Once your furniture is secure, you can consider securing individual items to help them withstand accidental damage.

For smaller or lightweight items, put Blu Tack on the bottom to fix them to a shelf or coffee table. This might not prevent a breakage if the item is hit directly but it can provide more stability against accidental bumps.

To secure bigger, heavier pieces, search for museum wax, also called seismic or quake wax. This works the same way as attaching Blu Tack but provides a stronger grip. It’s designed to withstand the shaking of an earthquake. These products are also available as a clear wax so they can be used with glassware to provide an almost invisible anchor.

If you keep breakable items in a drawer, try installing anti-slip matting. This will help stop glassware or china from sliding about if the drawer is opened quickly or slammed shut. Child-safety catches are also a good way to keep inquisitive little fingers or paws away from your collectables. 

For wall items like paintings or expensive mirrors, consider using quake hooks with spring-loaded clips. They are designed to prevent the hanging wire from jumping off if an item is knocked or shaken. Intended for earthquake zones, they’re also a good defence against bumps.

You can also use velcro-type fasteners, which you attach to the picture or mirror, as well as the wall. Used in conjunction with picture hooks, these can prevent heavy items from being shaken off the wall or accidentally dislodged.