Product Overview

Summary: This Safe Operating Procedure sets out clear, practical steps to eliminate child strangulation and entanglement risks associated with blinds and window coverings in Australian workplaces. It helps organisations create safer environments for children, meet WHS and child-safety expectations, and demonstrate a proactive duty of care to staff, visitors and the community.

Blinds, curtain cords and internal window coverings are a well-recognised cause of fatal and serious incidents involving young children, particularly through strangulation and entanglement. In workplaces and facilities where children are present or may reasonably attend—such as early learning centres, schools, health clinics, community centres and short-stay accommodation—organisations have a clear duty under Australian WHS laws to identify and control these hazards. This Child Safety Measures with Blinds SOP provides a structured, evidence-based approach to assessing existing window coverings, installing compliant safety devices, and embedding safe practices into day-to-day operations.

The procedure walks your team through the entire lifecycle of managing blind-related risks: from initial site inspection and risk assessment, to selection and installation of tensioning devices, cord guides and cordless systems, through to staff training, incident reporting, and periodic verification checks. It translates legal and technical requirements into simple, repeatable steps that can be followed by educators, maintenance staff and contractors alike. By implementing this SOP, your organisation can significantly reduce the risk of catastrophic incidents, reassure families and regulators, and demonstrate that child safety is built into the way your workplace is designed, maintained and operated.

Key Benefits

• Reduce the risk of child strangulation and entanglement incidents involving blind and curtain cords.
• Ensure alignment with Australian child safety expectations, WHS duties and consumer product safety requirements for corded internal window coverings.
• Standardise how blinds and window coverings are assessed, installed, modified and maintained across all sites.
• Support staff with clear, visual and written guidance on safe room set-up, supervision and escalation when hazards are identified.
• Provide documented evidence of risk management for regulators, insurers, auditors and concerned families.

Who is this for?

• Early Childhood Centre Directors
• Childcare Educators and Room Leaders
• School Principals
• OSHC (Out of School Hours Care) Coordinators
• Facilities and Maintenance Managers
• WHS Managers and Coordinators
• Property Managers for Community Centres and Libraries
• Aged Care and Disability Service Managers (family visitation areas)
• Hotel and Short-Stay Accommodation Managers
• Real Estate and Strata Managers

Hazards Addressed

• Strangulation from loose blind and curtain cords or chains
• Entanglement of children in looped cords, chains or pull mechanisms
• Climbing hazards created by furniture placed near windows and blinds
• Choking or ingestion risks from detached blind components and small parts
• Laceration or impact injuries from faulty or poorly secured blind fittings during adjustment or play
• Non-compliance with WHS duties leading to regulatory enforcement following an incident

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions (Blinds, Cords, Chains, Child-Accessible Areas)
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities
• 4.0 Applicable Legislation, Standards and Guidance
• 5.0 Risk Assessment of Blinds and Window Coverings
• 6.0 Design and Procurement Requirements for New Installations
• 7.0 Retrofitting Existing Blinds with Safety Devices
• 8.0 Room Set-Up and Environmental Controls (Furniture Placement, Play Areas)
• 9.0 Daily Checks and Routine Inspections
• 10.0 Contractor and Maintenance Management Requirements
• 11.0 Staff Training, Induction and Communication with Families
• 12.0 Incident, Near-Miss Reporting and Corrective Actions
• 13.0 Recordkeeping and Audit Trail
• 14.0 Review, Continuous Improvement and Version Control
• 15.0 Supporting Tools and Checklists (Inspection Forms, Wall Signage Templates, Risk Assessment Forms)

Legislation & References

• Trade Practices (Consumer Product Safety Standard – Corded Internal Window Coverings) Regulations 2010 (Cth)
• Australian Consumer Law – Product Safety requirements for corded internal window coverings
• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (as implemented in relevant State or Territory)
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (hazard identification and risk control)
• National Quality Standard (NQS) – Quality Area 2: Children’s Health and Safety (for education and care services)
• AS/NZS ISO 31000: Risk management – Guidelines