In an earthquake, the actual movement of the ground is seldom the direct cause of death or injury. Most casualties result from objects sliding, breaking, falling, or tipping over. For example, during a seismic event, cabinet doors can open and spill their contents. Furthermore, the drawers, which sometimes have sharp edges, can slide out and cause harm to the home’s occupants. Therefore, securing the non-structural components (i.e., furnishings, equipment, cabinets, shelves, etc.) and building contents improves the safety and security of the home during an earthquake.
If items are not properly secured during an earthquake, all of your personal belongings are at risk of becoming disorganized or damaged. Significant damage can occur to valuable property and contents when they turn into projectiles. Installing self-locking kitchen drawers and cabinets or a locking mechanism, such as baby-proof latches, can prevent this from happening. Although these locks may seem a bit cumbersome at first, the small investment you spend on them can potentially save you from replacing hundreds of dollars worth of expensive kitchen dishes, glasses, and serve ware.
Installing self-locking latches to your cabinet doors and drawers is a simple “Do-It-Yourself” retrofit. The hardware for this retrofit will cost about $1 for a set of two latches.