Christmas is supposed to be relaxing, but for many of us it’s anything but. If you feel rushed off your feet during the festive period, you’re not alone. Seasonal stress has become so common that it has its own name: Festive Fear.
People are literally tripping over themselves to throw the perfect celebration, leading to an annual spike in accidents and injuries. Many of these mishaps occur in the home, but there are also risks in the workplace. We’d hate for your festivities to be spoiled by a trip to A&E, so here’s our guide to staying safe this Christmas.
‘Tis the season to be careful
While Christmas has always had its stressful side, a recent survey by The National Accident Helpline suggests that things are getting worse:
- A quarter of people feel stressed in the run up to Christmas, and this increases to 32% among women.
- More than one in ten people admit to doing things in a rush during the festive period.
All of this haste is a recipe for accidents. According to the survey, Christmas injuries have become something of an annual tradition in the UK:
- One in forty people has suffered an electric shock from poorly wired Christmas lights.
- More than two and a half million people have fallen while putting up decorations.
- One thousand people a year are injured by Christmas trees.
These examples may have a hint of the comical, but there is a more serious side to Christmas injuries:
- The risk of being involved in a traffic accident in December is 9% higher for men and 30% higher for women.
- People are more than twice as likely to be injured by exposure to the elements in December and January.
- The risk of a fatal fire is 50% higher over Christmas.
Be sensible about office parties
Everyone deserves a chance to let their hair down at the end of the year, but it’s important not to let things get out of hand. Forty percent of UK workers have experienced some kind of accident at an office party, including 3.6 million slips and falls. Although most of these incidents will have only resulted in a bruised ego, you should still make safety a priority when planning your party.
As with any workplace event, the first step is to carry out a risk assessment. Look for any new hazards that may emerge as a result of rearranging the office, and be sure to take into account factors such as alcohol consumption and cold weather.
Once you have identified the risks, you should take steps to mitigate them. A big part of this is setting expectations for behaviour. Talk to your employees before the event and remind them that certain professional standards still apply. You can reduce the risk of alcohol-related mishaps by limiting the number of drinks per person, providing non-alcoholic options and serving plenty of food.
It’s also important to pay attention to safety while the party is in progress. Ensure the event is monitored carefully and deal with any spillages or tripping hazards as soon as they occur. If possible, have at least one first-aid trained member of staff present.
Your duty of care doesn’t end when the party does. The journey home is a common source of injuries, so be sure to consider this in your planning. Make sure that the party ends at a reasonable hour, giving employees plenty of time to catch public transport. You could also distribute the numbers of local taxi companies so that workers are not tempted to drive after drinking.
Start the new year the right way
Health and safety isn’t just for Christmas. If you have any questions about staying safe in 2023, don’t hesitate to give us a call. From all of us at the H&S Dept, have a safe Christmas and an accident-free new year!
