Nothing says Halloween like a good film night. As 31st October draws near, we decided to rewatch some of our horror favourites through the lens of workplace health and safety. The results were not pretty!
From fateful car accidents to axe-wielding maniacs, classic flicks depict the kind of health and safety negligence that would send any HSE inspector running for the hills. Here’s a look at what those Hollywood employers should have done, and the steps you can take to make sure your Halloween is all treat and no trick.
The Shining – Lone worker safety
The Shining gave us a horror protagonist for the ages in Jack Nicholson’s tormented writer Jack Torrance. After taking a winter caretaking job in an isolated hotel, Jack slowly descends into madness, culminating in perhaps the most famous scene in horror history: “Heeeere’s Johnny!”
The Shining was a huge hit in 1980, but few could have predicted how relevant it would seem 40 years later. Working from home has become the norm, and the sight of Jack hunched over his typewriter in an empty room is suddenly all too familiar.
Had Jack’s employers been following HSE guidelines, they would have carried out a lone worker risk assessment before allowing him to enter the hotel. This is a legal obligation for any employer whose workers perform their jobs in isolation. While your lone employees are unlikely to be plagued by the ghosts of murdered hotel guests, there are particular risks associated with working alone:
- Stress, depression and anxiety
- The risk of violence
- Accidents caused by fatigue, especially when driving or operating machinery
These dangers should be listed in your risk assessment, along with the steps you will take to mitigate them. These could include:
- Creating a formal check-in procedure for remote workers. This could take the form of an in-person meeting or a regular scheduled call.
- Making the effort to include remote workers in company events.
- Ensuring that lone workers take regular breaks and don’t work outside of office hours.
- Providing personal alarms for employees in remote locations.
- Ensuring that all doors are fully axe-proof. (Just kidding)
Texas Chainsaw Massacre – Chainsaw safety
While the Sawyer family in Tobe Hooper’s 1974 classic certainly meant to do harm, workplace accidents involving chainsaws are all too common. Forestry is one of the UK’s most hazardous industries and, in recent years, direct contact with chainsaws has caused five deaths and many serious injuries.
As one of the most dangerous pieces of workplace equipment, chainsaws are governed by strict guidelines. Had the Sawyer family been more law abiding, they would have followed these rules:
- All workers must undergo training with a recognised provider before operating a chainsaw. This should be refreshed every five years for regular users and every two to three years for occasional users.
- Young or inexperienced chainsaw users should be supervised at all times.
- All chainsaws should be checked daily, and any faults reported immediately to a supervisor.
PPE is always mandatory when operating a chainsaw. (And, no, a mask made of human skin doesn’t count.)
Misery – Commuter fatigue
In another Stephen King adaptation, celebrity author Paul Sheldon is rescued from a car crash by superfan Annie Wilkes. His relief soon turns to terror as Wilkes holds him hostage and demands he rewrite his latest book.
While the weather was undoubtedly a factor in the author’s car accident, tiredness may also have played a part. After a long day of writing, it would have been only too easy for the author’s attention to slip from the road ahead of him.
Sheldon wouldn’t be alone here. Fatigue is a huge problem for British commuters. 63% report feeling tired during their commute, and almost 40% have had an accident or near miss as a result. These risks extend to the workplace itself, where sleep deprivation increases the risk of injury by 70%.
You should always include fatigue in your risk assessments, paying particular attention to the following groups:
- Shift and night workers
- Employees who perform physically demanding tasks
- Employees who perform repetitive or mentally strenuous work
- Employees who live a long way from the office
You can help to reduce these risks in a number of ways. These include:
- Rearranging shifts to give workers plenty of time to rest
- Introducing flexible working hours to allow for a less hurried commute
- Reassigning tasks to ensure that employees have more variety in their work
Whatever health and safety issues are keeping you awake this Halloween, don’t hesitate to ask us for help.
