The end of the year is fast approaching, and many of us will be looking forward to a workplace Christmas party. This is a great way to reward your team for a job well done, but it can also be a health and safety minefield.
With a bit of forethought, there’s no reason your Christmas party can’t be safe and fun. Here are some simple ways you can make sure your workplace stays off the health and safety naughty list.
What are the main dangers?
Christmas may be the season of goodwill, but it’s also the season of poor health and safety. Every year, 80,000 Brits are admitted to hospital during the festive period, including 1,000 injured by Christmas trees and 350 hurt by Christmas decorations.
While the bulk of these injuries occur in the home, the workplace also becomes more dangerous in the run up to Christmas. Throw in excess alcohol and a late night and many of the Christmas dangers often come to a head at the annual Christmas party.
As drinks are spilled and dance moves are thrown, the chances of a slip, trip or fall increase significantly. All in all, 40% of UK employees have suffered some sort of accident at a workplace Christmas party.
A drunken fall may often be comical, but other risks are no laughing matter. This is especially true when it comes to drunk driving. An estimated 260 people are killed each year by drunk drivers, with a disproportionate number of incidents occurring around Christmas. This danger doesn’t end when employees make it home: 4% of drivers admit to being drunk the day after a party, rising to 8% for those aged 25-44.
How can I keep everyone safe?
The best way to avoid party-related injuries is to set expectations in advance. Send an email to all employees letting them know that excessive drunkenness will not be tolerated. You should also make it clear that drunk driving will result in disciplinary action as well as the legal risk.
On the day of the party itself, there are some practical steps you can take to ensure things go off without a hitch:
- Use a drink token system to limit the number of free alcoholic drinks per employee.
- Provide non-alcoholic options for employees who don’t wish to drink.
- Serve plenty of food to soak up the alcohol.
- Clean up dropped food and spilled drinks as quickly as possible, putting down a wet floor sign if necessary.
- Consider the danger of people making their way home at night afterwards, especially your female staff.
- Ensure that the party ends early enough for employees to catch buses and trains home.
- Provide taxi numbers for employees who don’t wish to take public transport.
- Ensure that entrances, exits and smoking areas are well-lit.
- Grit outdoor walkways if cold weather is forecast.
You have every right to enjoy the party too, but remember that you have a responsibility to your employees. Try to set an example by moderating your own alcohol consumption, and be on the lookout for dangerous behaviour.
We’re here to help!
As an employer, it can be hard to strike a balance between safety and fun. If you have any questions about planning a party, or about any other aspect of health and safety, don’t hesitate to get in touch. From all of us here at The Health & Safety Dept, we wish you a merry and accident-free Christmas Party!
