The 12 Disasters of Christmas – and how to dodge them!

‘Tis the season to be jolly, that’s for sure  – but did you know an astonishing 80,000 people every year have an accident such as falls, cuts and burns at Christmas?

Now, here at Bison Assist we love our Christmas fun, and we would never want to be party poopers, but it’s true that as an employer, your responsibility for keeping staff and customers never takes a holiday.

So we’ve pulled together some useful info on the 12 big hazards of the festive season in your workplace – with tips on how you can avoid them, and make sure everybody has a happy Christmas.

1. Slips and trips
2. Decoration disasters
3. Fire hazards
4. Temporary workers
5. Electric shocks
6. Legionella
7. Out of date risk assessments
8. Food poisoning
9. Travel accidents
10. Mental health
11. Closed premises
12. That office party!

The 12 Disasters of Christmas

1. Slips and trips

We might not have a White Christmas, but it’s sure to be at least wet. Protect your staff, customers and visitors from slipping on wet floors by identifying potential problem areas such as access doors, and training staff to take responsibility for keeping them clean and dry. How one supermarket tackled the issue.

2. Decoration disasters

You might laugh, but 1,000 people every year get hurt putting up a Christmas tree…Persuade your people not to take risks when decking the halls such as standing on swivel chairs. Provide robust stepladders instead, or even better, make one trained person in the office responsible for putting everything up and taking it down again.

3. Fire hazards

Be properly aware that adding electrical equipment to the office can cause an extra fire hazard – and the cost can be enormous. Check out your fire safety responsibilities and get fire safety advice.

4. Temporary workers

Many organisations, in particular retail and hospitality, take on seasonal workers. You have exactly the same responsibility to maintain their health and safety as your long-term staff, but if they are not properly trained they can be prone to accidents. So check out what you need to do and find 6 ways to protect them here. (Link to seasonal workers blog)

5. Electric shocks

Hundreds of people every year suffer electric shocks and burns from fairy lights, so extra care is needed when you put them up in the office. Turn all festive lights off when everyone goes home, and make sure cables do not trail across areas where people walk.

6. Legionella

The deadly disease never takes a festive break, so make sure to keep up your required testing for the bacterium in your workplace water. Discover your responsibilities here.

7. Out of date risk assessments

This is one to avoid the whole year round, but you should always be mindful that your workplace risk assessments must be kept up to date – the consequences of letting things lapse, even when nothing seems to have changed, can be costly in human and business terms. Not much of a Christmas pressie…How to update your risk assessments with a discount.

8. Food poisoning

Watch those turkey sandwiches on the office buffet! Food poisoning is no joke, and poorly-kept or reheated poultry is a particular risk. Make sure any food you offer your staff or customers is prepared and kept to the highest hygiene standards.

9. Travel accidents

A hazard of any season, of course, but be sure to warn your staff to take care on their way home for the holidays. Encourage them to leave their cars at home if you plan to have an office party, and watch out for anyone who might be indulging a little too freely in the Christmas spirit!

10. Mental health

Christmas can, sadly, bring mental health issues to the fore for some members of your staff who may have had a difficult year, a bereavement or other issues. Friendly support from co-workers can make all the difference – see our guide to promoting good mental health at work for tips.

11. Closed premises

You might be locking up for a break over the festive season, so be sure to make final checks before you do so to ensure everything is switched off and safely stored away.

12. That office party!

Well, nearly everyone has some story to tell about a disaster at an office party…make sure your festive fun stays fun by keeping an eye on alcohol consumption and discouraging over-the-top risky behaviours. And watch out for that conga line…!

Here’s wishing you a fabulous, fun, SAFE Christmas from everyone at Bison Assist!