 The holidays mean lots of holiday cheer and holiday decorations around your business, but here are a few things to keep in mind: Food. The holidays are a great time for workers and their families to show off their prowess in the kitchen and for employers to show their generosity by providing goodies for workers. Employers will want to be mindful of workplace allergies, dietary restrictions, and food safety. Perishable foods must be stored appropriately or thrown away promptly to prevent the spread of foodborne illness. Even punch and cake can contribute to the spread of disease if workers share drinking cups or utensils without washing them adequately. This is especially true during the cold and flu season, which aligns with the holiday season. Parties. Holiday parties help take a bite out of the monotony of everyday work and can be a good excuse for workers to socialize outside of their workplace. Whether onsite or offsite, be sure party plans have an eye toward safety and health. Take appropriate steps to discourage overdrinking, or keep alcohol away from your parties’ altogether. If you have a zero-tolerance drug and alcohol policy that forbids drinking in the workplace don’t “make an exception” for holiday parties. When celebrating with holiday parties at the office, make sure that adequate designated drivers or other means of transportation are available for those workers who consume alcohol. Decorations. Decorating the office or allowing workers to decorate their workstation helps to liven up drab surroundings, but it does not need to introduce new hazards or interfere with safety plans already in place. Lights, animated figures and the like generally pose little threat, but together with candles and space heaters, the number of fire threats during the winter months increase dramatically. Make sure extinguishers, sprinklers and doorways remain free from obstruction, and exercise caution with any sprayable decor, as the propellants are often highly flammable.
Workplace festivities are an important part of building a business’ culture. Help employees navigate the lengthy holiday season without injury or illness and with a smile on their face by making safety the centerpiece of every celebration. Adapted from Journal of American Society of Professional Safety. Comments are closed.
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