Tips on keeping employees safe over the holiday period
The ‘festive’ season is here again, and for many of us this means an opportunity to wind down and have a well-earned break. Unfortunately, workplace health and safety sometimes takes a holiday too, which makes for a not-so-merry time for those affected.
Here are my top tips for keeping employees safe in the lead up and during the holiday period.
- Outline expectations for behaviour and conduct during workplace functions in advance (such as on an invitation).
- Conduct risk assessments to ensure that common risks such as intoxication, violent and or disruptive behaviour, food poisoning, allergies, slip and trips and falls, sexual harassment and safe transport to and from function venues are controlled.
- Review venues and or activities in advance to ensure that they are appropriate and do not expose employees to risk of injury or illness.
- Serve alcohol responsibly, and ensure non-alcoholic alternatives are readily available.
- Respect cultural/religious diversity.
- Highlight season specific workplace hazards e.g. shut down or maintenance of plant, heat, increased work volume, time pressures, increased public presence in the area, travelling home from site.
- For those having time off, reinforce safe behaviour in non-workplace settings, such as the home and garden, driving, beaches and swimming pools etc.
- Ensure that new and/or young employees who are working during busy or ‘skeleton staff’ periods are competent using required plant or equipment and that they have been trained and are familiar with emergency procedures and contacts.
- Telephone local medical centres and obtain holiday opening days and hours (in case of a workplace injury). Ensure that supervisors or managers working during over the holiday period have this information.
- Remember that in industries such as retail, tourism and hospitality, hospitals and emergency services, Christmas is the busiest and most stressful time of the year. Employees working in these jobs often work long hours and public holidays, while the rest of us are eating turkey, enjoying a cold drink and putting our feet up. A smile, thank-you or Merry Christmas might help make their day that little bit better.
At HR Business Direction we can help you to instill safety in your team all the time regardless of the time of year. Contact us here.
Christina Willcox MHSc; PostGradDip OHS; BBus(HRM)
Workplace Health & Safety Specialist
Workplace Health and Safety Planning
christina.willcox@hrbd.com.au
07 3890 2066
www.hrbd.com.au