Seasonal Joy, Seasonal Risk

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! These days it seems to start immediately after Halloween and as we approach American Thanksgiving it swings into high gear. It’s the Holidays!! Lights and decorations go up inside and out, festive music is everywhere and you can feel the magic in the air. Whether you celebrate or not, there’s no denying it and no avoiding it.

As much as we may look forward to the holiday season, it also brings with it a higher risk of workplace accidents and incidents. During periods of peak demand, like the holidays, there are a multitude of factors that converge resulting in an increase of work hazards, especially in the retail, warehouse and delivery sectors. Here are just some of the factors that impact workplace safety this time of year:

1. Increased Workload and Pressure

• High Order Volumes: Demand for faster order processing and shipping during holidays can lead to a rush to get the work completed and possibly cutting corners on safety protocols.
• Extended Work Hours: Employees may be needed to or be asked to work overtime or extra shifts to meet demand, resulting in fatigue and increasing the likelihood of accidents.
• Neglected or Deferred Maintenance: Equipment may not be properly maintained due to time constraints, increasing the chances of malfunction or breakdowns.
• Overlooked Safety Protocols: Staff may feel that Management is prioritizing meeting quotas over everything else, including enforcing safety measures. This can inadvertently encourage risky behavior to get the job done.

2. Temporary or Inexperienced Workers

• Seasonal Hires: To handle the surge, temporary workers are often brought on board that may lack adequate training in safety protocols and equipment handling, thus increasing the chances of an incident or accident.
• Lack of Familiarity: New workers may not be familiar with the layout, processes, or safety hazards, and therefore are at a greater risk of mistakes.
• Rush Training and Onboarding:To meet immediate demands, training for seasonal workers is often rushed, leaving gaps in critical safety knowledge that puts them at a higher risk of getting injured.

3. Congested Workspaces

• Higher Stock Levels: Warehouses may store more inventory during peak seasons, leading to cluttered aisles and limited maneuvering space.
• Increased Traffic: More forklifts, pallet jacks, and workers operating in confined areas elevate the risk of collisions and accidents.
• Seasonal Decorations: While festive and keeping in the spirit of the season, lights, ornaments and other decorations may require reorganizing the work space or using up what is normally free space.
• Additional Staff: Temporary or seasonal workers mean that there are more employees sharing the same workspace. A crowded work environment contributes to the possibility of injury or accident.

4. Stress and Fatigue

• Physical Stress: Lifting and moving heavier or more frequent loads can strain workers’ bodies, putting them at greater risk of injury.
• Mental Fatigue: Stress from deadlines and overtime can impair decision-making and reaction times, increasing the chances of accidents and incidents.
• Work/Life Balance: It’s not just the demands of the job, it’s also all the additional pressures outside of work, both mentally and physically that play a part, especially during this time of year. Juggling work with family commitments, socializing and preparations for the holidays contribute to higher levels of exhaustion and distraction.

5. Environmental Hazards

• Winter Weather: Ice, snow and rain being tracked inside introduce the risk of slips, trips and falls on slippery and wet floors. Deteriorating road conditions due to winter storms increase the risk of motor vehicle collisions.
• Shorter Days: Lack of daylight hours reduces visibility on the roads contributing to potential for accidents. Reduced hours of sunlight can impact feelings of well-being, especially for those that suffer from seasonal affective disorder.

This list is not meant to be all inclusive, each organization, department and position comes with its own unique set of issues and concerns that need to be individually addressed.

 

What Can Employers Do to Mitigate the Risks?

• Start early! The holidays come around every year and that’s not going to change. Being proactive and prepared are the best defence to addressing workplace hazards.
• Reinforce a safety-first culture, even under pressure. It starts from the top down, if employees feel that management values people over profit they are more likely to prioritize their own safety.
• Invest in adequate training, even for seasonal hires. Start before demand begins to escalate. Openly discuss the upcoming situation and develop strategies about how to handle it. Engage staff in the conversation and as for their input.
• Schedule regular breaks to combat fatigue. Even a short change of focus can be rejuvenating. Pushing through to get the job done can result in mistakes or accidents causing unnecessary delays and setbacks which will only add to the stress.
• Communicate Safety. Consider a quick safety talk at the beginning of every shift to keep it top of mind. Display safety posters as reminders. Encourage staff to speak up if they notice anything unsafe.
• Ensure equipment is maintained and functioning prior to the start of the rush. There will be less chance of equipment failure impeding production and adding to demands on the workforce. Equipment in well operating condition significantly reduces the chances of accident or injury.
• Make a plan. At the end of the season, document how things went. What went right? What went wrong? Where is there room for improvement? What needs to change? What should be done again next year? Then refer to it as a reference to prepare for next season.

Although the holidays are an exciting and joyful time for many, from a workplace safety perspective the holidays can be the most challenging time of the year. Nobody deserves to spend it ill or injured, so anything and everything that can be done to reduce risks and hazards is time and money well spent.

If you would like more information on how to make your work environment safer during period of peak demand, you can always connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, or Linkedin, reach us via email at [email protected], or contact us directly, during business hours, using the chat feature on our website or by telephone at 1-844-377-9545.