5 surprising reasons workplace accidents increase at Christmas time

Posted on 21st Dec, 2022 | By Isobel

With the festive season in full swing, many of us across the country are winding down for a period of celebrations, laughter and merriment with our loved ones – so it might surprise you to hear that the Christmas period can increase the risk of work-related accidents across almost all industries. 

At Browns Safety Services, we’ve put together the top five most surprising reasons you’re likely to see workplace accidents increase over the lead-up to Christmas.

Temporary workers

We often see many businesses take on greater numbers of temporary workers and staff over the festive season, to meet increasing demands from consumers. This means there is typically a sudden increase in new staff members, without a thorough knowledge of how the business operates or the Health & Safety procedures in place. It’s important to remember that temporary workers should receive exactly the same amount of Health & Safety training as the rest of your team. 

End-of-year fatigue

As the year draws to a close, many of us can find ourselves busy and stressing over buying gifts, decorating the house, visiting friends and family, and attending social events. For a lot of people, the busy schedules of the festive season can leave us fatigued and looking forward to a short period off work. This can increase the chance of workplace accidents occurring, as tiredness reduces our ability to concentrate correctly, and leaves us more vulnerable to lapses in judgement.

Increased alcohol consumption

Just as the amount of socialising and events increases during December, so does the amount of alcohol we tend to drink. This is even more of a risk for businesses when it’s been a work-related social event, such as a Christmas party. Large numbers of employees who may be recovering from alcohol consumption and slightly hungover can increase the chance of accidents and injuries occurring. 

Christmas decorations 

As much as we love the sparkly lights and festive decorations – statistics show that Christmas decorations in the workplace can actually be a Health & Safety hazard waiting to happen. 

Did you know?

• Each year over 1,000 people are injured by a Christmas Tree
• 1 in 40 people have suffered an electric shock due to poorly wired Christmas lights
• 2.6 million people have fallen off a stool or ladder whilst hanging decorations up

Source: First Aid For Life, (2018)

Increased fire risk

As we use more electricity over the festive season, whether it be due to the longer working hours, the dozens of  Christmas tree lights or simply using more lighting to manage the dark mornings and nights – the risk of workplace fire occurring increases over Christmas. 

Why choose Browns Safety Services to help out with your Health & Safety?

Here at Browns Safety Services, we’re here to help you improve Health & Safety within your workplace and ensure you avoid workplace accidents and mishaps like the ones described above. If you’d like to browse through our range of comprehensive and expertly-delivered training courses , please take a look here. Or alternatively, give us a ring on 01282 937213.