RoSPA Press Office : Press Release

December 15, 2005
WORK CAN KEEP YOU SAFE AT HOME THIS CHRISTMAS!

Britain’s bosses are being urged to play their part in ensuring employees return safe and sound after the Christmas break by helping them avoid the pitfalls of the festive season.

RoSPA expects around 80,000 people to go to hospital following injuries in the home at Christmas. With even more being likely to be hurt while out and about enjoying themselves, employers could be faced with unnecessary absenteeism in the new year.

Errol Taylor, RoSPA Acting Chief Executive, said: “Employers can encourage safety advisers and representatives to raise awareness among staff about the dangers they face away from work this Christmas and throughout the year. It makes sound business sense and is good for everyone if employees don’t have to take time off because of injuries to themselves or family members.”

Areas where many organisations have skills to help make Christmas safer include:

LIFTING – Manual handling training at work can also help prevent back problems caused by lifting heavy presents, moving furniture or getting the Christmas tree out of the car. About 1,000 people have some kind of Christmas tree accident each year.

SAFETY GEAR – People use safety equipment at work, but may forget to buy vital items such as helmets when purchasing bikes, skates and skateboards for their children. Firms can loan out items such as goggles and gloves for people planning DIY projects.

FIRES – No employer can ignore fire safety, but at home people do. Employees can be prompted to check smoke alarms are working, fires are guarded and candles are not left unattended.

FALLS – All organisations should be trying to prevent falls at work. They can also remind people to: use ladders and stepladders correctly at home, as 1,000 people a year are injured putting up decorations; wipe up spills in the kitchen; put a brighter light on the stairs, particularly if elderly relatives are staying; and tidy up to avoid people tumbling over gifts and toys.

ELECTRICS – Electrical safety is a huge priority at work, but do employees need to replace old Christmas lights with safer new ones? About 350 people are hurt in accidents with Christmas lights annually. New appliances should be installed carefully, rather than in a rush, and instructions followed closely.

DRIVING – Fleet managers can give winter driving tips and reminders of journey planning so that people are not making long excursions when tired – a quarter of all road crashes causing death or serious injury on motorways or trunk roads are sleep-related. Bosses need to be sure no one is driving home if they’ve been drinking at the office party.