Just the other day, someone said to me “where did the year go? How is it not still summer? Why is it December?” And yet, here we are. Hurtling towards the end of the year, 2023 just over the crest of the next hill. Woah. As this year is ending, here are some safety moments to share with your team.
- It’s holiday party season – both company and personal parties. Have a plan in place when going to these parties. If you plan on imbibing in the spiked nog, ensure that you have a designated driver, or a plan to use transit to get you home safely. There’s also the option to grab a hotel room for the night! There are many options to keep you and others safe.
- Holiday season comes with a certain amount of stress. Stores are crowded. Restaurants are crowded. Your house might be crowded with extra guests. Roads seem busier. There seems to be more plans in this month than there are in the entire year. People are everywhere. Have some techniques in your back pocket to handle the stress – deep breathing, taking breaks from the crowds, saying “no” to that extra bit of commitment, and remember to recognize differences.
- For those of you who put real trees in your house, remember to water them regularly and put them up away from heating vents and fireplaces.
- For those of you who put up lights, remember your ladder safety!
a) Make sure you maintain your 3 points of contact on the ladder
b) Place the ladder on a flat and stable surface
c) Remember the 1:4 rule – set the ladder 1 foot from the base of the wall for every 4 feet it reaches up.
d) Ensure the ladder extends 3 feet past the roof for stability
e) Do not lean or reach away from the ladder
f) Do not attempt to overload yourself with lights or other items while climbing the ladder. Rig a pully system to get that light-up reindeer up there! - Do you deep-fry anything for dinner? We always hope everything will go according to plan, but sometimes they do go awry. So, remember your oil fire safety. Small oil fires can be put out by putting a metal lid over the pot to smother the fire or by pouring baking soda on the fire if it’s small. Having a class B or ABC fire extinguisher can also be used to extinguish the fire if it’s too big for the metal lid or baking soda. And NEVER use water to attempt to extinguish an oil fire. Because oil repels water, adding water will cause the oil to splash, which spreads the fire.
- Fireplace safety – The holidays are the perfect time of year to have a crackling fire in the fireplace (or on the TV, with Nick Offerman sitting in a leather chair next to it). When lighting fires, always ensure that the damper/flue is open. Use dry, well-aged wood to reduce smoke and soot buildup in the chimney. Clean the ashes out of your fireplace regularly. Ensure your fire alarms and CO monitors are working. Make sure the area around the fire is clear of anything flammable. Make sure that any fires are out before everyone goes to bed. This is especially important on the 24th.
Have a great remainder of 2022!