For many businesses, the holiday season is by far the busiest time of year. Most retailers prepare for holiday shopping by boosting their inventory levels, hiring and training seasonal staff, and even reconfiguring their showrooms to accommodate larger crowds.
But businesses should also get ready for the holidays by anticipating potential hazards and taking the necessary steps to ensure the safety of their property, their customers, and their employees.
Holidays Affect Many Businesses
The holidays aren’t just busy for retailers. They also are busy for the warehouses and distribution centers that provide the products sold at their businesses. And they are busy for the manufacturers who make those products in the first place.
One of the biggest dangers for all kinds of businesses is the new employees that are hired to help with the holiday rush. In many instances, these employees aren’t experienced, aren’t provided the same training as year-round employees, and aren’t always as focused on the overall success of the organization.
As a result, they often require more supervision, more instruction, and more oversight to ensure they stay focused on the task at hand. They also need to be kept clear of potential dangers, especially fast-moving forklifts.
Dealing with Holiday Pressures
Another potential danger is the increased demand during the holiday shopping season. From manufacturers to wholesalers to retailers to delivery personnel, there is a lot of pressure to get products into the hands of consumers faster. This is especially true today when online shopping has added an expectation of next-day or even same-day delivery to the equation.
While it’s not always possible to slow down during the busy holiday season, businesses can take steps to ensure that everybody within their organization remains focused on safety first. Efficiency and productivity are important, but they fade in comparison to the health and safety of your employees.
Be sure to reinforce workplace safety rules, especially with temporary employees who may not be familiar with the way things are done within your business. Make sure supervisors and managers are vigilant in observing production and intervening immediately when they see somebody taking a shortcut or putting themselves or others in danger.
The holidays are the busiest time of the year. But they also can be the most dangerous. By staying on point and remaining focused on safety while not compromising on efficiency, you can ensure a happy and safe holiday season for everybody.