The upcoming holiday season could cause a rise in workplace accidents, according to a leading industry safety training group in the UK.
Because warehouses and manufacturing facilities will be busier preparing for the increased business that typically accompanies the holidays, there is a higher risk of danger, according to Andy Cartwright, technical manager for Mentor, the UK’s leading provider of materials handling training. That, combined with an influx of new employees, could spell disaster for companies that aren’t prepared.
“Most companies employ additional temporary staff to cope with the Christmas rush in their warehouses and statistics show this can lead to a surge in accidents,” Cartwright told SHD Logistics, a British materials handling website. “Training them up to the necessary level is essential. For employers, there are advantages to be had in terms of cost, availability and smoothing running, from booking courses well in advance.”
Certifying New Forklift Operators
One of the most common types of warehouse accidents are those that involve forklifts. While the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration requires that forklift operators be trained by their employers, there is no formalized national certification program, so its up to the hiring companies to make sure their vehicle drivers have the training they need.
Just because a forklift operator has a certification from a previous employer doesn’t necessarily mean they will be familiar with their current employer’s safety requirements, said Cartwright.
“However relevant their previous trainer, as a new employer you must ensure that they are able to handle the particular equipment, workplace conditions and duties involved in their new job safely,” he said.
Dangerous Holiday Decorations
Holiday decorations can pose additional risks, according to the State Compensation Insurance Fund, a California-based workman’s compensation plan.
About 12,000 people are injured each holiday season in accidents involving holiday decorations, and many of these incidents take place in the workplace, according to a news release from the agency. One of the most common accidents are fires caused by faulty holiday lights and especially dried out Christmas trees, which are responsible for an average of 300 fires, 10 deaths, 40 injuries and about $7 million in property damage each holiday season.
The group recommended that trees, gifts and freestanding decorations not be placed in busy areas where they could be run over or where workers could trip on them. It’s also critical that holiday decorations not block exits, cover exit signage or block access to fire extinguishers and other safety equipment.