Holiday Safety
December means festivity and cheer for many. Many offices, including ours, enjoy bringing the festivities to work by decorating our offices, cubicles, and other office areas.
Safety is always important, festive occasions included. Safety+Health suggest the following to help prevent injuries while celebrating on the job. (Safety+Health Magazine)
Safe decorating
- Don’t stand on a chair to hang decorations. Use a stepladder, and make sure to read and follow the instructions and warnings on the label. And never hang decorations from fire sprinklers – they can prevent the sprinklers from operating properly. OSHA regulations state that stacked materials should never be closer than 18 inches below fire sprinklers.
- Planning to string decorative lights or other electrical items in your workspace? The Electrical Safety Foundation International, a nonprofit organization, states that workers should:
- Be sure that all electrical items are certified by a nationally recognized independent testing lab.
- Inspect all lights, decoration and extension cords for damage before using.
- Avoid overloading electrical outlets with too many decorations or electrical devices – they can overheat and cause a fire.
- Never try to make a three-prong plug fit into a two-prong outlet.
- Turn off all indoor and outdoor electrical decorations before leaving.
ICC Compliance Center offers a variety of safety courses to train employees on the hazards in the workplace. Visit our website and view our safety courses for more information
From our ICC family to yours, have a safe and happy holiday season.
