Ask Gavin: are my Xmas decorations a safety hazard? Help!

Here’s what they had to say…

Hi Gavin, it's nearly Christmas so as not to come across like a complete Grinch, I want to spread some festive spirit around the office. I’ve got decorations we’ve had for donkeys years, so I thought I’d buy some new ones. Just want to check in your professional opinion, if there’s anything I should go for in particular or avoid buying? And any advice about decorations I should know about? I don’t want Health & Safety coming after me! Just thought it would be a fun activity for us all to decorate together. Cheers.Anon

Gavin’s reply was…

Hi Anon,

There are always things to consider when decorating your workplace and it’s good to be mindful of any potential hazards. You can absolutely decorate (so no fears of being a Grinch), but there are safety steps you can take to minimise any risks of a not so merry Christmas.

“Just want to check in your professional opinion, if there’s anything I should go for in particular or avoid buying?”

I would definitely recommend you get yourself an artificial tree (presuming you’ll be wanting to put up a tree?) as a real tree could end up being a fire hazard, as it quickly dries out and catches fire more readily. You can actually buy fire-resistant artificial trees if you want to add that extra layer of protection.

And when you’re setting up the tree, do make sure it’s stable. You don’t want any risk of it toppling over if it’s not secure on the ground.

When it comes to other decorations like Christmas lights, LED lights are a good choice because they’re energy-efficient and there’s no risk of them overheating. With any lights you choose, it’s best to also check they have a certified CE mark and none of the cables are damaged before you put them up.

(Side note: be careful not to overload your tree with cables and keep any extension cords out of the way to prevent trip hazards.)

Another thing I just want to mention in case, if you’re planning on using real candles at all (which I wouldn’t recommend) then definitely make sure they’re in a safe spot away from equipment or sockets etc – not a place where they could easily get knocked over. Always supervise any lit candles and never leave them unattended.

Sprays and artificial snow can be flammable as well, so this is important to bear in mind too.

“any advice about decorations I should know about?”

As you can imagine, putting decorations up can be very risky if you’re planning on climbing up ladders or standing on chairs, tables etc.

It’s never a good idea to try and stretch while standing on a chair or a table to put up decorations as doing so can increase the likelihood of slips and falls. If you need to reach high places, you should use a stepladder.

You may find our blog on Step ladders: taking steps to reduce the risk useful.

And if you are planning on using a stepladder or getting employees to use one, you should make sure they know how to do so in line with HSE guidance.

“I don’t want Health & Safety coming after me!”

Another thing to consider when you decorate is where you’re actually putting your decorations –you should be aware of any risks in the environment.

Make sure that you’re not positioning your decorations anywhere near any sources of heat or you’re blocking any of your fire exits or signage. As part of your fire safety duty, your exits need to be clear of obstructions.

And another thing, sounds obvious but switch off your lights when you go home for the day. You don’t want to leave them on all the time.

As long as you take care to follow best Health & Safety practices and take steps to reduce any potential risks, you shouldn’t have any issues and I wish you and your staff a very happy Christmas and new year!

But of course if you have any more questions about anything I’ve mentioned and would like some more information, you can book in for a free advice call with one of our advisers below.

All the best,

Gavin