Zarah ChoudharyNearly half (42%) of managers report a rise in workplace incidents during the holidays, according to EcoOnline.
Half of respondents (49%) said that general incident rates have remained stable year on year for the past few years, but 32% said they were increasing.
The top three hazards for workers over the festive season included: fatigue from increased workload or longer working hours (38%), weather-related hazards (38%), and increased stress or pressure to meet deadlines (34%).
When asked about practices to safeguard workers, managers identified weekly team briefings (32%), access to mental health support resources (32%), and regular checks on workplace equipment and machinery (30%) as the primary lines of defence.
One in 10 respondents (11%) said no additional measures were taken during the holiday season.
Key responses to mitigate holiday hazards included safety inspections (40%), training and learning (41%), and hazard or risk assessments (39%).
67% of respondents identified an increase in spending on environment, health and safety (EHS) protocols.
Over the coming three to five years, those surveyed expected this investment to be funnelled into three main areas: artificial Intelligence (39%); mobile safety apps (37%); and safety cameras with analytics (35%).
Helen Jones, chief customer officer at EcoOnline, said: “These findings underscore the added pressure on EHS frameworks during the holiday season.
“It’s clear that fostering a culture of safety is a two-pronged approach based both in behavioural feedback from employees, and technologically driven supports such as comprehensive reporting, observational tools, and automated responses to incidents.”
Graham Cowing, vice president of safety standards at Menzies Aviation, said: “The holiday season is one of our busiest times, with higher passenger volumes and increased cargo activity passing through our warehouses.
“This, coupled with the potential for adverse weather, creates a challenging environment as we strive to maintain the high standards expected by our stakeholders and customers.
“Health, safety, and security have always been, and will remain, our top priority. During this period, we place added emphasis on tackling these heightened challenges.
“EcoOnline’s reporting tools play a crucial role in helping us identify hazards in real-time, enabling swift action to reduce risks, safeguard our people, and prevent damage.
“Additionally, we rely on local severe weather plans to proactively address adverse conditions whenever they arise.”
When comparing UK data to that across the US and Canada, in North America 46% of respondents said risks increase during the holidays, and they indexed higher on each preventable cause.
Investment in North America during the holiday period was also higher at 71%.
Jones said: “While North America and the UK differ in the severity of holiday hazards, the consistency of challenges underscores that these risks are systematic, requiring systematic solutions.
“Particularly during high-pressure times of year like the holiday season, leveraging advanced technological solutions, can reduce preventable incidents and create a safer, more supportive environment for all employees.
“EcoOnline is dedicated to helping customers implement these solutions to protect their workforces, no matter the season.”
