Fires, Falls and Depression: The Holiday Safety Hazards of Working from Home
December Safety Series: Part 1
Table of Contents
Fire hazards
Slips, trips and falls hazards
Mental health hazards
Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and whatever holiday you’ll be celebrating is going to be different this year. There might be socially distanced get-togethers with family (if at all), the annual shopping trips to the mall will be replaced with online orders and for many of us, we will be celebrating and working in our homes where there will be unique safety hazards that have never really been considered before the pandemic. While this season may feel like uncharted waters, there are a number of holiday safety hazards in the home that can be eliminated, or at least mitigated, to ensure your safety while working from home.
In part 1 of this two-part holiday series, we look at the safety hazards people are facing while working at home during the festive season.
Fire hazards
There are a number of reasons why fire is potential safety hazard while working from home during the holiday season. First of all, damaged and faulty lights and extension cords pose a significant safety risk so you need be mindful and immediately replace any that are questionable or damaged. With all of these lights, make sure that you don’t overload your electrical outlets which can overheat and ignite. During this time of the year, there also tends to be more lit candles and burning fireplaces which, for obvious reasons, need to be tended to and put out when unsupervised.
Try to use decorations and trees that are non-combustible. If you are using a real tree, make sure it is well-watered and away from any fire or heat source. Try to use mini or LED options as they have cool-burning lights (and LED lights use less electricity). Use lights that have the mark of an accredited certification agency such as CSA, cUL or cETL. Check the Healthy Canadians Recalls and Safety Alerts Database regularly. Also, try not to use nails or tacks to hang cords and lights; they can puncture and damage the outside of the wire, resulting in fire-inducing corrosion or short circuits.
You should be doing this anyway, but make sure all of your smoke and CO2 detectors have charged batteries, and your fire extinguishers and sprinklers are all functioning properly. A first-aid kit is also wise to have.
Because you’ll be working at home, if there is fire, make sure you are able to call for help quickly and easily. This can include dialing 9-1-1 on your cell phone, of course, but you may want to consider an accessible emergency panic button.
Slips, trips and falls hazards
Because of the wet and snowy weather, slips, trips and falls are a major cause of injury during the festive season. With you working at home, you need to especially be mindful of icy and wet areas around the home, mitigating these safety hazards with plenty of sand, salt, and shoveling. You might not expect it, but a slip on an icy sidewalk could result in a trip to the hospital
Additionally, these injuries are more prevalent with the increased presence of extension cords and decorations. Make sure walkways and your work area are clear of any obstructions that could cause you to trip. When decorating this year, be more mindful of the areas that will be used more because of the new work situation.
If you’re putting lights up – whether that’s on the tree or your home – make sure you employ a sturdy and stable ladder. Try not to put these lights up when you’re working from home alone. If possible, have someone to assist you or be nearby if you should fall. Having said that, a fall detection tool would be incredibly valuable in this case.
Mental health hazards
Yes, it is supposed to be a joyous time of year, but like we said before, this will be different. For some, the holidays are normally a source of depression and anxiety for a number of reasons. But add the threat of an invisible, deadly virus as well as the element of working from home, and the mental health ramifications can be major.
One of the biggest challenges of working from home is establishing health work-life balance, which can be more difficult to achieve with the increased intensity of festivities around the home. Particularly during this time of year, it is important to separate your work and personal lives to have that important balance, diligently practicing self-care such as getting regular exercise and eating healthy, which can be difficult if you have a holiday baker in the home. There are a number of things that employers and employees can do to mitigate any stress for those working at home.
For employers, this is a time to show gratitude for the great work their team members are doing. This can include anything from sending holiday cards and small gifts to holding online Christmas parties as you would if it were in the physical office. The important thing here, is to make an effort which at-home workers will undoubtedly appreciate.