We can now officially call it the ‘Christmas Season’, which means we need to be aware of a few things within work that can have an effect. Weather changes, dark mornings and nights, work Christmas parties, and perhaps more manual handling than usual.

It is good to be thinking about these things ahead of time so that you are prepared should anything come up. Below is some advice on a few of these things.

Driving or Riding for Work.

Driving for work is one of the riskiest things workers can do, and at this time of year, it is even more risky with the icy roads and darker days. Following the guidelines will also assist to reduce stress, boost morale, and increase productivity at work.

Hazards that can cause harm to the driver or rider, passengers, other road users and/or pedestrians when driving for work include:

• Roadworks, traffic, vehicle condition, fatigue, distraction, time pressures, the weather, behaviour.

How to be safer:

• Ensure you are legally fit to drive- This means your licence is up to date, your insurance is up to date, the vehicle is serviced and MOT’d, you have no medical conditions that could cause you to be unable to drive, you have not taken anything that could prevent you from driving?
• Conduct a pre-drive check- Make sure there are no signs of damage, the tyres are in good condition, there is sufficient oil, water and windscreen fluid, and essential parts of the vehicle are in good condition.
• Plan your journey
• Check the weather
• Comply with the highway code and road traffic laws.
• Avoid distractions
• Do not drive if you are under the influence in any way.

Manual Handling.

We are approaching the busiest time of year in the haulage and distribution industry and extra demand on workers may result in an increased risk of injury from hazardous manual handling. There is a few things you can do to protect yourself, your employees and your back.

• Redesign the task to reduce the movements.
• Make sure heavy items are on lower shelves.
• Make sure you are using proper lifting techniques.
• Use mechanical aids to redesign tasks and reduce the need for awkward postures.
• Avoid lifting from floor level or above shoulder height, especially for heavy loads.
• Minimise carrying distances

Working in the Cold Weather

When working outdoors, the weather can have a serious impact on the workers’ health, if the risks have not been properly managed.

The weather can also affect a workers ability to keep safe, for example when handling machinery, or when the floors become slippery.

There are simple actions you can take to protect people working outdoors.

• Ensure the personal protective equipment (PPE) issued is appropriate.
• Provide mobile facilities for warming up, and soup or hot drinks.
• Introduce more frequent breaks.
• Consider delaying the work until warmer times of the year without compromising on safety.
• Make sure workers can recognise the early symptoms of cold stress, such as a cough or body aches.

People working in uncomfortably cold environments are less likely to perform well and more likely to behave unsafely because their
ability to make good decisions deteriorates. Temperatures in indoor workplaces are covered by the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, which place a legal obligation on employers to provide a ‘reasonable’ temperature in the workplace.