There is no better time of year than the holidays. It’s a perfect time to host gatherings with close friends and family, entertain guests, or visit loved ones. While safety may not be at the forefront of your festive planning process, it’s important to consider a few best practices when it comes to holiday preparation and participation.
Our friends at Chubb sent us a few friendly reminders to ensure you, your family, and your loved ones remain safe this season:
- A crackling fire in the fireplace can be an easy, cozy way to add ambiance to your home. However, Nearly 156,000 fires occur during the winter holiday season, causing 630 deaths, 2,600 injuries, and approximately $936 million in property damage, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. Get your chimney inspected and cleaned before the holidays and dispose of fireplace ashes in a metal container with a tight-fitting lid after they’ve fully cooled for safe removal.
- Whether you’ve catered or are cooking a feast yourself, be sure to always keep alert for fires and keep a fire extinguisher close by. Remember, one out of three home fires begin in the kitchen — more than any other place in the home.
- Move fragile and valuable objects out of areas where most guests will gather.
- Never leave candles unattended, or be sure to place them in high-traffic areas with at least a two-foot barrier from close trees or decorations.
- In the event of inclement weather, clear snow, leaves, and ice from walkways and porches to help prevent slips and falls.
If your organization hosts any form of a holiday party, a few common-sense actions could ensure you minimize liability risks, and allow everyone to still have fun:
- Monitor alcohol intake – Be mindful about any type of alcohol being served during a company function. Be sure serving alcohol at your event does not conflict with the current substance abuse policy you might have in place. Serving food, inviting family or spouses, or providing drink tickets are three strategies to reduce potential risks during your event.
- Provide transportation home – Taxis or rideshare apps can be a partygoer’s best friend. Encourage employees to find safe transport to and from the event to prevent any injuries or worse.
- Be respectful – Remind employees that everyone holds their own religious beliefs, including which holidays are celebrated, how they are celebrated, and with whom. Some employees may choose not to participate in the holiday party for their own decisions, which should be respected by the other team members.
- Remind employees of expectations and policies – Reminding employees that they must still follow company policy is an important step to ensuring everyone has fun. Most notable are policies related to harassment and alcohol consumption. This could go a long way toward minimizing the organization’s risk of experiencing any legal issues following the event.
Following some of the suggestions above can dramatically impact your ability to have a safe, risk-free, holiday season.
From all of us at GMG Insurance, we look forward to serving you in the new year!
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Updated in December, 2023.
