Even though more people are working remotely this holiday season than in the past, it’s important to remember that many jobs still require workers to be on-site. With the busy holidayseason in full swing, now is the time for employers to be vigilant about proper workplace safety to minimize worker injuries.
Unfortunately, even the safest work environments can result in injured workers. Suppose you ever do suffer an injury due to a work-related accident. In that case, a good first step is to contact our team of attorneys at Sternberg Forsythe, P.A. We will work to protect your rights and ensure you recover the compensation you deserve.
Along with contacting our legal team for assistance, it’s also a good idea to get to know some of the most common workplace accidents that may occur.
Common Causes of Workplace Injuries During the Holidays
There are more than a few reasons more work-related injuries occur around the holidays. Some of these can be found here.
Temp Workers
The main reason there’s an increase in workplace injuries during the holidays is the temp workers that companies hire. Remember, the holiday season is busy, and regular employees want to spend time away from work with their families. Because of this, many companies and organizations need to bring in temporary workers to fill the gaps.
Since temp workers are not with the company very long, they usually don’t receive the same high-level training as regular employees. After all, it doesn’t make sense to spend several weeks training someone who will only be with the company for about a month. However, this lack of training may increase the likelihood that someone will be injured on the job.
Increased Traffic
The holidays are an exciting and busy time when everything is trying to get out, shop, enjoy holiday parties, visit family members, and engage in charitable activities. Unfortunately, this also means more people are on the roads, and many people are traveling to locations they are not familiar with.
Increased traffic results in much more dangerous driving conditions.
Some workplace injuries during the holidays occur due to traffic accidents. Emergency services personnel, utility service workers, home health aides, and delivery drivers are all at-risk for driving-related workplace accidents. While this is true, virtually anyone commuting to and from work is at risk of an accident.
Fatigue
There’s no question the holiday season is an extremely stressful time of the year for most people. Along with the additional responsibilities that come with the holiday season, many people are working overtime to meet production demands, meet goals set for the end of the year, and earn more money to purchase gifts.
The additional stress that goes with all this can leave many workers fatigued. In fact, fatigue is an all-too-common contributor to work-related accidents. Tired drivers are more likely to be involved in an accident, resulting in people becoming complacent, which is a serious problem for workers who oversee operating heavy machinery.
It’s important for workers to ensure they get plenty of rest at night and to take scheduled breaks throughout the workday. They should also avoid making careless mistakes that may result in a serious injury.
Bad Weather
Not only are more people on the roads and more drivers fatigued, but the holiday season is also a time of bad weather. Even though Florida doesn’t get much snow, issues like fog, rain, sleet, and ice can cause problems and increase traffic accidents.
It’s not just traffic accidents that increase due to bad weather. In icy conditions, operating heavy machinery and just walking on a job site is potentially hazardous. If you work outdoors, you also have to be careful to avoid cold-related health concerns.
Fires
A favorite tradition for the holiday season is decorating the workplace and home with Christmas lights. While this is a fun tradition, it also presents some risks.
According to some statistics, over 400 people are killed and more than 1,600 injured because of fire-related situations resulting from holiday lights. Employers need to ensure their decorations are safe, which means making sure electrical outlets aren’t overloaded and that electrical decorations and lights are unplugged when the building is closed.
Staying Safe During the Holiday Season
Unfortunately, the potential for work-related accidents during the holidays is higher for a reason. If you suffer a workplace injury due to someone else’s negligence or wrongful act, contact our Florida worker comp lawyers for help. If you need help or have questions about your situation, contact us at Sternberg Forsythe, P.A. by calling 561-687-5660.