In an earlier post, we highlighted some of the ways that workers could get injured during the holiday shopping season. And while Black Friday has come and gone, there are other types of workplace injuries that could occur in the weeks before Christmas.
‘Tis the season and all through the office, Christmas decorations are going up. From trees to garlands to strings of lights, creating a festive mood could leave an employee with a decorating-related injury. It may sound silly, but according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission there were at least 15,000 reported injuries that were sustained while the individual was putting up holiday decorations.
For example, your employer may ask you to string some lights up around the office. And while that may initially seem like an easy task, a slight bump to a chair or stepstool could cause you to fall and get hurt. Another injury that could result is a back or neck injury. This could occur if you are straining your neck or bending your back to make sure that the lights are secure.
Statistics also show that the majority of decorating-related injuries are the result of falls. For some of the more challenging tasks, such as hanging lights up outside, falling from a ladder can leave a worker seriously injured.
While most of these injuries could be categorized as minor, even a deep cut or broken wrist could impact your ability to do your job. Make sure that your employer is taking steps to promote workplace safety. If you do suffer a work-related injury, make sure to take the appropriate measures to protect yourself and your family.
Source: NBC News, “When ‘Ho-ho’ turns to ‘Oh, no!’ Holiday decorating injuries on the rise,” JoNel Aleccia, Dec. 5, 2013.
