We have had a successful and safe year at BCS in 2025. It has been 27 months since our last OSHA Recordable Incident, our new EMR is .67 and we won the Surebuilt Captive’s Top Performer in Safety for 2025. As we approach year end, we have many reasons to be in the Christmas mood. However, it’s important to think about how BCS employees and our families might be affected during this time. There are seasonal responsibilities and expectations from home for all of us to keep up with, think about and worry about. All of this can affect job performance and employee safety. We know that the holidays mean changes in schedules, people taking vacation, missing time at work, new leaders having to be temporarily put in charge, cold weather and simply more distractions than during the rest of the year. Unfortunately, we are also aware of the behaviors that cause injury accidents; Distraction, Complacency, Being in A Hurry, Bad Safety Attitude and Short Cuts.
Here are three safety reminders of some of the biggest safety concerns for this holiday season:
Driving
On the topic of driving to and from work and within a job site itself, drowsy driving is at its peak across the holidays. Data from the U.S. Department of Transportation has shown that an average of 300 people die in drunk driving crashes in the week between Christmas and New Year. This is, of course, increasing in December with Christmas parties and celebrations.
Drowsy driving can be because of many things including working at night in the busy December period; having friends and family visit; or even just the exhaustion of preparing food, presents and everything else required for Christmas and the New Year. All of these and many other factors can lead to dangerous driving when employees get behind the wheel. According to studies, Drowsy drivers are far less aware of hazards and have longer braking distances. Additionally, drivers will be more at risk of drowsy driving who must commute to work in the dark, which includes most of us.
Fatigue
Drowsiness and fatigue can cause issues both in and outside of work. For starters, you should take extra time and try not to be in a hurry. Whether you are on a jobsite or commuting, employees should look out for the signs of fatigue to prevent workplace accidents. It’s important to remember in the case of fatigue that winter illnesses such as cold, flu and sore throat also lead to tiredness. Employees with a cough, temperature and other similar symptoms may have slower reactions when driving.
Holiday Stress
Finally, the holiday season is very stressful for many families. This can be as a result of working more, having more to do at home, worrying about finances, eating and drinking too much or simply feelings of loneliness. Make sure that you have someone to talk to if you are feeling holiday stress. Everyone is feeling the same thing, so why not talk about it, if it bothers you. Also, take more opportunities to rest and relax, whenever possible.
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