When in the throes of December and the festive season, it’s easy to get swept up in it all. You’ve worked hard this year, and you deserve a well-earned rest. Despite this time of year being a prime time for celebration, for many business owners in Edinburgh, it’s the busiest time of the year. What’s more, while the atmosphere at work often becomes more relaxed and cheerful, the shorter days, longer nights and worsening weather, coupled with being invariably rushed off your feet, introduce some health and safety risks that shouldn’t be overlooked.

To make sure you, your team and the wider local community stay safe over Christmas, it’s important to explore the common risks you may face at this time of year, and steps to keep everyone safe and fully immersed in the festive spirit.

Risk to staff at Christmas

The weeks leading up to Christmas are statistically among the most hazardous in the UK. Recent data suggests that over 80,000 people in the UK end up in Accident & Emergency annually at this time of year, with NHS England seeing a noticeable increase in A&E visits on and around Christmas Day, and with some hospitals reporting between 10% and 20% more admissions than usual. 

Recently, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) published its annual statistics on work-related ill health and workplace injuries for the 2024/25 year, reporting 124 worker fatalities, 680,000 non-fatal injuries, 1.9 million workers suffering from work-related ill health, 964,000 workers reporting stress, depression or anxiety, and the estimated annual cost totalling £22.9 billion. While it’s tricky to attribute percentages of this around the Christmas season, whether you’re busy over this period or not, you can ill afford to overlook the safety and wellbeing of your most precious asset: your people.

This time of year naturally causes lapses in concentration for workers, whether they’re juggling end-of-year deadlines with Christmas shopping, travel plans, and planning various social events. It’s no wonder why everyone’s mental bandwidth narrows, and why many routine, everyday tasks become more prone to error, and situational awareness diminishes.

Arguably the most dangerous risk during this time is complacency. As workplaces begin to wind down and the atmosphere becomes more relaxed, safety can quietly and unintentionally slip. Seemingly harmless tasks like decorating an office, hanging lights, or putting up a Christmas tree can be hazardous if insufficient care is taken. 

Furthermore, the longer nights, excess rain, fog and ice can make road conditions dangerous, with people who may be rushing to get home being at heightened risk of car accidents. Road accidents can cause serious injuries, including head trauma, and employees who suffer injuries while driving company-owned vehicles may be entitled to compensation. Employers should be mindful of their legal responsibilities and consult experts, such as George Ide LLP, who offer expert guidance on personal injury claims, including those involving brain injuries, helping claimants understand their rights and entitlements, and navigate the claims process with professional support.

Safety reminders for employers

If your staff are feeling the pressures of the festive period, or you suspect that they may need a small reminder of being safe, then consider these proactive steps.

• Manage the premises responsibly – temporary Christmas decorations can often involve extra cabling, which can become trip hazards. It’s important to keep all decorations from heat sources, use cable covers, and avoid running wires across communal walkways.
• Remember your duty of care when celebrating – work Christmas parties are great for morale and rewarding a year of hard work, but it’s important to encourage responsible and moderate drinking, reinforce respectful boundaries and behaviour (as this reflects on the workplace), and arrange taxis when needed to prevent problems from arising on the night.
• Assess and report all accidents – the festive period can lead to incidents going unnoticed or glossed over. Update risk assessments for all activities, document all injuries (however minor) for legal compliance, and remember to uphold your responsibility for keeping your staff safe, healthy and well.
• Beware of winter weather – winter conditions can create hazards in and out of the office. Car parks can become slippery and icy, and shorter days mean certain areas can become dark very quickly, which can be dangerous for staff. Consider issuing guidance for winter driving, gritting pathways, adding temporary lighting near dim pathways, and maintaining heating systems for optimal comfort.
• Communicate regularly and clearly – remind your team to keep themselves safe, whether they’re driving in adverse weather or having to commute via public transport and going down dark pathways. Encourage them to report issues and concerns, and issue proactive workarounds, such as working from home allowances, pushing tasks back, and managing workloads, to name a few. Be alert to changes in your team’s mentality and attitude.

Managing health and safety risks in winter shouldn’t dampen any festive excitement, but rather cultivate a feeling where everyone can enjoy themselves safely and with no injuries. For Edinburgh’s business community, employers and managers who visibly prioritise safety will see their staff following suit, keeping standards high even as the year winds down.