OSHA Outlines Potential Holiday Season Hazards for Employers
OSHA provides a guide for employers to follow in order to keep their employees safe from coronavirus infection and the winter elements.
The holiday season is busier time than usual with colder temperatures as well, which makes it an even more important time to focus on worker safety. According to OSHA, extra measures need to be taken to achieve the goal of keeping employees safe in the coming weeks.
For retail workers, OSHA recommends routine cleaning and disinfecting of areas with high traffic. Businesses that can utilize drive-through windows or curbside pickup should also do so. It is also a good idea to provide employees with tissues and trash receptacles to contain potentially infectious water droplets.
Package deliveries increase around the holidays, so the safety of delivery workers should also be observed. OSHA suggests that employers stagger shifts and offer flexible work hours for employees, as well as minimize the interaction that occurs between customers and drivers. Workers should also avoid sharing coworker’s tools and equipment.
As for the hazards that winter weather can present to drivers, it is important for employers to make sure their employees regularly inspect their vehicles. Proper footwear for drivers in the event of ice and emergency kits that contain items like flashlights, emergency flares and shovels are necessities too.
More information on holiday season safety can be found at osha.gov.