Holiday Season Raises Safety Concerns

In all the excitement and distraction of the holiday season, safety isn’t always top-of-mind. Yet, as families and friends gather in celebratory situations, dangers increase and the risk of household accidents is high. Even the weeks leading up to the holidays carry increased risk as shoppers first crowd the malls in search of the gifts, decorations, food and drink that make this time of year so special – and then return home to make preparations for their parties and family celebrations.

Ladders and Electricity

Ladders and electricity are familiar at worksites, but the situations at home are often different and need particular consideration. For other family members who decorate, the holidays may be the only time of year when they get involved with ladders or electrical safety. Here are some safety tips for these two important and common concerns.

Ladders:

• Choose the right ladder and right size for the job
• Always secure the ladder by tying it down or having someone hold it
• Make sure it is set up on level firm ground
• Always face the ladder
• Always maintain three-point contact
• Do not work from the top three steps of a ladder
• Do not carry objects in your hands when moving up or down a ladder
• Never leave an unsecured ladder set-up unattended

Electrical:

• Do not use wires, outlets or plugs that are broken or frayed
• Make sure there are no bare wires
• Always use ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI)
• Turn off tree lights when you go to bed or leave the house
• Use no more than three standard-size sets of lights per single extension cord
• Before using lights outdoors, check labels to be sure they have been certified for outdoor use