Christmas Decorations

15 December 2003 by
Christmas Decorations

The problem

If you haven't yet decked your halls with boughs of holly, it will probably be near the top of your to-do list. Before beginning, you must ensure that a suitable and sufficient risk assessment has been carried out. Here are some of the health and safety checks you should carry out before putting up your Christmas decorations.

The health and safety procedures which need to be followed when putting up Christmas decorations are often overlooked in the pre-Christmas rush. However, if simple checks are carried out beforehand, you can minimise the likelihood of accidents occurring to your staff and customers. Such checks will also provide you with a measure of protection against civil and criminal liability.

The law

The legal provisions governing bars, restaurants, hotels and leisure facilities are contained in the following legislation:

  • The Health and Safety at Work etc, Act, 1974.

  • The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.

  • Fire Precautions Act 1971.

  • The Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997.

In summary, this legislation requires that all reasonably practical steps must be taken to ensure the health and safety of staff and third parties such as customers.

One of the main steps that must be taken to fulfil these obligations is the completion of a suitable and sufficient risk assessment.

Essentially, a risk assessment in this case will involve five steps:

  • Identifying hazards posed from the specific decorations, ie, whether the decorations could cause harm.

  • Assessing the risks that these hazards may pose, ie, the chance of harm occurring and to whom it could occur.

  • Putting in controls to either eliminate the risk from the Christmas decorations or at the very least minimise them.

  • Recording the findings of the risk assessments (if you employ more than five people).

  • Reviewing the risk assessments on an ongoing basis.

Check list

In order to ensure that you're complying fully with your health and safety obligations, risk assessments will need to be tailored to take into account the additional risks which may be present during the festive season. These may include:

Considering the additional fire hazards that might be caused by electrical lighting placed throughout a premises, and ensuring that adequate firefighting equipment is on hand to deal with any emergencies.

Ensuring that fire-detection equipment is working correctly and provides suitable coverage of all areas which may be prone to an increased risk of fires.

Double-checking emergency-exits procedures to ensure they remain clear and that staff are adequately trained and prepared.

Assessing the risks involved in putting up Christmas decorations, particularly in relation to working at height and working with electrical appliances.

Ensuring that all electrical lighting and displays used are in good condition and have the appropriate approval - for example, BS Kite mark or CE approval.

Assessing the risk of slips and trips from fallen Christmas decorations, electrical leads, and pine needles.

Considering the impact decorations and electrical leads might have on third-party contractors such as cleaners working with water, and maintenance workers.

Beware!

Failure to take these steps and ensure that your premises remains safe during the Christmas period could result in injuries and bad publicity for your business, not to mention a fine of up to £20,000 in the magistrates' court, or an unlimited fine in the crown court for breaching health and safety laws.

A few simple steps are all it takes to avoid this eventuality, and guarantee an enjoyable festive season for all.

Contacts

Hilary Ross at Berwin Leighton Paisner, 020 7760 1000, Hilary.ross@blplaw.com

Health & Safety Executive, www.hse.gov.uk, 08701 545500

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