Plan to mitigate the risk of workplace accidents posed by office parties.
WorkSafe bodies in both Victoria and Queensland have noted that this time of year can lead to an increase in the number of workplace accidents and incidents. According to WorkSafe Victoria, one in four workplace fatalities over the past decade occurred in the lead up to Christmas, making it a dangerous time of year for Aussie workers.*
Human resource and recruitment specialists Randstad warns that end of year fatigue, alongside rushing tasks to go on holidays and increased alcohol consumption at this time of year can all increase the risk of workplace accidents and incidents.
They’re reminding employers and employees alike that excessive alcohol intake at work events not only increases the risk to employees of potential accidents, but also inappropriate behaviour that can prove a headache once the hangover sets in.
“The end of year celebration is an opportunity to let off some steam, and while this should be encouraged to a certain extent, unfortunately it often doesn’t take much for things to get out of hand,” warned Frank Ribuot, CEO of Randstad Australia & New Zealand.
“Everyone loosens up after a few drinks and this can lead to all sorts of risky behaviour, from falling down stairs, to telling your boss what you really think of them, to engaging in gossip that divulges confidential company information,” said Ribuot.
Ribout advises organisations to undertake a risk assessment ahead of planning workplace events and to set out guidelines of appropriate behaviour ahead of the event. He also reminds employees to be mindful that while the Christmas party is a social event, you are still mixing in a professional setting.
“While you don’t want to take the fun out of these occasions, risk management is not an easy process and there are legitimate concerns surrounding events such as Christmas parties, which require research and planning,” said Ribuot.
Employers have a duty so far as reasonably practicable to ensure the safety of employees.
Should an incident occur at the end of year function, the circumstances would need to be assessed as to whether any resulting injury (physical or psychological) is compensable. The best protection is to clearly articulate behavioural standards and ensure the responsible service of alcohol.
We recommend the following for all end of year workplace celebrations:
- Staff behaviour: Communicate the expected code of conduct; remind staff of your organisation’s official policies on code of conduct and harassment and grievance procedure
- Alcohol and drugs: Ensure your business has a Drug and Alcohol policy which clearly sets out expectations and consequences. Remind staff to drink responsibly and to be respectful to others.
- Logistics: Remind everyone not to drink if they are driving, to carpool with friends and to make their own arrangements to travel home safely.
- Contacts: Ensure staff are aware of the procedure should they need help during or after the event. Provide key contacts in case of emergency.
- Venue: Ensure the venue for the function has been risk assessed to identify any issues prior, these should be addressed and where possible mitigated to ensure safety.
“Trust that your people will accept this communication in the right spirit and that your business is committed to meeting your moral and legal obligations by ensuring the safety of all staff. This message should not prevent everyone from having a safe and happy end of year, Christmas celebration,” said Ribuot.
For further advice around your workplace health and safety responsibilities, including templates for the creation of custom mental health and health and safety policies, and a framework for identifying and overcoming risks in the workplace, request your copy of The Randstad Human Resource Guide.**
* https://www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/retail/articles/what-can-you-do-to-keep-your-workers-safe-during-the-festive-season
** http://humanresourceguide.randstad.com.au/
Damian Dean, Director of WHS and Risk Management, Randstad
