Be Smart and WorkSafe this Festive Season

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WorkSafe this holiday season with WorkSafe Guardian

Workplace Safety During the Holiday Season

The holiday season is approaching and many of your employees will ask for some well-deserved time off. This means there will be less staff around. So, how can you ensure those remaining staff will be smart and WorkSafe this festive season?

Increased hours, less staff availability, and isolated working conditions all mean your employees may be exposed to more high-risk situations. Understanding how to handle these circumstances and knowing the tools available is the first step. The safety and well-being of employees remains crucial.

WSG are here to help! We’ve prepared a WorkSafe Guardian Safety Checklist to help manage this time in the safest way possible that goes over how the WSG App can be used and what to prepare for.

The post-pandemic era has dramatically transformed workplace dynamics, bringing unprecedented challenges to employee safety. In the latest report released by Safe Work Australia, there has been a 56% increase in the number of serious workers’ compensation claims for assault and exposure to workplace violence, in the last 5 years. This surge is not merely a statistic but an urgent call to action for organisations across Australia.

SafeWork SA provides a critical definition of work-related violence: “any incident in which a person is abused, threatened or assaulted in circumstances relating to their work.” This definition underscores the multifaceted nature of workplace safety, extending beyond physical threats to include psychological and emotional harm.

Industry Challenges

While workplace violence affects multiple industries, certain sectors face more pronounced risks. Retail employees, customer service representatives, and front-line workers bear a disproportionate burden of stress and potential confrontations. The combination of holiday pressures, customer expectations, and reduced staffing creates a perfect storm of potential conflict.

Workplace violence can cause both physical and psychological harm to workers, and result in significant economic and social costs to them, their family, the business where they work and the wider community. Like all work health and safety risks it must be managed.

This Case Study released by Safe Work Australia highlights some of the key psychosocial hazards which retail workers may face and gives examples of ways to help manage these risks at the workplace.

Workplace safety during the holiday season is a shared responsibility. By implementing comprehensive strategies, maintaining open communication, and prioritising employee well-being, organisations can create safer, more supportive work environments.

Need help protecting your lone workers this holiday season? Our team provides lone worker safety solutions that can be tailored to your organisation's unique needs. Contact us to ensure your employees stay safe and supported during these busy times.

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