Research shows rise in incidents during the holidays

This research examines the environmental, health, and safety (EHS) measures businesses adopt to protect employees, highlighting regional differences between the UK and North America due to varying regulations.

The research revealed that outside of seasonal illnesses, the top three holiday hazards for UK workers are preventable: fatigue from increased workload and/or longer working hours (38%), weather-related hazards (38%), and increased stress or pressure to meet deadlines (34%).  

When asked about existing practices, protocols and products in place to safeguard workers, UK managers identified weekly team briefings (32%), access to mental health support resources (32%), and regular checks on workplace equipment and machinery (30%) as the primary lines of defence. Interestingly, 1 in 10 respondents (11%) said no additional measures were taken during the holiday season.

Technology driving the future of safety

Nearly half (42%) of managers report a rise in incidents during the holidays, while 49% note that general incident rates have remained stable year over year for the past few years, and 32% said they are increasing. With only 12% seeing a decline, these figures indicate the need for streamlined, technology-backed solutions year-round.

Key responses on the impact of and interest in technologies to reduce hazards include:

• When asked what SaaS solutions would most effectively mitigate holiday hazards, British workers said safety inspections (40%), training and learning (41%), and hazard or risk assessments (39%). 
• With 42% claiming incidents increase during the holidays, 67% of respondents identified an increase in spending in EHS protocols during the season. 
• Over the coming 3-5 years, those surveyed expect this investment to be funnelled into three main areas: artificial Intelligence (39%); mobile safety apps (37%); and safety cameras with analytics (35%). 

Helen Jones, chief customer officer at EcoOnline says, “These findings underscore the added pressure on EHS frameworks during the holiday season. It’s clear that fostering a culture of safety is a two-pronged approach based both in behavioural feedback from employees, and technologically driven supports such as comprehensive reporting, observational tools, and automated responses to incidents.”

Graham Cowing, vice president of safety standards at Menzies Aviation and a valued EcoOnline customer, shares his insights: “The holiday season is one of our busiest times, with higher passenger volumes and increased cargo activity passing through our warehouses. This, coupled with the potential for adverse weather, creates a challenging environment as we strive to maintain the high standards expected by our stakeholders and customers. 

“Health, safety, and security have always been, and will remain, our top priority. During this period, we place added emphasis on tackling these heightened challenges. EcoOnline’s reporting tools play a crucial role in helping us identify hazards in real-time, enabling swift action to reduce risks, safeguard our people, and prevent damage. Additionally, we rely on local severe weather plans to proactively address adverse conditions whenever they arise.”

Impact of regulatory frameworks 

When comparing UK data to that across the US and Canada, we see consistently higher figures in risks to seasonal workers in North America, where 46% of respondents say risks increase during the holidays (compared to the UK’s 42%) and they index higher on each preventable cause. Investment in North America during the holiday period is also higher at 71%, pointing to less year-round investments in robust systems than in Europe, and indicating the impact from differences in regulatory pressures. While regulations like the OSHA in North America look to safeguard workers, in the EU, more stringent frameworks like COSHH, ISO 45001 and CSRD require businesses operating in these regions to take on the burden of care for employees in a more formalised way. 

“While North America and the UK differ in the severity of holiday hazards, the consistency of challenges underscores that these risks are systematic, requiring systematic solutions. Particularly during high-pressure times of year like the holiday season, leveraging advanced technological solutions, can reduce preventable incidents and create a safer, more supportive environment for all employees. EcoOnline is dedicated to helping customers implement these solutions to protect their workforces, no matter the season.” says Jones. 

To learn more about EHS solutions this holiday season, visit EcoOnline.