In spite of most investing, nearly 1 in 10 businesses take no additional measures to address top holiday risks like fatigue, stress, and weather hazards.
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – November 21, 2024 – EcoOnline, a leading SaaS provider of safety and sustainability solutions, today releases new data highlighting ‘holiday hazards’ faced by workers during the festive period. 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.
Rise in holiday hazards
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:
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.
Methodology
Conducted in partnership with 3Gem, our Holiday Hazards research surveyed 1000 managerial decision makers in organisations of 50+ employees across industries in the UK, US, and Canada. The survey was conducted from 1-8 November 2024, providing a 95% confidence level with a 5% margin of error.
Media Contact
Alyssa Fishwick, Sr. Director, Global Public Relations
alyssa.fishwick@ecoonline.com
About EcoOnline
EcoOnline delivers innovative environment, health and safety (EHS), chemical management and ESG and sustainability technology solutions to forward-thinking leaders. Founded in 2000 and trusted by over 10,000 brands worldwide, EcoOnline’s connected suite of SaaS software enables businesses to protect their people and the planet by ensuring compliance, mitigating risk and streamlining operations. Backed by an unwavering commitment to customer success, EcoOnline’s software is powerful yet simple to use – built on decades of real-world expertise, data and insights.
Visit ecoonline.com to immediately and positively impact your workplace safety and sustainability.