In Australia, the Christmas and New Year’s period is the time of the year when many businesses take a well earned break. Other businesses and commercial operations might continue to operate over the holidays with a skeleton crew. Conversely, for certain businesses, the Christmas/New Year period is the boom time of the year and the busiest.

No matter what type of business you run and whether you’re planning to close for the holidays or remain open, you’ll want to follow some important safety tips to ensure your premises (and staff) remain safe and secure over the festive season.

Fire Safety Training

Fire safety training is vital for the protection of your business and employees and is something you should implement whether it’s Christmas time or not. Fire and safety training courses are run by experts in the fire safety industry.

Everyone in your operation will be trained by a professional in all aspects of fire safety. Some things that are typically covered in fire safety training include:

  • Correct operation of a fire extinguisher
  • How to use fire hoses and fire blankets
  • Leadership training for those in charge
  • Evacuation plans
  • Preventing fires in the workplace
  • And more…

Commercial fires can be catastrophic, so everything that can be done to prevent one or contain a fire is vital. Above all, the safety of everyone in the workplace is paramount. If your business is extra busy at Christmas time, then proper fire safety training becomes even more critical.

Arrange a Fire Safety Inspection

Once again, a fire safety inspection should be carried out no matter what time of the year. If you’re planning to close over the festive season, then you’ll want to arrange for a fire safety inspection a few weeks prior to the Christmas break.

You may believe that everything is in order when it comes to fire safety and prevention measures in your business but an industry expert will know what to look for

They’ll check your sprinkler system, fire extinguishers, fire alarms, hoses, fire blankets and look for potential fire hazards.

Why take chances when you can leave for your Christmas break having complete peace of mind?

Maintain a Skeleton Staff Over the Holidays

If you’re planning to shut the doors over Christmas and New Year, rather than leaving the place completely unattended for several weeks, why not maintain a skeleton staff over the holidays? Add in some incentives to have a select few works during this period, even if they take turns on different days so they also get some time off.

If there’s no actual work to be done, skeleton staff could simply be on-site to keep an eye on things. It’s an added security measure to keep thieves at bay and just generally monitor the premises.

Alternatively, you could hire a professional security service to keep an eye on the place while everyone is on Christmas break

Turn Everything Off and Lock Up Tight

To negate the chances of an electrical fault during your absence, be sure to switch off all unnecessary appliances, equipment, machinery and so on before going on your break. Only leave on anything that is essential.

You’ll also want to make sure all doors and windows are securely locked and that if anything needs repairing to make it more secure, do so before the holidays commence. If you don’t have a security alarm system installed, now would be a good time to seriously consider it.

Deter Thieves and Vandals With Adequate Exterior Lighting

Unfortunately, while many people are off celebrating the festive season, thieves are plotting how they can take advantage of all these empty businesses.

As many thieves and vandals like to strike under the cover of darkness, it’s imperative that your business premises have adequate and reliable external lighting. Sensor lighting will save power while still deterring thieves but it’s also wise to have some lighting that is on all the time. Don’t invite trouble by plunging your business into total darkness.

The Wrap

Christmas is a time of the year to be celebrated, so give yourself the chance to relax by preparing for the festive season and keeping your business safe.