LWCC Reminds Employers to Keep Workplace Safe for Holiday Hires

As thousands of extra workers populate job sites during the holiday season, the Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Corporation (LWCC) issued a reminder to employers of the importance of safety in the workplace for all holiday hires.

According to Challenger, Gray & Christmas, a workplace consulting firm, stores nationwide will add about 700,000 employees for the 2006 holiday season, LWCC said.

While many people apply for traditional retail jobs such as sales associate or seasonal stock clerk, various other jobs require holiday hires to work outdoors such as mailpersons, delivery drivers, or Christmas tree handlers. With these particular jobs, recognizing such safety issues as slip and fall prevention, safe winter driving, correct lifting, and properly dressing for cold weather should be top-of-mind for both employees and employers.

“Employers should ensure that holiday hires, whether working indoors or outdoors, have the proper training and safeguards needed to keep them healthy and reduce their risk of workplace injuries during their holiday employment,” says Mike Dileo, vice president of operations for LWCC. “Whether stocking shelves or delivering holiday packages, it is important for employees to follow the safety guidelines provided by their employers and do their part to recognize and to help eliminate workplace injuries.”

Though holiday hires are usually with a company for only a brief period of time, providing proper training and stressing preventive measures such as correct lifting and correct posture, proper use of equipment, dressing properly for cold weather and educating employees about the symptoms of cold-related stress will go a long way toward everyone having a happy and safe holiday season.

Visit LWCC’s Web site at www.lwcc.com for more information on workplace safety for holiday hires and a variety of helpful workplace safety topics.

Source: LWCC