Deck the halls – safely

With the holiday season underway, workers may be feeling festive and want to show it in the workplace. Follow these tips to help prevent injuries while decorating:

• Never stand on a chair to hang decorations. Use a stepladder, and make sure to follow the instructions. And never hang decorations from fire sprinklers – they can prevent the sprinklers from operating properly. OSHA regulations state that stacked materials should never be closer than 18 inches below fire sprinklers.
• Make sure all electrical items, such as string lights, are certified by a nationally recognized independent testing lab.
• Inspect all decorations and extension cords for damage before using.
• Avoid overloading electrical outlets – they can overheat and cause a fire.
• Don’t place extension cords in high-traffic areas of your workplace, or under rugs, carpets or furniture.
• Never attempt to extend the length of an extension cord by connecting it to another extension cord.
• Never nail or staple extension cords to walls – doing so may damage existing wire insulation.