December blends festive celebrations with winter extremes, making it one of the most complex months for HSE management. It’s also an opportune moment for inclusion and reflection.
Key Focus Areas and Relevant UK Campaigns:
– Workload & Fatigue Prevention: Encourage balanced hours and check in with teams handling year-end responsibilities.
– Festive Celebrations: Plan social events with safety in mind—consider transport arrangements, manage alcohol responsibly, and ensure inclusivity.
– Winter Hazards: Maintain gritting, safe routes, and emergency measures for outdoor or travelling staff.
2. Inclusion & Wellbeing
– International Day of Persons with Disabilities – 3 December: This UN-led observance encourages awareness of disability issues and inclusive practices (https://awareness-days.co.uk/awareness-day/international-day-of-persons-with-disabilities/2025-12-03/). Use it as a reminder to review workplace accessibility, ensure holiday events are inclusive, and highlight support for staff who may find the festive period isolating or challenging.
3. Environmental Stewardship
– Year-End Energy Management: Promote a “switch-off” initiative for unused equipment and appliances to reduce waste and cost.
– Sustainable Festivities: Avoid single-use plastics, encourage recycling, and choose eco-friendly decor and catering options.
4. Reflection & Planning
December is also the time to review progress against HSE objectives for the year and set fresh goals for the year ahead. Celebrating achievements while identifying areas for improvement ensures momentum carries into January.
This blog positions your business as both caring and professional—balancing safety, culture, and sustainability at a critical time of year.
Contact us for you health and safety requirements.
Slips and Trips in Icy Weather: Don’t Let Winter Catch You Off Guard
As temperatures drop and pavements freeze, the risks of slips and trips rises sharply. Icy surfaces are deceptively dangerous—what looks like a harmless patch of frost could send you flying.
Slips and trips in icy weather aren’t just inconvenient—they can lead to serious injury. A few simple precautions can make all the difference.
Contact us if you require further guidance.
Driving Responsibly
Employees must adapt their driving to winter hazards:
These behaviours align with health and safety law, which applies to work-related driving just as it does on-site.
Legal and Employer Expectations
Under UK law and employer policies, employees must:
Employers are required to manage road safety risks, but employees play a key role in executing those plans.
Emergency Preparedness
Employees should carry a winter emergency kit, especially for longer journeys:
This is particularly important for lone workers or those driving in rural areas.
When Not to Drive
If conditions are too dangerous, employees should:
Employers must support safe decision-making and not penalize employees for refusing to drive in hazardous conditions
Winter arrives in earnest in November, bringing additional risks and heavier operational pressures. It’s also a fitting time to reflect on workplace safety culture and legacy.
Key Focus Areas and Relevant UK Campaigns:
– Winter Driving Risks: Icy roads and shortened daylight demand fleet checks, safe driving guidance, and realistic scheduling.
– Fire Safety Alertness: With increased heating use, revisiting fire risk assessments and conducting evacuation drills is key.
– Slips, Trips & Falls: Frost and ice can cause serious incidents. Gritting plans, clear signage, and robust housekeeping are essential.
2. Safety Culture Reflection
– Health and Safety at Work Act Anniversary – 31 July (celebrated throughout 2025): 2024 marked the 50th anniversary of the landmark Health and Safety at Work Act 1974—foundational legislation that revolutionised workplace safety in the UK (https://www.britsafe.org/safety-management/2024/a-golden-era-of-safety-50-years-of-the-health-and-safety-at-work-act).
3. Staff Wellbeing
Shorter days can lower morale and productivity. Encourage breaks, organise social connection opportunities, and highlight wellbeing support to prevent fatigue-related risks.
4. Environmental Efficiency
– Energy Usage Management: As heating and lighting needs rise, encourage efficient usage, implement switch-off policies, and ensure systems are maintained.
– Managing Year-End Waste: Increased production and stock turnover mean more waste—review safe storage, disposal, and recycling channels.
Why This Matters
November is a tipping point month—your blog can guide businesses in preparing for winter hazards, reinforcing safety culture with legislative context, and maintaining environmental and employee wellbeing focus.
Contact us to discuss your health and safety requirements.
Although women cope differently with menopause, severe menopause symptoms can greatly affect their wellbeing.
The average age of natural menopause is 51 years but can occur much earlier or later. Menopause occurring before the age of 45 is called early menopause and before the age of 40 is premature menopause. Late menopause may also occur but by the age of 54, 80% of women will have stopped having periods.
Generally, women having early or premature menopause are advised to take HRT until approximately the average age of the menopause, for both symptom control and bone protective effect.
Some women are not prepared for the onset of menopause and its symptoms. It would be great to provide further information to employers and employees. Get in touch if you need support.
You might find it helpful to…
If you would like to find out more click on the links below:
Menopause in the workplace
The Women and Equalities committee set up an inquiry into menopause in the workplace and the extent to which women with menopausal symptoms suffer discrimination in the workplace. The recommendations are expected in 2022 and this could lead to changes to the Equality Act 2022.
It may be beneficial, if you haven’t already done so, to subscribe to the HSE news and updates link – HSE: Latest news on health and safety at work
Contact us for further information.
