Summer is here and this means holidays – Christmas, New Year, Australia Day, and school holidays. Many workers have time off now too. Whether you travel away for a vacation or stay at home, it’s the time we all wind down and go into “holiday mode”. But safety at this time of the year is as important as ever – from making sure you have the right roof anchor points for working at heights when doing DIY jobs at home, to staying safe in the sun, on the road, and in the water.
Make Summer Safety a Priority
It’s easier to become distracted when you’re in holiday mode – especially during the party season when you may have overdone it a little the night before, or are feeling extra tired due to heat and humidity. As such, we’d like to offer some basic but extremely important general summer holiday safety tips for home and the workplace to ensure you have a happy holiday season…
Summer Safety Tips for Home and Work
- Sun Safety – Australia is the sunniest place on earth and our summer climate can be incredibly harsh. Aussies are traditionally sun lovers – and this translates to us having the highest skin cancer rates worldwide. No matter your age or skin type, you need to protect yourself from the sun’s damaging rays – to prevent sunburn, premature ageing, unsightly benign skin changes, and ultimately skin cancer, which will affect half of us at some point in our lives. Wear a high SPF sunscreen daily, especially if you’re out in the sun. Choose a fake tan rather than natural sun tanning or tanning beds if you want a sun-kissed look and wear a hat and long sleeves if you’re going to be outside. Your skin will thank you – and 10, 20, or 30 years from now you’ll look younger and feel better!
- Heat Safety – the risk of sunstroke and heat stroke are very real in hot, humid weather. If you’re planning to work or exercise on a hot day, try to do it early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid the hottest part of the day. Drink plenty of water and rest when you need to. Take plenty of water to drink with you when you go walking, hiking, or simply heading to the beach.
- Water Safety – swimming, surfing, paddle-boarding, and other watersports are the key to summer holiday fun, but sadly drowning is still a significant risk. Learn to swim no matter what your age, and NEVER go swimming or into the water after consuming alcohol. Supervise your kids! Don’t swim alone (especially in the ocean, lakes, dams, or rivers) and make sure to learn CPR.
- DIY Safety – the summer holidays can present the perfect opportunity to get some DIY jobs done on your building when the traffic flow is low. Be safe! From making sure you have the right tools to working only when you are refreshed and 100% sober, to using the right height safety equipment like roof anchor points and harnesses, to safe practices relating to electricity, make safety your number one priority.
- Workplace Safety – if you are still working during the holiday season, maintain all usual safety practices pertaining to your industry. If you do have to work, don’t have a “big night” the night before! Reduce occupational risks by using the right safety equipment, minimize heat exhaustion and exposure to direct sunlight where possible, take regular breaks, and rehydrate with fresh cold water.
- Road Safety – important year-round, road safety is critically important at this time of the year. There are more drivers than ever on the roads and a careless moment can lead to disaster. Service your vehicle before you travel, follow all local traffic laws, and take your time. If you’re caravanning for the first time, complete a towing course prior. Don’t drive tired and, if possible, share the driving if you’re travelling long distances. Stop, revive, and survive!
- Pest Safety – mosquitoes are part of the Australian summer, especially when the weather has been wetter than usual, as is the case in 2020-2021. Mozzie bites are not only uncomfortable but in Australia, they can carry Ross River Virus, which can be debilitating. Be aware of this and use insect repellent, especially if you’re going outside near a body of water or in the bush.
- Play Safely – summer holidays mean recreation – bike riding, skateboarding, scooters, skating, Segway, etc. Protect your head and your wrists/knees as appropriate!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from the Team at RISsafety!
RISSafety is here to fulfil all of your height safety needs, from roof walkways systems to static lines, stairs, platforms, PPE, and much more. We also provide training, site compliance, system installation, and a myriad of other height safety solutions.
All of us here at RISSafety wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Stay safe and we will see you in 2021!
