Research, released by EcoOnline, examines the EHS measures businesses adopt to protect employees, highlighting regional differences between the North America (US and Canada) and the UK due to regulatory differences. 

Rise in holiday hazards 

Research revealed that outside of seasonal illnesses, the top three holiday hazards for North American workers are preventable: fatigue from increased workload and/or longer working hours (45%), weather-related hazards (40%), and increased stress or pressure to meet deadlines (39%).   

When asked about existing practices, protocols and products in place to safeguard workers, North American managers identified additional holiday safety reminders (35%), weekly team briefings (34%), and access to mental health support resources (29%) as the primary lines of defense. Interestingly, 1 in 10 respondents (10%) said no additional measures were taken during the holiday season. 

Technology driving the future of safety 

Nearly half of managers report a rise in incidents during the holidays, while 49% note that general incident rates have remained stable year over year for the past few years, and 32% said they are increasing. With only 12% seeing a decline, these figures indicate the need for streamlined, technology-backed solutions year-round. 

Key responses on the impact and interest of technologies to reduce hazards include: 

• When asked what SaaS solutions would most effectively mitigate holiday hazards, North American workers said safety inspections (43%), training and learning (42%), and safety meetings and toolbox talks (40%).
• With 46% claiming incidents increase during the holidays, 71% of respondents identified an increase in spending in EHS protocols during the season.
• 8% of North American respondents said no software solutions were being used to help manage seasonal risks.
• Over the coming 3-5 years, those surveyed expect this investment to be funneled into three main areas: artificial intelligence (43%); mobile safety apps (42%); and safety cameras with analytics (38%).

Helen Jones, Chief Customer Officer at EcoOnline, says: “These findings underscore the added pressure on EHS frameworks during the holiday season. It’s clear that fostering a culture of safety is a two-pronged approach based both in behavioral feedback from employees, and technologically driven supports such as systematized reporting, observational tools, and automated responses to incidents.” 

Graham Cowing, Vice President of Safety Standards at Menzies Aviation, shares his insights: “The holiday season is one of our busiest times, with higher passenger volumes and increased cargo activity passing through our warehouses. This, coupled with the potential for adverse weather, creates a challenging environment as we strive to maintain the high standards expected by our stakeholders and customers.  

“Health, safety, and security have always been, and will remain, our top priority. During this period, we place added emphasis on tackling these heightened challenges. EcoOnline’s reporting tools play a crucial role in helping us identify hazards in real-time, enabling swift action to reduce risks, safeguard our people, and prevent damage. Additionally, we rely on local severe weather plans to proactively address adverse conditions whenever they arise.” 

Impact of regulatory frameworks  

When comparing data across the US, Canada, and the UK, we see consistently higher figures in risks to seasonal workers in North America, where 46% of respondents say risks increase during the holidays (compared to the UK’s 42%) and they index higher on each preventable cause. Investment in North America is also higher at 71%, pointing to the need for the creation of a more robust system, and indicating the impact from differences in regulatory pressures. While regulations like the OSHA in North America look to safeguard workers, in the EU, more stringent frameworks like the COSHH compliance, ISO 45001 and CSRD require businesses operating in these regions to take on the burden of care for employees in a more systemized way.  

“While North America and the UK differ in the severity of holiday hazards, the consistency of challenges underscores that these risks are systematic, requiring systematic solutions. Particularly during high-pressure times of year like the holiday season, leveraging advanced technological solutions, we can reduce preventable incidents and create a safer, more supportive environment for all employees. EcoOnline is dedicated to helping customers implement these solutions to safeguard their workforces, no matter the season.” says Jones.