The buildup to Halloween is one of the best parts of the holiday. From buying costumes, decorating your home, preparing to go trick-or-treating or just hanging out and watching scary movies, the entire spooky season is a ton of fun.
The spirit of the season doesn’t need to be lost at work, but according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, an average of 3,200 Halloween-related injuries are treated at U.S. emergency departments each year. So how do you celebrate in a way that is fun, work-appropriate and safe?
Read on to hear tips for how to safely address costumes, decorating, parties, and other Halloween celebration ideas at the workplace.
Halloween Costumes and Candy
Costumes and candy are two things that instantly come to mind when you think about Halloween.
But before you dress a certain way or distribute candy to coworkers, make sure you’re incorporating them into the workplace with care.
Wearing Halloween costumes can be fun, and you can even consider a costume contest at your workplace. But have clear guidelines for appropriate and safe costumes.
If your costume doesn’t meet manufacturing floor safety guidelines, don’t wear it. Avoid anything that isn’t fire resistant, obstructs vision or poses tripping hazards.
Have clear rules on masks and face paint. Masks can be triggering and make some people uneasy, and some costumes can make the workplace feel unsafe for some employees.
Candy is an obvious food to include at the office during Halloween, whether it be during a trick-or-treating event, or at a party. But when it comes to candy or other Halloween treats, be mindful of your coworkers’ allergies.
Halloween Decorating Safely at Work
Halloween decorations can change your workplace into a scary fun place to be during spooky season. But it’s critical to choose Halloween décor that doesn’t compromise safety. It’s a good idea to avoid inappropriately gory decorations or surprising pop outs as they can be triggering or offensive. Here are some suggestions for how you can decorate your workspace safely and appropriately.
- Think about fire safety. Opt for flame-resistant or flameless decorations to reduce the risk of fires. If you plan to use lights or electronic decorations, check to see they are in good condition, won’t cause shocks and don’t overload electrical outlets.
- Don’t interfere with people’s work. Decoration rules aren’t one-size-fits-all—depending on your work environment, you have different safety requirements. If there’s dangerous machinery around, your rules should address them. If you work in an office, they should be tailored to that. No matter where you work, employees should be able to move around without worrying about obstacles.
- Exits should be available. All employees need to have access to emergency exits. Decorating is fun, but in the event of an emergency, you and your coworkers need access to an exit without having to maneuver around decorations.
- Be safe on ladders. Inspect ladders before use, never step on the top rung, and only use it on a level and stable surface. A fall from a ladder is an easy way to get injured at the office.
- Don’t offend. Halloween is all fun and games until something is a little more scary than appropriate. Horror themes that lean toward more violent can make some people uncomfortable. Jump scares are fun for some people but can create an uneasy environment for others. Before bringing in any decorations, find out what your company approves of.
Halloween Work Parties
A party is a fun way to celebrate Halloween at work. The decorations are hung, the costumes are on, and now everyone just has a chance to relax and have fun. Here are some ideas to consider when planning your work party during spooky season.
Be clear about alcohol at parties. If your workplace hosts a Halloween party, be sure the rules about alcohol consumption are very clear. If alcohol is being consumed, have a plan for designated drivers or a car ride service made available.
Host a cauldron-luck lunch. Halloween parties are always a lot of fun, and an easy to organize and safe way to go about it is with a potluck lunch. Ask for Halloween-themed submissions but be mindful of allergies and food safety.
Be careful while carving pumpkins. On average, 55% of Halloween-related injuries are related to pumpkin carving. Cutting pumpkins with sharp knives includes inherent risk. But there are safe alternatives. Allow jack-o’-lanterns carved at home to be brought in, or have a pumpkin decorating contest, with paint instead of knives.
Host a cauldron-luck lunch. Halloween parties are always a lot of fun, and an easy to organize and safe way to go about it is with a potluck lunch. Ask for Halloween-themed submissions but be mindful of allergies and food safety.
Put on some Halloween movies. Set aside a specific spot where Halloween movies are shown either all day or during specific time periods. Remember, the film needs to be appropriate for the workplace, there are lots of fun Halloween films that won’t offend.
A Recap for Employers
As an employer, you are key to making sure Halloween is a fun, safe, appropriate holiday for your employees. But what can you do to make sure the holiday comes and goes without incident or injury and instead is a good time for everyone? Put your employees and their safety first with this recap.
- Consider your work environment when setting standards. Loose clothing isn’t safe in a manufacturing environment because it could be caught in machinery. If your work has you in the heat or cold, temperature-appropriate costumes are needed. Think about what people need to avoid wearing to stay safe at work.
- Establish the rules early and repeat them often. Are you not allowing masks because of potentially upsetting someone? Are you going to allow alcohol consumption at a work event? If everyone knows the answers to what they are or are not allowed to do, it will prevent issues well in advance.
- Make a costume policy. When it comes to Halloween costumes, decide what is not allowed first. It is probably a good idea to keep politics and religion off the table. Gory or offensive outfits can also lead to problems. Lastly, discourage costumes that make fun of anyone, but especially coworkers or employers.
- Always remember, safety first. Whether it be decorating, party rules, costumes, or anything else, consider safety to prevent a workplace injury.
- Remember the point of the celebration. Not everything will be for everyone. That’s okay. But it isn’t okay if certain people are left out or are made uncomfortable by the celebration. Talk to your employees and find out what they want the celebration to be. Maybe it isn’t even a party—group volunteering or leaving early on the day itself can be alternate ways of celebrating.
Keches Law Can Help with Halloween Workplace Injuries
Accidents happen, even during Halloween workplace celebrations. In these situations, Keches Law is here to assist you.
If you’re injured during a workplace Halloween event, our team specializes in workers’ compensation cases. We’ll guide you through the process, ensuring you receive fair compensation for injuries sustained during office festivities.
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