OSHA Issues Holiday Workplace Safety Tips

Employers are being reminded to maintain safety as a priority during this holiday season. 

The National Retail Federation expects retailers to hire more than 500,000 seasonal workers across the country to help with the holiday rush. 

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration is reminding employers to pay legally earned wages as well as take other steps to keep workers safe: 

• Prevent the spread of coronavirus
• Take warehouse and forklift safety measures
• Crowd management procedures during crowded retail events 
• Abide by teen worker rules 

According to the agency’s wage and hour division, the most common violations cited in holiday employment investigations are employers failing to pay cashiers and salespeople for prepping and closing out registers, requiring personnel to work through breaks without pay, and failing to pay appropriate overtime wages. 

“The holiday season is typically a very busy time for businesses, and just as consumer demands increase, so must an employer’s awareness of keeping their employees safe,” an OSHA official said. 

“All workers—from those starting their first job to those making some extra money as a seasonal worker to those year-round employees—are entitled to a workplace free from hazards and to be trained in a language they understand to recognize and prevent hazards.”

It is increasingly important for employers who are unfamiliar with seasonal and part-time hiring to familiarize themselves with the rules and regulations.

For more information, contact CBIA’s Phillip Montgomery (860.244.1982).