Deck the hall safely this Christmas!
Christmas is a time for fun, to enjoy spending time with family and friends, not spending time waiting in A&E. An NHS survey revealed that 2.6 million people have fallen off a stool or ladder while hanging up Christmas decorations.
The survey highlighted the risks and dangers of putting up Christmas lights or balancing a ladder against a wall or tree.
We asked Jamie from The Christmas Decorators, the professional festive design and installation specialist, what are the most common risks when decorating for Christmas?
“There are many risks when it comes to decorating for Christmas, as much of the work, such as hanging lights or baubles, is done at height. We face various hazards, including working on uneven ground in poor weather conditions and lighting tall trees where conventional ladders make it difficult to reach the top. This makes it crucial for us to implement strict health and safety procedures and use high-quality equipment specifically designed for the job. Our Henchman PRO Tripod Ladders are essential as they allow us to fully adjust each leg to accommodate uneven terrain, steps, and slopes.”
Make a Prep List and Check it Twice
When working at heights, it is important to make sure you know the safety procedures when using a ladder both in and outdoors. Prepping and assessing the area is a great place to start and making sure the ladder is in a good condition, free from any damage that could pose a risk.
Jamie stresses that planning and preparation is key:
“Planning is everything. We are always asked, 'What do you do for the rest of the year?' The answer is a lot! After taking down six weeks of installations in two weeks in January, we have a very short break. Then we are back in the warehouse sorting stock and preparing for the next year. Soon after, new inquiries start coming in, leading to site visits, customer meetings, and proposals to write. Part of surveying the site is to identify where we will get power from, how it’ll be distributed, and access points for installing all the decorations. We know all the job details before we leave the warehouse at Christmas to be fully prepared, safe, and ready to delight our customers.”
Although home decorating does not require months of prepping and assessing, it just goes to show how important those steps are before going ahead and doing the job.
Santa has help from his elves
Where possible, have a friend or family member around to keep an eye on any potential hazards or risks and to assist with putting up decorations.
Jamie says “It's essential to conduct several health and safety checks before stepping foot on the ladder to ensure the safety of the user and others around. We always check the ladder's condition to ensure it’s free from dirt and debris, that the mechanisms and locks are working, and that all relevant safety labelling is clear and followed. Working in pairs when using ladders is common sense. As we decorate trees, we are up and down by the minute with various tools and decorations, so the extra pair of hands is invaluable. It’s also the right thing to ensure maximum safety for our installers.”
Is it going to be a white Christmas?
Putting up a ladder in snow or icy conditions is not advisable. Make sure you’re checking the weather forecast before you head up a ladder.
As a professional Christmas Decorator, Jamie is no stranger to working in hazardous conditions, he says:
"The conditions we work in present numerous challenges. We work in rain, snow, ice, and quite often on grass to light up trees. All our staff are well trained and very experienced. If, after they conduct a safety assessment, the conditions are not safe, we will rearrange with the client to return on another date.”
What ladder should I be using?
There are many types of standard ladders on the market but when putting up decorations in those hard-to-reach places, it is important to have a ladder build for durability and stability.
Our Henchman Tripod Ladders are built with a platform to allow you to work handsfree to focus on hanging decorations. With independently adjustable legs, our Tripod Ladders can be used outside on uneven ground. As with all Henchman ladders, stability and uncompromised safety are top priorities.
Tri-rrific features of our Tripod Ladders
One of the standout features of the Henchman Tripod Ladders are the fully adjustable legs, allowing users to easily adjust the legs to accommodate varying slopes and steps, with smaller adjustments intervals, users can always maintain the perfect level.
Unlike traditional ladders with thin, curved feet that sink into the soft ground making them unlevel and unstable, our Tripod ladder is designed with extra-wide, clawed feet that have a larger surface area that distributes weight evenly, preventing sinking and minimising slippage in wintery conditions.
No problem reaching the top of the tree
Henchman Tripod Ladders come in a range of sizes from 5ft to 16ft, so no task will be out of reach! The taller ladders are perfect for outside jobs such as reaching the second floor to hang ice-type lights and the smaller ones are ideal for inside jobs like putting the star of top of the tree!
The Christmas Decorators are fans of Henchman Tripod Ladders:
“Our Henchman PRO Fully Adjustable Tripod Ladders are vital for decorating the awkward shapes of fresh and artificial Christmas trees indoors and outdoors. They are lightweight for easy transportation, very sturdy, and comfortable to work on for prolonged periods. The tripod ladders allow you to reach places you couldn’t with standard ladders. If you think of the conical shape of a Christmas tree, the tripod ladder fits closely to ensure safety and prevent overreaching, especially at the top of the tree. The tripod adjustable legs allow for perfect positioning.”
Using the ladder safely
Safety precautions when using a ladder should always be in the front of your mind. When stepping onto a ladder, it’s crucial to lean into it for stability and avoid leaning back and ensure that the ladder’s height is appropriate for the task to prevent overreaching or crouching.
Jamie reminds us of key ladder safety practices:
“Some of our key safety practices include using tool lanyards, ensuring there are two team members per ladder, and always maintaining three points of contact with the ladder. All the same health and safety policies that are used for gardeners or landscapers apply to us, but we use them to light trees, hang motifs, and install giant inflatable reindeers. You name it, we do it!”
Here are our safety tips when climbing a ladder this Christmas:
- Lean into the ladder when stepping up.
- Always maintain three points of contact with the ladder.
- Mount and dismount the ladder facing the rungs.
- Do no place the ladder on movable objects such as pallets, tables or vehicles.
- Adhere to weight restrictions specified on the ladder.
- Extending or moving ladders should only be done when the ladder is not in use.
- When using indoors or on hard surfaces, use the rubber feet to prevent slipping.
- Make sure your ladder is level before stepping up.
To help you stay safe when working at height, check out our full ladder safety guide. Explore our full range of Tripod Ladders here and if you’re looking for some Christmas inspiration, head over to our Pinterest.
