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December arrives like a whirlwind of light and motion. Workplaces race to close out the year while personal calendars overflow with travel, gatherings, shopping, and traditions. The air feels electric with anticipation, but beneath the sparkle lies a quieter truth: this is one of the most dangerous months of the year for accidents, injuries, and fires. Fatigue rises, routines fracture, weather turns unforgiving, and distractions multiply. Yet December can still be joyful, productive, and deeply meaningful—if we refuse to let the rush overpower our judgment. And YES - Safety and Health is critical throughout this busy month!
First — Manage fatigue and rushing like the hazards they are. Holiday pressures drain energy faster than most months. We stay up late wrapping gifts or finishing reports, wake up early for flights or overtime, and convince ourselves we can “push through”, just this once. Tired, hurried people take shortcuts, and shortcuts cause accidents. Before starting any task—whether it’s climbing a ladder with a box of ornaments, operating machinery, or driving to grandmother’s house—pause for ten seconds and ask yourself three simple questions: Am I alert right now? Am I rushing? Do I fully understand the risks involved? That brief moment of honest reflection has stopped countless injuries. Presence is the antidote to haste.
Second — Treat every non-routine task with extra caution. December is the month of unusual jobs: stringing outdoor lights, assembling large toys on Christmas Eve, shoveling wet snow, hauling extra freight, or performing year-end equipment maintenance in cold conditions. Familiarity breeds complacency, but unfamiliarity breeds danger. We are statistically most vulnerable when we step outside our daily groove. The fix is straightforward: stop, identify the controls you need (ladder safety, proper tools, a spotter, stable footing), and mentally walk through the steps before you touch anything. Never tell yourself “It’ll be fine” when you’ve never done it tired, cold, or in the dark before. Respect the task long enough to finish it safely.
Third — Communicate clearly amid shifting roles and responsibilities. People take vacation, others cover shifts, relatives arrive, and households swell with guests. Instructions get assumed instead of spoken, and confusion follows. At work, someone may be asked to run equipment they rarely touch; at home, a visiting uncle might decide to deep-fry the turkey without mentioning his plan. Make expectations explicit every single time. Say out loud who is doing what, confirm they have the right training, tools, or recipe, and agree on the plan together. A thirty-second conversation prevents both operational errors and family-room disasters. Clear words create safety where silence creates risk.
Fourth — Build margin for seasonal pressures—weather, travel, and crowds. Snow, ice, packed parking lots, and overbooked schedules all shrink the room for error. The natural response is to speed up and muscle through, but that impulse is backward. Safe people do the opposite: they leave earlier, drive slower, shop online when possible, and accept that some things can wait until January. Margin is the single most powerful safety tool you have. A fifteen-minute buffer can mean the difference between arriving frazzled and arriving at all. Ease off the accelerator, literally and figuratively. Patience protects you more than horsepower ever will.
Fifth — Protect both your health and your home from hidden December dangers. Stress climbs, sleep plummets, immune systems weaken, and fire risks soar—cooking fires, candles, space heaters, and drying evergreens create perfect storm conditions. Did you know the hazards of "live" evergreens in homes? Here's an article on the risk of fire due to Christmas trees - they're ability to grow into fast-moving fires is incredible.
Guard your wellbeing first: prioritize sleep, drink water instead of endless holiday cocktails, and keep at least one daily routine intact so your body doesn’t revolt when you need it most. At home, never leave cooking unattended, keep children away from hot stoves and open flames, and close bedroom doors at night to slow potential fire spread (be sure to review the related NFPA/UL research on this subject!). Check that smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms have fresh batteries and that every family member knows two ways out of every room.
Charge lithium-ion batteries (e-bikes, scooters, motorcycles, hoverboards and power tools) in an open area, away from bedding or clutter, and only while someone is awake and present. The fire risk from any of these devices can be critical.
And of course, never drive impaired—while staying hyper-aware that many others on the road tonight might be.
December doesn’t have to be a month of regret disguised as celebration. Small acts of attention prevent big events. Stay present instead of preoccupied. Seek clarity instead of assuming. And care—for yourself and everyone around you—with the same intention you bring to choosing the perfect gift.
When we keep these three words front-of-mind—Presence, Clarity, Care—the season remains bright without becoming dangerous. Slow down enough to notice risks. Speak up enough to align the people around you. And look out for one another with the vigilance you’d hope someone would show you.
Here’s to a December that ends with memories instead of incidents, with gratitude instead of hospital visits. Stay safe, stay mindful, and take good care of yourself and others throughout this beautiful, bustling holiday season.
Take a moment also to relax, be with others, and enjoy some beautiful music this season.
And of course, be sure to stop by and catch up with what's new and exciting at Mighty Line, where we are always eager to be of help with your safety and operational excellence needs!
We'll see you soon on Mighty Line Minute!
