3 Classic Christmas Movies Teach Us About EHS Hazards

Sleigh bells are ringing, stocking hung by the fire, lights are strung, and one outlet is doing the job of many (like Clark Griswald in Christmas Vacation). These Christmas cult classic movies are playing repeat and reminding us how much they can teach about EHS safety.

Christmas Vacation

Christmas Vacation is one of the most beloved Christmas classics of our time. Chevy Chase has a shining performance as Clark Griswold as he deals with several safety hazards that could have been prevented. There’s fire. There’s ice. There’s who knows what in the sewer from Cousin Eddie.

Clark proudly strings lights on the house, causing numerous safety incidents like slipping on roof ice which leads to hanging from the gutter. Stapling his shirt to the gutter and falling off the ladder. However, the grand light finale is arguably the most significant as it reveals the copious number of lights plugged into each other all over the house.

via YouTube.com

What can we learn from Clark? All these incidents could have been prevented with better planning, taking his time, and doing the job right the first time.

So, take steps to monitor potential risk points this holiday season and all year long. In addition, engage your leadership to play a role in upholding your safety culture. After all, safety at your workplace begins at the top.

Home Alone

Kevin McCallister creates quite the hazardous workplace for Harry and Marv in Home Alone.
Harry trips on an exposed wire and gets a swinging iron to the face. Marv steps barefoot onto a rusty nail. And despite their best efforts, the duo can’t seem to stay out of harm’s way.

Educating employees on the potential risks, and keeping those risks top of mind, you can hopefully empower them to avoid getting knocked in the head with a crowbar. Kevin was the mastermind behind all the slips, trips and falls however, completing job briefing forms, reporting close calls, and near misses can help your employees not become a modern-day Harry and Marv.

Christmas Story

“You’ll shoot your eye out” is one of the most remembered lines in Christmas movie history. Ralphie wants a Red Ryder Carbine Action 200-shot Range Model air rifle for Christmas. Ralphie’s desire is rejected by his mother, his teacher Miss Shields, and even a Santa Claus at Higbee’s department store, all giving him the same warning: “You’ll shoot your eye out.

A Christmas miracle unfolds as Ralphie receives the Red Ryder BB gun. Ralphie takes the gun outside and fires it at a target perched on a metal sign in the backyard. However, the BB ricochets back and knocks his glasses off. While searching for them, thinking that he has indeed shot his eye out, he steps on them and breaks them.

With proper PPE and training, Raphie could have prevented this incident. Hopefully, your employee’s eyeballs are not at risk. So, get out your limited-edition Orphan Annie decoder and find out how you can better train your employees. Ask them what matters to them and what they need to have better workplace safety.

Is your organization on the naughty or nice EHS safety list? If you think you will be getting a lump of coal, Sospes can help!