NEWS - Warning: Christmas parties can damage your health

December 14, 2004

Warning: Christmas parties can damage your health

Last Updated: 2004-12-13 12:04:12 -0400 (Reuters Health)

LONDON (Reuters) - Don't dance on tables at the office Christmas party

and resist the temptation to photocopy body parts in a drunken attempt

to amuse colleagues.

That is the message from Britain's Royal Society for the Prevention of

Accidents (RoSPA), which joined trade unions on Friday to issue

guidelines on how to host a safe and successful office party.

" Resist the temptation to photocopy parts of your anatomy, " RoSPA and

the Trades Union Congress (TUC) said. " If the copier breaks, you'll have

Christmas with glass in painful places. "

" Dancing on desks could do them and you a lot of damage, " they said.

" Likewise, the boardroom table is meant for weighty documents, not

overweight executives. "

Candles, flaming Christmas puddings and cigarettes should be avoided at

all costs.

Stepladders, not swivel chairs, should be used to hang tinsel and

mistletoe, which should not be hung near sources of heat.

" Keep a close eye on those who may drink too much, " the organizations

advised. " Alcohol makes some people aggressive rather than friendly. The

party will be spoiled if it ends in a punch-up or harassment complaint. "

RoSPA and the TUC were condemned by some as killjoys but said they were

only trying to help.

" We are not being party poopers, " RoSPA Occupational Safety Adviser

Bibbings said.

" Some sensible safety precautions will allow people to have a great

office celebration without having to call in the emergency services. "

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

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