13 Oct Christmas shutdown checklist for NZ workplaces
Most health and safety problems around the Christmas break are not caused by the work itself. They happen in the rush to finish before everyone leaves, or on the first day back, when people are rusty and the site has been sitting for weeks.
This Christmas shutdown checklist covers what to check before you close and when you reopen. Use the lists below as they are, or adapt them to your workplace.
This article is general information only and is not legal advice. Your duties depend on your business and the work you do.
Before you close
Hazardous substances
- Check that all chemicals are in the correct containers, labelled and stored in the right place.
- Make sure lids are on tight and nothing is stored near heat. Summer temperatures build up fast in sheds and vehicles.
- Dispose of anything you no longer use. Our guide on how to manage hazardous substances explains a simple register process.
Equipment and machinery
- Shut down and isolate machinery, and put away portable tools.
- Repair or tag out any equipment with a known fault, so nobody uses it by mistake in January.
- Record any maintenance that is due. See why you should use Hasmate for asset management for one way to track it.
Fire and electrical
- Switch off and unplug non-essential equipment and heaters.
- Don’t leave batteries charging unattended over the break.
- Check that exits are clear and extinguishers are accessible.
Open incidents and hazards
- Close out incident follow-ups, or give each one an owner and a January date. Our post on turning incident reports into lessons shows how to make actions stick.
- Check your hazard register for anything you meant to fix before the break.
Security and access
- Lock up, set alarms and confirm who holds keys or codes.
- Tell regular contractors and suppliers your closure dates, and hold deliveries.
- Display an emergency contact on the door or gate, and make sure that person knows they are the contact.
Housekeeping
- Remove rubbish and perishable food. Empty fridges that won’t be used.
- Clear walkways and stacked materials so the first person back isn’t walking into a hazard.
If some of your team keep working
Some businesses stay open over the break, or send a small crew to cover urgent jobs. If that’s you:
- Avoid people working alone on high-risk tasks. If someone must, agree who will check in on them and when.
- Keep hours realistic. Tired people make more mistakes, and holiday cover often means long days.
- Make sure whoever is on call knows where the emergency procedures, first aid kit, and contact numbers are.
- Give contractors on site the same site rules and induction as at any other time.
Work Christmas functions
If you are holding an end-of-year event, treat it as a work activity. Plan transport home, keep food and alcohol sensible, and make one person responsible for the event. It’s a short conversation with your team and worth having before the day.
When you reopen
Do a walk-through before work starts
- Look for leaks, storm damage, pest activity, or anything that has shifted.
- Check that exits, walkways, and loading areas are clear.
- Inspect vehicles, tools, and machinery before use. Don’t assume they are as you left them.
Restart in stages
- Run normal pre-start checks on all equipment before putting it to work.
- Avoid starting the day with your most demanding or highest-risk job. People need time to settle back in.
Brief the team on day one
- Run a short toolbox talk covering changes, open hazards, and who is on site.
- Give a quick refresher on critical tasks and emergency procedures, especially for new or returning staff.
- Remind people about heat and sun. January is often hot, and some of your team will be working outside.
Pick up the loose ends
- Check the incident actions you left open before the break.
- Add anything you found during the walk-through to your hazard register.
Keep a record
A record of the checks you did, and when, is useful if something goes wrong later. It can be as simple as a dated list with a name against each item.
If you’d rather keep these checks with the rest of your health and safety information, Hasmate’s asset module, hazard register and incident management can hold the checks and follow-ups in one place. Book a free demo and we’ll show you how it works.
Please contact us if you would like to discuss.