I know it's hard to imagine,mostly because it's summer, but believe it or not,It's nearly Christmas, and with only 22 weeks left to go, to the company Christmas parties are in full swing and already this week has seen the start of booking them.

In fact Christmas parties have been in the news a lot recently, with articles about how to survive the company Christmas party, and various stories on the radio and internet about parties being cancelled due to the fear that businesses have of being sued, especially in this current fragile and frantic economic climate.

In fact it has been shown that fifty percent of all parties finish with colleagues fighting, one in three with incidents of sexual harassment, and one in five with accidents involving employees. The trouble is that health and safety rules (which are designed to help protect event organisers and managers) are becoming an excuse not to have a party.

There have even been reports in the press of a local council insisting that a party organiser (of a free community event) risk assess the mince pies and Christmas decorations. Now I'm all for ensuring an event that is safe and fun for everyone - but even I don't think it's necessary to go that far!

So what can you do to help make the Christmas party a safer place?

The first step is to set a 'Party Policy' which will outline the do's and don'ts for any of the attendees. The truth is that the party can be seen as an extension of the working day, and it should therefore be treated as such. It could be as easy as sending an invite with the rules of conduct printed on the back, to include behavioural guidelines so that everyone knows what is acceptable and what isn't.

Although we have talked about the dangers of mince pies and streamers, as with any event or business activity it is important to identify the potential risks. You should collect together the risk assessments and method statements from the venue, and any other supplier, and if you are looking to hold the event in a temporary marquee, then you should consult with a specialist in this area.

Another area of concern is the provision of alcohol. As the organiser, you should provide soft drinks as well as alcohol, and you should be aware that you could be responsible for any actions or accidents that take place as a result of you providing the drinks. I would never recommend a free bar (I've seen this go wrong too many times) and you should take the responsibility of telling people to take it easy if they look like they have had enough.

One area that should be discouraged is the infamous Christmas party fling - this could lead to embarrassment and put a strain on work relationships when everyone gets back to work. Employers should make sure all employees are informed of the company's view on workplace relationships and reminded ahead of the party.

If you are working with a company on their Christmas party you can help them by working with them to ensure the event is safe and enjoyed by all. You can also help to protect yourself by thinking about the areas that could go wrong and working with the venue and other suppliers to ensure that everything is covered.

Have a great Christmas and an excellent New Year (now that's a whole other story...)