With Christmas fast approaching, many of us are gearing up to transform our homes and businesses into festive grottos. From hanging lights and draping garlands to setting up outdoor displays, decorating for Christmas is an important tradition for families, but also an important commercial event. Many businesses experience their busiest period during the Christmas season, and decorating forms part of gearing up to this. Decorating tasks are integral to Christmas as it is celebrated, but these tasks can pose safety risks, especially when working at height. Using the right access equipment is essential to ensure your experience is safe, and that your holiday season is festive and successful. 

In this guide, we’ll explore common challenges faced when decorating for Christmas, and how using proper access equipment can help you complete these tasks safely and efficiently. 

Christmas Decorating Tasks Involving Work at Height

Many festive decorating projects, from hanging lights on tall trees to setting up elaborate displays, require working at height. Unfortunately, these activities come with a range of hazards, including the risk of falls, unstable surfaces and overreaching. 

Winter weather conditions, such as snow and wind, can increase these risks. To stay safe, it’s vital to use the proper access equipment. Solutions such as ladders, scaffolding towers, boom lifts and scissor lifts can significantly minimise the risk of accidents. 

Section 1: Manual Access Equipment

For smaller decorating tasks, manual access equipment provides an easy and effective solution. These tools are perfect for simpler jobs around the home, such as hanging lights or placing ornaments in hard-to-reach areas. At Drogheda Hire & Sales, we stock a range of manual access equipment options, including: 

• Ladders and Step Ladders

Ladders and step ladders are indispensable when it comes to Christmas decorating. Indoors, a step ladder makes it easy to hang wreaths, string lights around doorways or place ornaments on high shelves. For outdoor projects, an extension ladder is ideal for hanging lights along roofs or decorating tall trees. 

• Scaffolding Towers

For larger residential or small commercial projects, such as setting up a festive grotto or decorating for an outdoor Christmas event, scaffolding towers provide a stable, elevated platform. Unlike ladders, scaffolding towers make it easy to access wide areas, perfect for hanging large decorations, stringing lights or installing complex displays. These towers also allow multiple people to work simultaneously, speeding up the decorating process. 

Section 2: Powered Access Equipment

If your Christmas decorating plans involve extensive projects or decorating large buildings, powered access equipment is the most efficient solution. These machines not only significantly extend your reach, but they also reduce the need to rely on precarious balancing ladders. 

• Boom Lifts

For safely decorating tall trees, rooftops or commercial properties, Drogheda Hire & Sales offer modern boom lifts, providing both height and reach without compromising safety. 
 

• Scissor Lifts

For flat surfaces like shopfronts or large building walls, scissor lifts provide a stable, elevated work platform, ensuring easy access to hard-to-reach places.

Section 3: Choosing the Right Equipment

Selecting the appropriate access equipment for Christmas decorating is crucial to ensure a smooth and efficient installation process. Whether you’re a DIY enthusiast looking to shower your home in festive spirit, or a professional installer tasked with decorating large commercial properties, having the right tools can make all the difference. 

For DIY decorators handling smaller jobs such as decorating your front garden or indoor space, simple tools like step ladders or extension poles are often sufficient. These options are easy to use, portable and provide the reach needed for typical home projects such as hanging lights or placing ornaments on tall trees. 

Professional installers may require more advanced access equipment for more complex or large-scale projects. Options such as extension ladders, telescopic platforms and scaffold towers can ensure you stay safe whilst working at height. For more intricate installations, we also recommend using boom lifts or towable cherry pickers to navigate hard-to-reach areas, especially when working on commercial properties or public displays. 
By carefully selecting the right equipment, you can ensure your Christmas decorating experience is both safe and enjoyable, no matter the size of the project. 

Contact Drogheda Hire and Sales for Access Equipment Hire

When it comes to decorating for Christmas, safety should always be a priority. Whether you’re using manual or powered access equipment, it’s crucial to choose the right tools for the job to avoid accidents and ensure a smooth decorating experience. By understanding the differences and types of equipment available, you can make informed decisions and enjoy the festive season without any unnecessary risks. 

At Drogheda Hire  & Sales, our team is on hand to guide you in selecting the most suitable access equipment for your needs. To find out more, please get in touch. Call us on 041 9841419 for our Drogheda depot or on 01 9108757 for our Dublin depot, use our contact form or try our Enquiry Bot at the bottom left-hand corner of our home page.