Helping a neighbor to decorate their house for the holidays is not bad, but you need to take precautions to avoid injuries. Here are some of the precautions that will help:

Don't do it while Drunk

Working while drunk is always dangerous, especially if the work involves dangerous activities or tools. For example, if you are hanging holiday decorations and have to use ladders, you are engaged in dangerous work and shouldn't do it while drunk. Therefore, if your neighbor has been kind enough to offer you some alcoholic refreshments, wait until you are done helping them to enjoy them.

Be Careful Using Ladders

Using a ladder is supposed to make it easy and safe when working on things above your arm's reach. However, the ladder can also be a cause of an accident if you aren't careful. This is especially true with home ladders that may be kept for months or even years before being used. Ladders with damaged rungs, for example, can easily cause fall accidents. Or maybe your neighbor considered their weight when buying the ladder, and you weigh significantly more than your neighbor.

Watch Out For Slippery Floors

In most parts of the country, the holiday season is also synonymous with snowfalls or generally lots of precipitation. This means most surfaces are likely to be wet either from melting snow or from rainfall. Therefore, take care not to slip and fall on such wet patches when helping your neighbor decorate their yard or house's exterior.

Be Aware of the Risk of Electrical Shock

Most holiday decorations involve the use of electricity because they involve electric lights. As much as it is enjoyable to play around with different light decorations, you should not forget that electricity can give you a nasty shock if you don't handle it with respect. Help your friend to confirm that the electrical wires they are using have the right capacity, outdoor cables are rated as such, and the electrical circuits aren't overloaded. It is particularly important to confirm that the cables are not frayed or deteriorated because exposed wires expose you to a high risk of electrical shock.     

Don't Forget the Risk of Back Injury

Lastly, you should also be aware of the risk of back injury, especially if you will be helping the neighbor to carry heavy items. Make sure the items you are lifting are not too heavy for you; for those that are too heavy, use appropriate lifting equipment. Here are some safe lifting techniques to keep in mind:

• Don't bend forward; just bend at the hips and knees
• Keep the object close to you
• Don't lift heavy objects above your shoulder level
• Don't twist your body while carrying a heavy object

If you do get injured, however, you have the right to claim damages from your neighbor if you can prove that their negligence led to your injury. Consult a personal injury lawyer to help you with the way forward.