As you begin to plan the holiday decor for your office spaces, the Office of Environmental Health and Safety/Risk Management would like to provide the following safety and health guidelines:

Holiday Gatherings

• To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, please do NOT have potluck gatherings.
• If providing food/beverages for an indoor gathering, ensure there is adequate spacing to allow guests to socially distance when removing their face covering to eat/drink.
• Remember that University Dining Services has the right of first refusal on all food/beverages to be provided for campus events.
• If they are unable to accommodate your request, please ensure that the food items come fully prepared from a kitchen permitted by the Fresno County Department of Public Health (i.e. grocery/deli, restaurant, caterer).

Questions about food safety? Contact EHS Specialist Marissa Castillo at 559.278.1135 or mcc24@mail.fresnostate.edu.

Christmas Trees:

• Live trees and/or greenery are not permitted.
• Artificial trees, wreaths, boughs, garland or greenery labeled as fire resistant or flame retardant (UL 2358) are permitted. Artificial trees may be metallic or non-metallic.
• Do not add electric lights to metallic trees as that could cause an electrical hazard.
• Christmas trees and related combustible decorations are not permitted in corridors, aisles, stairways or passageways.

Decorations:

• Decorations are not allowed to obstruct the usual view of exit signs or any other life safety device (i.e., fire extinguisher, pull station, horn/strobe, sprinkler head or piping, etc.).
• For holiday decorations, use plastic or foil decorations such as satin balls, plastic icicles, holiday ribbon.
• Combustible material such as wrapping paper, contact paper and plastic may not be placed on interior doors facing hallways, stairways or other doors in the exit path. Decorations on doors shall not obstruct views through door vision panels.
• Approved non-combustible items cannot be hung from sprinklers, smoke detectors, emergency lights or any life safety equipment.
• Electrical candles may be used.
• The use of candles, lanterns, oil lamps or any type of other open flames is prohibited.

Electric Holiday Lights:

• LED electric light sets must be properly labeled and identified for indoor use.
• Battery-operated LED strip lighting is not allowed.
• All holiday LED lights shall be turned off before leaving the area, and at the end of the work day.
• The use of holiday lights, electric ornaments and extension cords in corridors and over exit doors is prohibited. Wiring shall not be strung through doors or ceilings or placed under carpeting.
• No extension cords shall be used — only one (UL 1363 listed) power strip can be used. No piggybacking (multiple power strips plugged into each other). If possible, plug directly into a power outlet.
• No more than three sets of holiday LED lights shall be connected together.
• Before using, light strings should be carefully checked to ensure there are no loose sockets and that wires are not frayed or damaged.
• Holiday lights should not come into contact with paper, packages, cloth or other combustible items.
• Light strings should not be attached to walls or molding with staples, tacks, nails or paper tape. Use electrical tape or string them with cup-type hooks.

Adhering to these guidelines will help to ensure that we have a festive, safe and enjoyable holiday atmosphere.

If you have any questions, contact the EHS/RM team at ehsrmsrequest@csufresno.edu.