Santa Claus – A STEAM Safety Experiment

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At this festive time of year, many students and adults are thinking about Santa visiting them on Christmas Eve, providing that they have been ‘nice’ and not on the naughty list. In this article, we will critically examine the important factors associated with Santa’s big night from an informed, intelligent STEAM safety perspective. Thankfully, Santa has allowed some globally recognized safety agencies to participate in the pre-planning procedures and to perform safety inspections to validate that come December 24th. He can complete his tasks of delivering millions of presents to households across the planet. 

Let’s explore some of the recognized safety concerns regarding Santa, his protective clothing, his magical flying sleigh, and its weight distribution capabilities, his workforce, animal safety, the safety plans and protocols in place, and the necessary logistics and specialized training involved in making global deliveries in a compressed timeline under often treacherous conditions including the cover of night, ice, snow, working at heights, confined spaces and of course’ science.’ 

This is the ‘science of safety’ overview for our northern friends, Kris Kringle, Pere Noel, St. Nicholas, Father Christmas, or Santa Claus, among other names commonly used, as we look at the potential occupational hazards through a safety lens. 

Benefits of Performing a Hazard Analysis and Risk Assessment for Santa’s STEAM Safety

As educators, we are aware of the necessity for performing a hazard analysis and risk assessment before any demonstration or activity is conducted in the laboratory with students. Santa graciously provided a copy of the safety action planning document to identify any hazards or risks encountered on Christmas Eve and some preventative actions to ensure that this global action is performed with safety at the forefront of the conversation.

Here is the summary of these safety actions for your review and consideration provided by the occupational health and safety department in conjunction with the North Pole legal department. (note that some of the criteria have been removed from this listing as they are proprietary to some of the technology and magic systems used)

“As the holiday season approaches, Santa Claus and his elves prepare for Christmas Eve. Between all the present wrapping, route planning, and checking the Naughty and Nice lists, Father Christmas must allocate time to complete an extensive and comprehensive safety checklist to avoid potential personal injury or property damage during the Christmas Eve global deliveries. When your job involves a lot of walking on snowy rooftops and night flying, it’s always a good idea to take extra precautions”. 

Snapshot of some of the minimum STEAM safety standards for Santa:

• Perform a safety check on the sleigh to ensure all parts are in good working order, including seatbelts, airbag restraint system, emergency parachute, runners, signal lights, communication systems, and all other relevant instrumentation and safety features
• Ensure safety footwear has proper traction and can keep feet dry on rooftops
• Always check for a fire before descending the chimney
• Feed and properly groom reindeer before departure, including full physical medical evaluations before the flight
• Inspect reindeer auditory and visual (bells and lights) communication system on reins and harnesses as well as tensile strength testing on all gear for reindeer
• No texting and flying permitted. Use wireless earbuds with Bluetooth technology.
• Limit cookie intake at each house to prevent sugar rush and subsequent crashes and avoid warm milk to stay alert for the duration of the global present distribution operation
• Do not consume brandy, wine, beer, or other alcoholic beverages left out for Santa since there is a no-drinking and flying zero-tolerance policy (0.0%) in effect.
• Wear properly fitted ANSI/ISEA Z87.1 D3 safety eye protection to avoid snow blindness, moisture, splashes, and impacts from the speed and altitude changes
• Keep hands and feet dry and warm to avoid frostbite using certified, approved protective workwear with redundancy spare sets in the sleigh.
• Keep a special thermal protective coat and pants on at all times due to temperature changes from altitude, chimneys, homes, and the ions in the atmosphere.
• Charge the GPS battery backup system before leaving the North Pole
• Ensure all gifts are properly wrapped and no toy products are recalled before distribution on Christmas Eve
• Pack dog treats to distract disgruntled pets
• Polish Rudolph’s nose for maximum illumination
• Avoid planes, helicopters, etc., by flying as low as possible and staying away from airports.
• If the rooftop appears icy or otherwise hazardous, seek an alternate landing area.
• Ensure the customized magical Elf hat fits well to avoid obstructed vision
• Stay hydrated all night for mental sharpness and acuity
• Check-in with Mrs. Claus and/or Elves to update them on progress often
• Install a useful weather app to the wireless device to stay abreast of precipitation, storms, etc., and have this projected onto the screen communication interface in the sleigh
• Keep both hands on the reins at all times when in flight mode, including takeoff
• Do not leave gifts in doorways or stairwells to protect children from potential injury
• Do not allow reindeer to graze on poinsettias, holly, mistletoe, etc., as they can be poisonous to animals
• Keep all hot beverages in a tightly sealed thermos to avoid spills/burns
• In the event of a snowstorm or other inclement weather, land a sleigh somewhere safe and wait until the weather clears or use magic in combination with stealth drones
• Upon takeoff and landing, ensure the runway is clear of Elves, reindeer, and anthropomorphic snowmen

Global Partnership for Santa’s STEAM Safety

Transport Canada (T.C.) and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are involved in a specialized joint safety task force that provides assurances to Mrs. Claus, the elves, the reindeer, and of course, all the folks around the world waiting for their special delivery for Christmas morning under the tree.

Transport Canada and the FAA take this responsibility very seriously and have developed a precise formula and personalized set of criteria to evaluate the safety readiness across the entire Santa ecosystem to provide a holistic overview of the safety program.

Transport Canada inspectors have recently traveled to the North Pole to inspect Santa’s sleigh and related safety systems, including landing gear, reindeer harnesses, illumination, and multi-dimensional communications and navigation systems. Rudolph’s nose was confirmed to function at maximum brightness, and Santa’s magical bag of presents was thoroughly inspected using the latest screening and detection technology. 

Additionally, these highly skilled inspectors made observations within Santa’s stealth drone testing facility managed by security clearance authorized Elves since (while not yet confirmed) certain purposefully deployed Christmas drones may be used in future years to help with special deliveries in exceptional circumstances.

Santa and his media team remind people to keep their drones inside after dark to avoid spooking the reindeer or causing a collision with the sleigh or other aircraft. Santa also warned against pointing a laser at the sleigh, Mrs. Claus, or the reindeer as the bright, amplified light could temporarily blind, disorient and distract any of them – putting the entire Christmas Eve operation in danger.

Those who want to know about the sleigh’s progress are invited to track it on the NORAD Tracks Santa website and the #NORADSanta hashtag on social media. 

Later today, Transport Canada, in partnership with the FAA, is expected to jointly announce that Santa Claus and his sleigh have successfully passed his pre-flight inspection and are set for a safer takeoff. His cargo has been extensively screened, his sleigh purposefully loaded using advanced physical science and engineering calculations, and his initial flight plans have been filed.

Santa and his team of reindeer are expected to leave the North Pole, which is located in Canada’s north, on time to make his annual Christmas deliveries based on the long-term weather forecast following an east-to-west choreographed flight pattern aligned to time zones.

During the year, according to informed sources at the North Pole, his elves have increased safety awareness through training and testing and added some technology-enhanced systems to assist Santa in safely accomplishing his impressive tasks. For the children wondering about the newest updates, Santa Claus’s sleigh is now equipped with onboard Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and a satellite locator beacon system monitored by the global military, including NORAD.

There is also an App that Santa is using to manage his Naughty or Nice list more efficiently with up-to-the-minute update refresh cycles. While weather conditions across the global regions Santa will fly through are extremely varied, the Jolly Old Elf shows that he is keeping up with the times.

Unofficial rumors report that some covert delivery technology will be beta testing using a new fleet of Elf-piloted drones. There is no official confirmation that Santa will give Rudolf a night off this Christmas. Still, it is unlikely since significant snow and heavy fog are expected in many cities and across multiple countries. That special red light will be needed to assist with most special deliveries.

Sources, including Mrs. Claus, confirmed that Santa has invested considerable time over the past year to successfully complete the upgraded safety and compliance training on all the necessary safety features of the upgraded sleigh and applied in advance for his SFOC—Santa’s Flight Operations Certificate.

Like all pilots, Santa must undergo a comprehensive annual physical exam with a doctor to maintain his pilot license. The medical auditors from T.C. and the FAA are pleased to report that Santa has passed all his physical and cognitive tests with flying colors and that his pilot license is valid for another year, allowing him to legally navigate the airspace over the countries on his special list.

According to NIOSH, being out all night can make Santa pretty tired, and they have recommended that Santa take the NIOSH online course Fatigue Prevention for Pilots: A Training Program as he gets ready for the big day for Commercial Pilots in Alaska.

There are also several new fatigue detection technologies available. The NIOSH blog series can help Santa select the one that will work best for him. It’s a long night, and in addition to fatigue considerations, Santa will need a bathroom break after drinking a glass of milk at every stop. Santa should also visit the NIOSH webpages on Aircrew Safety & Health, which include information on circadian rhythm disruption and cosmic ionizing radiation and noise and hearing loss.

Quick Facts

• Track Santa and the reindeer as they make their way around the world thanks to the NORAD Tracks Santa website (www.noradsanta.org) and the #NORADSanta hashtag.
• Santa wants to ensure that everyone who asked for a drone this year knows how to fly it safely and legally. Read his list of safety tips at www.tc.gc.ca/SafetyFirst.
• Santa consistently impresses his pilot friends with his uncanny ability for safe takeoffs and landings in urban centers and flying in whiteout conditions.
• Santa’s pre-flight checklist includes looking for ice build-ups, checking Rudolph’s nose, and ensuring that the elves on board are informed about safety procedures, in addition to the proprietary list from T.C. and the FAA.

Fatigue-Influenced STEAM Safety Concerns for Santa

Santa’s all-nighter to deliver holiday presents around the world could put him at heightened risk for a fatigue-related sleigh crash over North America, according to researchers at the Washington State University Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. 

The case study, published in Sleep Health earlier this year, identified the safety impacts of a 23-hour night shift in late December on an overweight, older male seasonal worker and his reindeer-propelled global distribution team, as well as strategies to mitigate the impacts for a safer flight.

Using 2020 data from Santa’s duty schedule and his package delivery route from the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), researchers pinpointed the window of time within Santa’s night shift when a high accumulation of wake from hours on duty would coincide with low circadian rhythm. They found that Santa would be at maximum sleepiness over North America, primarily the United States and Mexico, while on his annual route. 

“Like other night-shift and extended-duty workers, Santa faces several fatigue-related risks that can greatly impact safety while on the job, and, unfortunately, his highest level of risk occurs right as he is delivering packages here in the U.S.,” said Hans Van Dongen, co-author of the study, professor in the WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine and director of the WSU Sleep and Performance Research Center. “Out of an abundance of concern for Santa, his reindeer, and our communities, we wanted to share this analysis to ensure every precaution could be taken for a safe flight.”

While researchers noted a sleigh crash would be extremely rare, they identified several strategies to reduce Santa’s overall risk. The most powerful countermeasure involves shifting the biological clock by a three-hour phase delay, which would increase alertness during the latter parts of Santa’s duty period.  

This shift could be achieved with the administration of melatonin immediately before the start of his journey; however, reindeer would not be able to participate in this method. Alternatively, bright light exposure could be used in the evening to delay the biological clock. While blue light is the most effective, researchers recommended white light due to the potential wash-out of blue light against red seasonal worker attire and reindeer noses. 

Additional methods include altering the sleep schedule to 10 hours per day leading up to the extended night shift to eliminate prior sleep debt and protect against sleep deprivation, screening for obesity-related sleep disorders such as sleep apnea, and consuming caffeine.

“Each of these fatigue-reducing countermeasures on their own produces improved alertness, but taken in aggregate, they could significantly reduce sleigh crash probability,” said Mathias Basner, MD, Ph.D., a professor of Sleep and Chronobiology in the Department of Psychiatry at Penn and lead author of the study. “By Santa, his reindeer, and the team at the North Pole implementing these measures leading up to and on December 24th, we would have greater assurance that he could safely perform his gift distribution duties for the duration of his shift.” 

 Though little research has been done to determine the fatigue-related effects of cookies and milk or hay and water, researchers recommend that Santa and this reindeer refrain from consuming eggnog or other alcoholic beverages synergistically induce fatigue and general impairment. 

Conclusions

Overall, there is good news for the children of the world since, as previously reported, Santa passed his specialized medical exam, and the magical sleigh and reindeer have also been approved for flight on Christmas Eve by trusted safety authorities. 

Through a thoughtful approach to evaluating and identifying hazards, risks, and mechanisms to mitigate these concerns from an occupational health perspective, it appears that if you are fortunate enough to be on the nice list, you will wake up on Christmas morning to a special present from Old St. Nicholas in your home.   

The safety concerns identified in this article were compiled from multiple sources to enhance Santa’s safety strategy using known, trusted legal standards and safer professional practices. The main takeaway is that despite his magical powers and special abilities, Santa still relies on implementing safety actions resulting from the hazard analysis and risk assessment process to meet the annual global present delivery objectives on December 24th. 

If safety is central to Santa, this should apply to you and your school as part of your holistic approach to safer practices. As Santa explained to the evaluation committee recently, “Ho! Ho! Hope! is not a safety standard operating procedure. Safety needs to be planned and purposeful and serve as the foundation for all evidence-based decisions for the annual Christmas global distribution program.”

Special thanks to the contributors, including Santa himself, Mrs. Claus, participating Elves, and elite safety members from Transport Canada, the FAA, and NORAD, for facilitating this Santa safety article.

Merry Christmas to All, and a Safer Happy New Year!

James Palcik, OCT & Member in Good Standing of the Global Santa Safety Team (GSST)

Read more about STEAM/STEM in education here. 

References

• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4676089/
• https://blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2022/12/12/holiday-2022-2/
• https://www.beierlaw.com/blog/christmas-safety-tips-santa-claus/
• https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/canada-clears-santa-claus-for-takeoff
• https://www.rcinet.ca/eye-on-the-arctic/2018/12/24/christmas-santa-claus-transports-canada-flight-gifts/
• https://www.netnewsledger.com/2015/12/23/64007/
• https://news.wsu.edu/press-release/2022/12/12/wsu-sleep-researchers-say-santa-at-risk-for-crashing-sleigh-over-north-america-due-to-fatigue/