“Cabinet Door Was Left Open In Room”: Employees Keep Reporting Ridiculous Safety Violations, This Guy Figures Out Why
Interview
Safety should be the number one priority in any workplace, which is why companies implement procedures to ensure it. However, some of them might seem pretty bizarre at times.
An electrical engineer told the ‘Malicious Compliance’ community that people at his company seemed to be sabotaging equipment to meet the peculiar safety violation requirements. To make matters worse, the co-workers wouldn’t explain their actions, which made it feel like an episode from The Office. Scroll down for the full story in the OP’s words.
Safety of the workers should be the main priority of any company
Image credits: Emmanuel Ikwuegbu (not the actual photo)
This redditor opened up about the bizarre safety procedures at his company
Image credits: Anamul Rezwan (not the actual photo)
Implementing and following safety procedures are crucial in order to prevent any workplace injuries
Image credits: RODNAE Productions (not the actual photo)
The redditor told Bored Panda that it might not have been a typical practice, but he learned it’s likely an effective one. “It was weird being obliged to spot a minimum of safety problems since it’s inherently out of my control. I did learn from the comments that it’s common practice in various industries and does eventually help keep incidents to a minimum.”
Safety procedures are crucial in any workplace, and the industrial sector which the OP is part of is in no way an exception. Working there often involves using all sorts of machinery, electronics, or even chemicals that can be dangerous if not handled properly or in the case of an accident.
Zippia revealed that nearly 3 out of 100 workers in the US are injured at work every year. As much as 15% of such injuries in the country occur in manufacturing jobs.
Being aware of their surroundings enables employees to notice and point out potential hazards
Image credits: ELEVATE (not the actual photo)
Vector solutions pointed out easy yet effective steps to take to ensure the employees’ safety: for example, ensuring the areas at work are cleared of any clutter, properly handling hazardous materials, and using personal protective equipment.
It also emphasized the importance of checking whether the working environment is safe throughout the day. That’s also what the procedures at the OP’s workplace required. Looking for safety violations might not seem like the most customary of ways, but it ensures people are constantly aware of the safety of their surroundings.
A fellow redditor in the comments mentioned that their places of employment had implemented a similar philosophy, which seemed to be valuable. By being encouraged to report any possible dangers, employees can help ensure that any problems are fixed immediately. However, other commentators pointed out that it can have a so-called cobra effect—when certain actions end up bringing unexpected consequences.
Some people in the comments had questions, others provided insight
Redditors also discussed similar scenarios
I would put in a report saying: Having to arrange faults to comply with this stupid rule is causing the work place to become dangerous, as there have been a massive increase in dangerous situations. I will remedy this situation by asking management to remove the rule due to the hazards it is creating and therefore can reasonably label management as the primary fault
ZERO Harm, if you know you know. We had this, in fact 1/2 our scores for bonuses were safety reports, had to be minimum of one per month. The Execs also have to read and sign off on them, including the GM. My all time favorite was a co workers report that lead to a phone call to her to explain herself. The report: received a burn from scalding hot water from the urine. ....Urn, it was meant to say Urn. Her face went ruby red as she apologised profusely on the phone to the GM that it was the Urn and no, definitely not urine that was the issue.
I can see that this idiotic approach to safety can inadvertently, actually cause an accident. If you get people creating risks and violations that aren't there in the first place to write up reports, someone may then actually harm themselves before they remember to rectify it. It's like Homer Simpson 'doh' stupidity.
I would put in a report saying: Having to arrange faults to comply with this stupid rule is causing the work place to become dangerous, as there have been a massive increase in dangerous situations. I will remedy this situation by asking management to remove the rule due to the hazards it is creating and therefore can reasonably label management as the primary fault
ZERO Harm, if you know you know. We had this, in fact 1/2 our scores for bonuses were safety reports, had to be minimum of one per month. The Execs also have to read and sign off on them, including the GM. My all time favorite was a co workers report that lead to a phone call to her to explain herself. The report: received a burn from scalding hot water from the urine. ....Urn, it was meant to say Urn. Her face went ruby red as she apologised profusely on the phone to the GM that it was the Urn and no, definitely not urine that was the issue.
I can see that this idiotic approach to safety can inadvertently, actually cause an accident. If you get people creating risks and violations that aren't there in the first place to write up reports, someone may then actually harm themselves before they remember to rectify it. It's like Homer Simpson 'doh' stupidity.
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