Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
46 Work Moments So Reckless They Should Be Used In Training Videos
Safety in the workplace should be a no-brainer. You’re there to earn a paycheck, not to have fun, so it’s important to follow all the rules. After all, you’re only endangering yourself by cutting corners!
But for some reason, there are plenty of employees out there who seem dedicated to living life on the edge (sometimes literally). We took a trip to the OSHA subreddit and gathered some of their most egregious photos below. From balancing on multiple ladders at once to using power tools without any protection, the workers featured here seem to think that they have nine lives. Good luck getting through this list without having a heart attack, pandas, and be sure to upvote the photos that give you a greater appreciation for your desk job.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Dangerously Confusing Perspective
LakotaWolf (she/her) 10 months ago
OH. They're standing on the scoopy-thing-part of a raised bulldozer-thingy.
RELATED:
#2
That's One Way To Do It
#3
Light Display At Costco
#4
Gateway Arch Cleaning
Bob Brooce 10 months ago
This is real, but from 1965. Fall protection wasn't much of thing back then, and safety harnesses weren't used during construction, but nobody died. The insurance company predicted 13 deaths.
#5
A Lot Going On Here
#6
It's Fine Until It's Not
Floeckchen 10 months ago
right tools wrong handling. They should have at least anchored the platform somewhere
#7
A Quick Shower Before Going Home From Work
Bob Brooce 10 months ago
Another code violation in most places, but if it's a sub-panel protected by a GFI it probably won't bite you even if you are dumb enough to touch it while showering. That said, he humidity won't be good for its longevity.
#8
Pulled Over As Soon As The Left The Lot
Giles McArdell 10 months ago
"But officer, I remembered to slap it and say 'that's not going anywhere'"
#9
Fire Exit: Only Available Weekdays, 9 To 5. Plan Your Emergencies Accordingly
#10
The Average Fleet Vehicle
#11
Always Use A Ladder When Working At Height
#12
What's Your Favorite Sign To Ignore?
#13
Show Me The Confined Space Entry Permit
New hire got stuck trying to clean the proofer
#14
Raising A 12 Foot 900lb Steel Beam 9 Feet High With Two Drywall Jacks Rated For 150lb
The jacks started folding in on themselves midway through but that didn’t stop our fearless leader from continuing on. Boss man returned both jacks after this saying they came damaged out of the box.
Max Robitzsch 10 months ago
So basically, he's careless with people's lives, and he's a fraud. Great boss. One to trust.
#15
[uk] No Spotter, Outside School At Home Time
#16
Cousin Wants Help Pulling His Transmission…
#17
The Best Ladder Extenders
#18
Operator Confident In His Skills
#19
Shop Won't Buy Extension Cords, So I Sent Them This
#20
I Was So Baffled I Had To Get A Pic
Even the guy in front with the blower knows they’re wrong.
The worst part about it.. the white hat had a “safety first” sticky on his hat. I’ve done lots of utility safety training over my years and I can safely say that’s been on slides I’ve usually cringed at the end of.
I’d say this crew deserves dummies of the day.
#21
My Dad Sent Me This
Bob Brooce 10 months ago
Major OSHA violation in the US, but the rocks make me think that's a sturdy matrix that's unlikely to collapse.
#22
Is This Ok?
#23
Good Place For A Nap
LakotaWolf (she/her) 10 months ago
I've seen (horrific) videos of what happens when people fall into woodchippers and similar machinery. Like... bruh. Even if the machinery is currently turned off, DON'T trust that it'll STAY off/don't trust your co-workers to notice you're laying in what appears to be the INTAKE PORT(?) just in case THEY turn it back on!
#24
Came Across This Emergency Exit At The Supermarket
#25
He Was Even Proud Of The Solution
#26
Went With The Less Expensive Lighting Contractor
#27
Local City Water Line Repair In Below Freezing Temps. Note The Grade A Pump Placement
UnclePanda 10 months ago (edited)
It's a powerful metaphor for bureaucracy with strong undercurrents of systemic madness on display.
#28
Who Needs A Lift Gate Switch? My Boss Has To Be The Cheapest Bastard Ever
Bob Brooce 10 months ago
Assuming it runs on 12 volts you could stick your finger in it, but they wouldn't close the circuit.
#29
I'm So Confused
LakotaWolf (she/her) 10 months ago
It seems pretty obvious to me? This door is not a fire exit, the fire exit is to the right (where the arrow is pointing) - as per the other paper's instructions "follow diversions" XD
#30
No Harness, 300ft Drop
#31
I’m At A Loss For Words — And Limbs
#32
She Took Her Shoes Off Because "That Would Be Unhygienic"
LakotaWolf (she/her) 10 months ago
I'm not sure if she gets bonus points or even more points taken away for wearing burger-themed socks at what appears to be a McDs XD
#33
Changing The Sign At My Local Whataburger
LakotaWolf (she/her) 10 months ago
If ONLY there was a tool, perhaps on a long extensible pole, that was actually MADE for changing the letters on these marquee signs! Alas! If only! /s
#34
Somewhere In There Is Two Guys Cutting The Concrete With A Saw. No Masks, No Goggles
#35
I Can Tell From The Outside That The Back Exit Of This Chick-Fil-A Is Blocked
#36
Heres A Lesson On Leaving A Man In A Trench Alone…… Me
LakotaWolf (she/her) 10 months ago
OP's explanation from another of their posts on Reddit: "i got hurt at work last year really bad and dont feel like telling the whole story so the short explanation is a excavator bucket smushed me to the ground when i was leaning over. right femur snapped in half 4 pelvic fractures (2 on each pubic rami) SI [sacroiliac] joint fracture traumatic very deep perineal rip (bútt to scrótúm) very very very deep i had the trauma repair then femur fusion then tried to walk and couldn’t from back pain, so SI [sacroiliac] fusion then off to therapy. this was last year [2023] October."
#37
Found A Suicide Cable
#38
Men On This Roof With Harnesses, But The Harnesses Aren't Actually Attached To Anything
Börje Strömming 10 months ago (edited)
And connecting it to whatever you can find isn’t a viable option either, it should be points of connection especially made for the purpose of safety lines. Had that discussion with my teamleader who agrees but still doesnt tell his superiors off. ”Ah well what can you do” - Not do the job ffs!
#39
5th Floor, Can Open The Window, Bottom Is 2ft High
#40
My Father's Solution For Only Having One Jack Stand
Siege Rook 10 months ago (edited)
Unless the vehicle is already so tall that I can fit under it TWICE before putting it up on them, I refuse to work under jack stands PERIOD, no matter how many of them there are. I have personally witnessed too many accidents with them (including some injuries, thankfully none serious), and heard about too many more, to ever feel comfortable with them. Heck, I don't like 2-post lifts, either - I've seen a few cars come off of those, too. Always made me wish we had some kind of secondary support to put in place, just in case. No way in hell I'd work under this kind of redneck shade-tree mechanic BS.
#41
Hmm Nothing Can Go Wrong Here
#42
How Safe Is This?
#43
Drywaller Creating A Literal Dust Cloud At The Job
#44
So I Work At A Day Surgery Center And The New Materials Manager Orders Way Too Many Tanks Now
I don’t think this is safe and there’s no room to move. Of course it’s not their “problem” since they don’t change the tanks. Am I wrong?
UnclePanda 10 months ago (edited)
It depends on what's in the tanks but there's a general lack of chains securing them from falling over. That one chain is too loose to really count. It's more like a trip hazard for the front tank.
#45
Gotta Love Colin Furze Pioneering New Safety Standards On The Internet
MotorcycleDoggo 10 months ago
This is still orders of magnitude safer than some of his creations.
#46
Saw This In The Netherlands Visiting Some Windmills
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Stardust she/her 10 months ago
I enjoyed drawing some free body diagrams for the ladders to see how catastrophic the results could be
Stardust she/her 10 months ago
I enjoyed drawing some free body diagrams for the ladders to see how catastrophic the results could be
Related on Bored Panda
