53 Times Employees Said “It’ll Be Fine” And It Definitely Wasn’t (New Pics)

If your job only requires you to sit at a desk all day, send emails and participate in Zoom meetings, you’re probably not in a lot of danger on a daily basis. But if you work in construction or a position that requires manual labor, it’s extremely important to take health and safety rules seriously. Otherwise, you might end up losing a finger and being mocked on a list just like this one.

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in the United States (OSHA), there were 34,696 inspections performed at American workplaces in 2024. This might sound excessive, but considering the fact that 5,283 people lost their lives due to workplace injuries in 2023, it’s crucial that OSHA rules are followed to a T.

According to OSHA, the most frequently violated standards include: Fall Protection, Hazard Communication, Control of Hazardous Energy, Ladders, Respiratory Protection, Powered Industrial Trucks, Fall Protection Training, Scaffolding, Eye and Face Protection, and Machine Guarding.

Despite the fact that some people fail to follow the rules, having these guidelines in place definitely does make workplaces safer. In fact, OSHA reports that worker fatalities in the U.S. are down, on average, from 38 per day in 1970 to 15 per day in 2023. Clearly, there’s still a long way to go to get that number down to 0, but that’s a significant improvement. 

Now, you might assume that companies don’t care about keeping their employees safe, especially if doing things by the book will cost them more money. But the truth is, aside from the obvious moral obligation companies have to protect their workers, there is a financial incentive as well. The National Safety Council reports that workplace injuries cost American companies a whopping $176.5 billion in 2023. And when a worker loses their life, it costs the business $1.46 million on average.   

Business owners should also consider the amount of time lost when employees get injured on the job. In 2023, American companies lost a whopping 103,000,000 days of work due to these accidents. And about a third of those days lost were caused by accidents that occurred prior to 2023, so it’s important to know that these incidents can put strain on a business for years.  

Workplace safety certainly isn’t the most glamorous topic to discuss, but it’s an extremely important one, especially if you’re a business owner. So if you’re looking for some tips on how to improve workplace safety, Concentra has your back. Their first piece of advice for preventing accidents is to make sure that employees are well-trained. And to encourage safe behavior, reward employees for following protocol.   

They may seem excessive, but labels and signs can go a long way in encouraging workers to stay safe. Remind them of the rules as often as you can, and don’t hesitate to post warnings about the dangers that may be present. Meanwhile, make sure that the work environment is clean and tidy to reduce risks. And regular inspections are necessary to make sure you can trust your tools.

Workplace safety is also something that must be constantly monitored. Accidents are likely to happen when people become complacent, so regular meetings might be necessary to prevent injuries. Keep an open dialogue with employees to hear their concerns, and make sure that you identify any potential dangers.  

Are you starting to appreciate the fact that your job never puts you in danger, pandas? Keep upvoting the images that give you the heebie-jeebies, and let us know what the most dangerous thing you’ve ever observed in your own workplace was. Then, if you’re looking for another Bored Panda article featuring similar photos, check out this list next!