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Safety first! Well, unless you can do your job more efficiently without worrying about health and safety regulations. In which case, you do you!

The OSHA subreddit is a treasure trove of terrible decisions made by employees who don’t seem to be concerned about violating rules or losing limbs while on the job, so below, we've gathered some of the best (and most concerning) photos that have ever been shared in this online group. Enjoy scrolling through these examples of what not to do while at work, and be sure to upvote the pics that you find particularly entertaining!

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    #2

    I Think My City Ordered Their Cones Off Of Wish.com

    I Think My City Ordered Their Cones Off Of Wish.com

    Badusernameguy2 Report

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    Community Member
    5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    those are cones meant to use during primary school PE classes for their running exercises and what not 😳

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    #3

    Somethin Ain't Right About This

    Somethin Ain't Right About This

    courtesy_flush_plz Report

    The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, also known as OSHA, exists “to assure America's workers have safe and healthful working conditions free from unlawful retaliation,” according to their website. But a quick visit to the OSHA subreddit will show you that plenty of people’s primary concern is not workplace safety. In fact, it seems like lots of employees go out of their way to put themselves in danger while on the job!

    Despite the fact that OSHA is an American organization, this online community welcomes safety violations from all over the world. And there are certainly some interesting ones! While the first industries that might come to mind when you consider workplace safety are construction sites and warehouses, this subreddit proves that any work environment can become dangerous with dedication to ignoring the rules. Or having no rules in the first place!    

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    #4

    Emergency "Exit" In A Friend's Office Building. First Time They Opened It Was During A Fire Alarm

    Emergency "Exit" In A Friend's Office Building. First Time They Opened It Was During A Fire Alarm

    Bansaiii Report

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    Ali H M Salehuddin
    Community Member
    5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There are two serious violations. Fail to have an emergency exit and lying about it.

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    #5

    Newton's First Law Of Motion

    Newton's First Law Of Motion

    TheComputer314 Report

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    Betta Fish
    Community Member
    5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I love the guy peering at the damage like "oh the rock dented the back here"

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    #6

    Absolutely No Ppe In Sight

    Absolutely No Ppe In Sight

    SporksAndForks Report

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    Betta Fish
    Community Member
    5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    For anyone who doesn't see what's wrong, the bear is not wearing protective gear.

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    Depending on where you work, the most common injuries in your office might be sore wrists from typing all day or back pain from sitting at a desk for too long. But if you’re curious what the most common OSHA violations are, VelocityEHS has compiled a list of the most frequently cited standards in 2023. At the top of the list comes the general requirements for fall protection, which were apparently violated over 7,200 times.

    Hazard communication is another important area where many employees ignore OSHA’s regulations. This standard was cited 3,213 times last year. Ladders and scaffolding are often abused by workers as well, as the standards for both were violated nearly 3,000 each. When it comes to powered industrial trucks and lockout/tagout standards, workers broke the rules over 2,500 for both.

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    #7

    The Sign I Keep On My Workbench

    The Sign I Keep On My Workbench

    ViolenceForBreakfast Report

    #8

    Former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison Trying His Hand At Welding

    Former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison Trying His Hand At Welding

    nonsensepoem Report

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    The Other Ben
    Community Member
    5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Next on BP: Former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison Trying His Eyes at Seeing

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    #9

    I'm A Photographer And I Saw This In Downtown Ljubljana, Slovenia

    I'm A Photographer And I Saw This In Downtown Ljubljana, Slovenia

    "Could have at least gotten a little closer"

    super_nova_135 Report

    There are plenty of workplaces that put employees’ lungs in danger as well, and according to VelocityEHS, respiratory protection rules were broken over 2,400 times last year. Fall protection is another important aspect of safety that many employees need to be reminded of, as the training requirements for fall protection were violated over 2,100 times in 2023. Over 2,000 employees also were caught not wearing proper personal protective and lifesaving equipment, specifically over their faces and eyes. And 1,644 workers violated OSHA’s machine guarding regulations. 

    #10

    I Used To Work At An Auto Shop, This Was One Of The Lifts For Vehicles

    I Used To Work At An Auto Shop, This Was One Of The Lifts For Vehicles

    Candyjiblets Report

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    #11

    Managment Says Its Fine/Not An Issue

    Managment Says Its Fine/Not An Issue

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    Cecilia Herrera
    Community Member
    5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If this is "fine," then put tires with this much tread wear on the managers' cars.

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    #12

    When You Don't Properly Secure Your Load

    When You Don't Properly Secure Your Load

    5_Frog_Margin Report

    Thankfully, injuries don’t result from every single instance of employees ignoring safety rules. But risking health and safety to cut corners still isn’t worth it. The National Safety Council reports that the top three occupational injuries employees in the United States suffer that lead to needing days off are exposure to harmful substances or environments, overexertion, and falls, slips and trips. After that, common injuries and exposures include contact with objects and equipment, violence and injuries by other persons or animals, transportation injuries, non-classifiable injuries, and fires and explosions. 

    #13

    The Fire Exit On This College Building

    The Fire Exit On This College Building

    ghatroad Report

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    Ali H M Salehuddin
    Community Member
    5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Would have been better just by removing all the stair flights. You can just glide down, firemen style. Faster too.

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    #14

    When You Have An Ample Supply Of Straps But Don’t Have An Extra $250 For A Bigger Truck

    When You Have An Ample Supply Of Straps But Don’t Have An Extra $250 For A Bigger Truck

    Looks like an OSHA violation but ok Report

    #15

    All Good. She'll Hold, Now Back To Work

    All Good. She'll Hold, Now Back To Work

    Browndog888 Report

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    As hilarious as the photos on this list may be, it’s important to remember that workplace safety is no laughing matter. According to SafetyIQ, having a safe working environment is crucial because it increases productivity, lowers the risk of accidents, prevents fatalities and reduces safety costs and inconveniences. And of course, it’s required by law for employers to enforce safety regulations.   

    #16

    Looks Like An Osha Violation But Ok

    Looks Like An Osha Violation But Ok

    Looks like an OSHA violation but ok Report

    #18

    Sometimes You Just Got To Get Er’ Done!

    Sometimes You Just Got To Get Er’ Done!

    chylin73 Report

    The National Safety Council reports that, in 2022, the total cost of workplace injuries was a whopping $167 billion. This breaks down to $1,040 per worker, $1.39 million per death and $40,000 per injury that required a medical consultation. And when it comes to how many days of work were lost due to injuries in 2022, the grand total was 108 million. 75 million of those days were lost due to injuries that occurred during that year, while 33 million were thanks to injuries that had happened in years prior. And it’s estimated that 60 million more days will be lost in the future due to the injuries of 2022.  

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    #19

    Corporate Says Tires Are Too Expensive And All Of Our Delivery Vans Are Just Fine

    Corporate Says Tires Are Too Expensive And All Of Our Delivery Vans Are Just Fine

    Yggdrasil5218 Report

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    Irishwoman abroad
    Community Member
    5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They would SO not get away with this in Europe, where you have to display your car's latest MOT or equivalent (colour coded) in the window - they'd get a whopping fine, vehicle not allowed on the road and probably an inspection

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    #20

    By Counting The Rings You Can Determine This Tyre Is Too Old

    By Counting The Rings You Can Determine This Tyre Is Too Old

    ooqt Report

    #21

    When Your Breaker Keeps Tripping

    When Your Breaker Keeps Tripping

    mrheosuper Report

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    HurlWurk
    Community Member
    5 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Based on the size of the bricks, that's 400v. There is a dial you set for sensitivity. This is the result of allowing uncertified staff to attempt winning Darwin awards.. just fyi, these explode with enough violence to kill you while the door is properly sealed and it's designed to contain the blast, with it open like that, this could kill anyone within 15ft

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    So how can we create safer working environments to prevent accidents, keep productivity high and ensure that employees are well taken care of? SafetyIQ notes that the first step is understanding and detecting workplace hazards. Identifying risks ahead of time is how we can prevent people from getting hurt in the first place. It’s also key to promote a culture of safety in the workplace. Encourage employees to use safe practices and to frequently familiarize themselves with health and safety regulations.

    #22

    To Be An Aircon Technician, You Must Have Good Balance As Well

    To Be An Aircon Technician, You Must Have Good Balance As Well

    MiraiShinji Report

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    Another important aspect when it comes to cultivating a safe working environment is making sure employees receive thorough training as soon as they start. Studies show that new hires are the most likely to have accidents while on the job, so it’s crucial that they’re informed of dangers in the workplace and educated on how to avoid them. Nobody should ever have to risk their life or risk losing a limb just to earn a paycheck.

    #26

    On The Brink Of Decapitating Someone

    On The Brink Of Decapitating Someone

    sarge-m Report

    We hope you’re enjoying these photos of what not to do at work, pandas. Keep upvoting the ones you find most hilarious, and let us know in the comments below if you’ve ever witnessed any questionable behavior like this while on the job. Then, if you want to check out even more examples of stupidity in the workplace, we think you’ll love this Bored Panda piece too!

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    #28

    Either Way I'm Going To Die, At Least I Can Go Painlessly

    Either Way I'm Going To Die, At Least I Can Go Painlessly

    LordLoko Report

    #29

    You Can’t Make This Stuff Up

    You Can’t Make This Stuff Up

    SafetyDojo Report

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    FoxEcoLimaIndiaCharlieIndiAlfa
    Community Member
    5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Why would the electric or cable company, whatever this is, buy trucks for their fleet, that aren't capable of reaching devices/equipment that they need to work on? I hope this isn't a daily occurrence.

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    #30

    Doesn’t Look Too Safe

    Doesn’t Look Too Safe

    quasi_kid Report

    #31

    Just Started As The Safety Guy Of A New Plant. We've Got A Little Ways To Go

    Just Started As The Safety Guy Of A New Plant. We've Got A Little Ways To Go

    dongbroker Report

    #32

    Freshmen... Amiright?!

    Freshmen... Amiright?!

    Lord_Nickyboi Report

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    J Adams
    Community Member
    5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There was an English football/soccer player a decade or so ago who was out injured with a blood blister under the nail on one of his toes, it wasn’t healing as quickly as he wanted so to try and speed up his recovery he decided to try and ‘drain’ it by using a handheld power drill on it. Somehow, miraculously, surprisingly it didn’t lead to him losing his toe and ending his career

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    #34

    Manager Has Zip Tied Our Only Emergency Door Shut For The Past 2 Months Because They're "Tired Of Theives Running Out The Back"

    Manager Has Zip Tied Our Only Emergency Door Shut For The Past 2 Months Because They're "Tired Of Theives Running Out The Back"

    Valladian Report

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    Alex
    Community Member
    5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Look up Triangle Factory Fire. Disgusting employers still would risk lives 100 years later.

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    #38

    Might Wanna Strap That Down, Pa Roads Get Bumpy

    Might Wanna Strap That Down, Pa Roads Get Bumpy

    staykinky Report

    #39

    I See That Evertbody Followed Safety Rules On Last Nights Shift

    I See That Evertbody Followed Safety Rules On Last Nights Shift

    WartPig Report

    #42

    We're All Gonna Die

    We're All Gonna Die

    caboose2006 Report

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    Tempest
    Community Member
    5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Orrr you guys can test your hidden adrenaline fueled strength should a fire occur!

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    #44

    Saw This Ad On Youtube The Other Day

    Saw This Ad On Youtube The Other Day

    The-Sofa-King Report

    #46

    Tape, Concrete... Same Thing

    Tape, Concrete... Same Thing

    ChewybacaXD Report

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    HurlWurk
    Community Member
    5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This actually works short term to prevent spalling (pieces breaking off) until the pole can be brought down safely with a crane. They are reenforced concrete, so won't fall over without taking more damage then that. You have to basically pulverize enough concrete that you expose enough rebar for it to bend

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    #47

    This Will Go Swimmingly

    This Will Go Swimmingly

    Virasman Report

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    ƒιѕн
    Community Member
    5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is a floating work platform. Nothing wrong here. Designed and engineered for this most likely.

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    #48

    I'm Not Sure The Wooden Edge Of The Playground Is The Best Place To Store Your Burning, Unsupervised Blowtorch

    I'm Not Sure The Wooden Edge Of The Playground Is The Best Place To Store Your Burning, Unsupervised Blowtorch

    Birdseeding Report

    #49

    There Was A Police Officer Next To That Van Before I Took This Picture

    There Was A Police Officer Next To That Van Before I Took This Picture

    Striped_Sponge Report

    #50

    A Truck That Barely Strapped On It's Cargo

    A Truck That Barely Strapped On It's Cargo

    weavertheleader Report

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    ƒιѕн
    Community Member
    5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Load of different sized roof trusses, at a glance I see at least 6 three inch straps (possibly more if i zoom in). Also loaded to be balanced on the truck. Have had loads delivered looking worse than this. Delivered flat you will always have peaks and eaves hanging out everywhere. Truss trailer is the best way to haul but that is a specialized trailer.

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    Note: this post originally had 77 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.

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