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Depending on what your job is, workplace safety can range from getting a stiff wrist to all sorts of daily life and death situations. Fortunately, at least if you are in the US, there is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to make sure your employer does their utmost to prevent any injury. However, just because there is a rule doesn’t mean all employers actually follow it.

The “r/OSHA” online is dedicated to documenting the most atrocious, random and grimly hilarious workplace safety violations. So get comfortable as you scroll through, upvote your favorites and be sure to share your thoughts and experiences in the comments section below.

#1

The More You Look The Worse It Gets

The More You Look The Worse It Gets

AidanGee Report

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#3

Safety Standards In 1960

Safety Standards In 1960

WildAnimus Report

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Multa Nocte
Community Member
2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you ask some of us older folks we'll tell you many a tale of the "old days" when this sort of thing was the norm.

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While most countries have their own equivalent, OSHA (The Occupational Safety and Health Administration) has become the catch-all method of discussing workplace safety or lack thereof. Founded in 1970 by Richard Nixon, its task was by no means simple.

The agency was designed to “"assure safe and healthy working conditions for working men and women by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education, and assistance." After all, in many jobs, bad days happen, but there are “best practices” that can be put in place to limit just how often workers end up falling off ladders.

#4

Covered In Stainless Steel Dust With No Face Masks Or Respirators

Covered In Stainless Steel Dust With No Face Masks Or Respirators

Like polishing a cybertruck wasn’t already dumb enough…

ZombiesInSpace Report

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#5

Fuel Spill Clean-Up

Fuel Spill Clean-Up

JoeKleine Report

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Lyone Fein
Community Member
2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's her having a lit cigarette while working near spilt gasoline that's the problem.

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#6

We All Like A Little Bit Of Shade Right?

We All Like A Little Bit Of Shade Right?

Tuaterstar Report

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Bob Brooce
Community Member
2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm sure somebody slapped it and said, "That ain't going nowhere." and they were almost certainly right.

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If you are surprised by the late date of OSHA’s founding, it’s worth pointing out that the US already had some job safety regulations and oversight since the 1930s, put in place by the Bureau of Labor Standards of the Department of Labor. Even this seems shockingly “late” given the prevalence of heavy industry in the US, but it’s better than nothing.

#7

The Lock Is To Prevent The Fire Escaping

The Lock Is To Prevent The Fire Escaping

AidanGee Report

#8

Construction Workers At Epcot, Disneyworld, Early 1980s

Construction Workers At Epcot, Disneyworld, Early 1980s

Nicker Report

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However, OSHA isn’t some all-knowing and all-seeing organization, it really does need people to report violations. As these images show, many job sites are unsafe because managers are lazy or want to cut costs. While the worst that might happen to some of us is a sore wrist or bad-posture-induced pain, in certain jobs something going wrong can lead to significantly worse outcomes.

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#10

Huh, So That Is Why They Told Me To X-Ray The Ground First

Huh, So That Is Why They Told Me To X-Ray The Ground First

the-doctor-is-real Report

#12

I Mean If The Grabber Is Closed Before Getting In I Don't See The Harm

I Mean If The Grabber Is Closed Before Getting In I Don't See The Harm

Rough_Community_1439 Report

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deejak
Community Member
2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah, but you know how guys play: "heh, watch this, I'm gonna rattle the bucket to scare him" then oops.

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#13

This Is How My Great Grandpa Stored His Dynamite, Passed Away, And Left Me To Deal With It Christmas Eve

This Is How My Great Grandpa Stored His Dynamite, Passed Away, And Left Me To Deal With It Christmas Eve

StarSlayerX Report

#16

That Should Do It

That Should Do It

TemporaryAccount-tem Report

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#17

What My Grandpa Was Using To Change Photos Above The Stairs

What My Grandpa Was Using To Change Photos Above The Stairs

Desperate_Growth4922 Report

#19

Grandpa’s Asbestos Tin

Grandpa’s Asbestos Tin

He uses it to anneal metal.

pernaso77 Report

#20

Only A Matter Of Time Until Maximizing Profits. Bankrupts The Whole Company

Only A Matter Of Time Until Maximizing Profits. Bankrupts The Whole Company

100s of racks damaged way beyond being safe. It’s a game of Jenga stacking 1000s of pounds up in overstock. Just a matter of time until something horrible happens.

allfire4207 Report

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StrangeOne
Community Member
2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Don't stack anything on it. Leave it all in the yard, take everything down. Let the upper mgmt and CEO deal with it. It's not worth the risk.

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#21

From A Power Washer Advertisement: Look How Easy It Cuts Through Soft Material!

From A Power Washer Advertisement: Look How Easy It Cuts Through Soft Material!

Buetti Report

#22

Totally Safe, It's A Load-Bearing Dumpster

Totally Safe, It's A Load-Bearing Dumpster

Mikey77777 Report

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Multa Nocte
Community Member
2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

On some of these I would like to see the scene being set. Just how DO they get this in place?

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#23

New Ceiling Lights In My Workplace Are Powered By Putting 220v Mains Voltage Into Metal Railing With Scissor Clips. The Ceilings Are Low Enough That I Could Touch The Railings If I Stretch Enough. They Were Done This Way For "Aesthetics"

New Ceiling Lights In My Workplace Are Powered By Putting 220v Mains Voltage Into Metal Railing With Scissor Clips. The Ceilings Are Low Enough That I Could Touch The Railings If I Stretch Enough. They Were Done This Way For "Aesthetics"

savawell Report

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#24

Drinking Coffee While Working With Isotopes At Lab

Drinking Coffee While Working With Isotopes At Lab

Keegipeeter Report

#25

Saw This Outside My Office Today, What A Lovely Place To Relax Before Starting The Job

Saw This Outside My Office Today, What A Lovely Place To Relax Before Starting The Job

rymannoodle Report

#26

I Get Really Nervous When Adam Savage Wears His Watch (And Ring) While Machining. Shouldn't He Consider Removing These Items Before Machining?

I Get Really Nervous When Adam Savage Wears His Watch (And Ring) While Machining. Shouldn't He Consider Removing These Items Before Machining?

TheWaveCarver Report

#27

What's The Fastest Way To Get Workers On A Roof?

What's The Fastest Way To Get Workers On A Roof?

FightingBruin Report

#28

Removing Lead Paint With A Blowtorch Without A Mask

Removing Lead Paint With A Blowtorch Without A Mask

RobertWrag Report

#29

Saw This At A Bar I Deliver To

Saw This At A Bar I Deliver To

Noversi Report

#30

My Guys' Sense Of Humor When I Point Out Three Uncovered Hole Hazards On A Job Site

My Guys' Sense Of Humor When I Point Out Three Uncovered Hole Hazards On A Job Site

RiffRaff028 Report

#31

Got Canned Yesterday For Pointing Out This Massive Violation

Got Canned Yesterday For Pointing Out This Massive Violation

ILIKESPAGHETTIYAY Report

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#32

Invisible Forklift

Invisible Forklift

Ill_Independent3989 Report

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JB
Community Member
2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Given that that's a load bearing post, I'm going to say they're all pretty well forked!

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#33

We Carried 50 Beds, 50 Cupboards, 50 Sideboards And 50 Wall Cabinets Over That Pitfall

We Carried 50 Beds, 50 Cupboards, 50 Sideboards And 50 Wall Cabinets Over That Pitfall

Agasthenes Report

#35

It’s A Fun Day When Nothing Is Locked Out!

It’s A Fun Day When Nothing Is Locked Out!

slundered Report

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Farnzy
Community Member
2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My. God. Working at a safety company now and this is literally my nightmare. That there are people out there working like this. And I don't necessarily blame the workers. I'm sure it's more about pressure from the management

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#36

I Found An Electrician Wearing This

I Found An Electrician Wearing This

RandomCreeper3 Report

#38

There Is An Osha Violation, And Than There Is Pure Madness

There Is An Osha Violation, And Than There Is Pure Madness

hopopo Report

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Bob Brooce
Community Member
2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

OSHA doesn't regulate people engaged in recreation, especially in Russia. I'm sure there's at least one YT video of this guy doing far more dangerous stuff, and maybe even a video of the last time he did something dangerous.

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#39

Saw On My Facebook.. Dude Grinding Right Into The Produce

Saw On My Facebook.. Dude Grinding Right Into The Produce

pablomcdubbin Report

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#40

Road Out Front My Parents’ Place In Rural West Getting Re-Paved

Road Out Front My Parents’ Place In Rural West Getting Re-Paved

scootty83 Report

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Multa Nocte
Community Member
2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People b***h about OSHA and other regulating agencies, but they forget that there was a reason these agencies came into being.

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Note: this post originally had 63 images. It’s been shortened to the top 40 images based on user votes.