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Workplace safety protocols exist for a reason. Yet, despite the potentially catastrophic outcomes of failing to comply, many employees still show complete disregard for these regulations.

The photos you’ll see are just some examples of such disappointing behavior. We’ve collected photos from all over the internet showing workers throwing caution to the wind in the worst ways possible. Some deemed it unnecessary to wear safety glasses, while others seemed to dismiss the existence of gravity.

Many of these images could make you shake your head in disappointment, but they can also remind you what not to emulate.

#1 Clamped Broken Railing For Bonus

Image credits: A_Bridgeburner

#2 In About 2 Seconds He Is About To See How Fast He Can Turn Off That Chainsaw

Image credits: imgur.com

#3 Work Place Safety Legend

Image credits: reddit.com

Disregarding safety protocols is likely why workplace injuries are commonplace in the United States. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics recorded 2.6 million nonfatal work-related injuries in 2023.

While it showed an 8.4 percent decrease from 2022, these are still significant numbers that could be avoided.

#4 Don’t Worry, Got The Safety Squints On, Boss

Image credits: cacaogirl

#5 Sometimes When It Looks Stupid But Works, Its Still Stupid

Image credits: cornerzcan

#6 Osha Intensifies

Image credits: Omnijones777

Based on these images, such irresponsible actions appear to happen often in workplaces that involve operating heavy machinery. According to further statistics from the US Department of Labor, more than 300,000 workplace injuries in 2023 occurred in the manufacturing sector, which is second to the healthcare industry.

The transportation and warehousing industry has the fourth highest cases, with over 200,000, while the construction sector has slightly over 150,000.

#7 Something Tells Me This Breaks A Few Safety Regulations

Image credits: zoalcoalt

#8 Workers On A Scissor Lift Floating In A Swimming Pool

Image credits: captain96

#9 No Such Thing As ‘Health And Safety’ In Myanmar – This Dude’s Repairing An Air Conditioner On The 22nd Floor. As You Do

Image credits: wontfindloveinahole

According to Occupational Health & Safety Magazine, employees ignore safety protocols for several reasons, including time constraints caused by tight deadlines. Workers often focus too much on completing tasks and fail to comply with basic safety measures.

Another common reason is overconfidence. Some employees become highly comfortable with their roles, undermining safety regulations or overinflating their skill levels. This leads to taking shortcuts, which puts employees at risk of injury and compromises the output.

#10 Anyone See Any Safety Issue?

Image credits: itsjustchad

#11 Looks Safe

Image credits: Munoz555

#12 Above A 4 Lane Road, Hand Grip Only, No Tether For Him Or His Tools

Image credits: beautify

The US Department of Labor has recommended ensuring workplace safety and preventing injury incidents. In its published hazard prevention and control guidelines, the agency urges employers to develop a control plan and mandate and impose protocols.

At the same time, employers are encouraged to evaluate the effectiveness of existing regulations regularly to determine whether they are still effective.

#13 The Neighbor’s Movers Couldn’t Get The Dresser Down The Stairs

Image credits: HonestlyCrum

#14 Nah, Safety Glasses Are Not Necessary

Image credits: KotAufmBrot

#15 Welcome To Northern Ontario, Where Health And Safety Is Still In The 1970s. (Not My Company)

Image credits: ExtremePackage

We’d also like to hear from you, our readers. If you work in any of these industries, which safety regulations are often violated? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!

#16 Safety Always First

Image credits: touchfeel

#17 My GF Said To Post Here. We Were Short And Had To Improvise

Image credits: liamsnorthstar

#18 Too Hot For Safety

Image credits: bp1108

#19 “Wear Ppe” To Me When I Was A Kid. “I Don’t Need Protection “ My Dad Now

Image credits: silver_dollarz

#20 What’s Wrong With This Photo?

Image credits: jcholder

#21 My Friend Got Sent Home From Work Today For A Safety Violation And Sent Me This Photo

Image credits: _boomknife_

#22 Ever Seen Water Bottles Used As Rebar Safety Caps? Taken At A Walmart In Miami, Fl

Make no mistake, they even spray painted them orange for extra visibility.

Image credits: Sixty4Fairlane

#23 Ingenuity Or Ludicrous?

Image credits: Quiet_Instruction290

#24 Osha Intensifies

Image credits: Omnijones777

#25 Installing An Air-Conditioning Unit

Image credits: 9999monkeys

#26 “I’ve Done It A Million Times. This Is Totally Safe.” – My Coworker

Image credits: robabl

#27 Counter-Balance Solved

Image credits: therazorstepping

#28 Who Needs A Ladder

Image credits: Humble-Wonder-4288

#29 Thanks Guys!

Image credits: tbonetaylor

#30 Flip Flops And Leaning Over The Edge Of Roof To Get A Better Angle

Image credits: CrispyKollosus

#31 We Must Quickly Mount The Signpost Pointing In The Direction Of The Hospital

Image credits: KotAufmBrot

#32 This Was Hard To Watch

Image credits: DylanFTW_

#33 This Guy Doing Tile Repair On My Neighbor’s House. No Harness, No Problem!

Image credits: MeAgainstTheWorld666

#34 Safety Gloves -Check!

Image credits: reddit.com

#35 Wearing Safety Harness, But Not Tied To Anything (Mexico)

Image credits: Epistatious

#36 I’m Pretty Sure This Is A Safety Violation

Image credits: AmmianusMarcellinus

#37 Installing Solar Panels. One Guy Has A Harness But Isn’t Tied Off, The Other Has No Harness. The Rope Is For Attaching To The Panels, But Is So Long That The Panel Would Hit The Ground

Image credits: s1gnalZer0

#38 Maybe Maybe

Image credits: Consistent-Kitchen

#39 Workplace Safety 101

Image credits: reddit.com

#40 Can’t Fix Stupid

Image credits: jkell1990

#41 I Have No Words

Image credits: shittyrivets

#42 An R/Osha Classic Straight Out Of My Hometown

Image credits: Sam-TheSpaceMan

#43 Saw From The Office Window Of The Safety Oriented Construction Company I’m Working For. This Is Some Nonunion Company Putting Up A New Building Next Door. I’m A Piledriver By Trade And I Thought This Guy Is An Idiot. How Many Problems Do You See With This?

Image credits: reddit.com

#44 Today, I Was The Idiot

Image credits: frowningowl

#45 That’s What Friends Are For!

Image credits: Im_probably_at_work

#46 It’s Ok To Stand On The Top Of The Ladder As Long As It’s Set Up On A Trailer

Image credits: thomas_vanstavern

#47 This Seems Safe

Image credits: styckx

#48 A Safety Refresher Might Be Necessary

Image credits: merk35802

#49 Looks Safe To Me, It’s Not ‘That’ High

Image credits: -Dastardly-

#50 It’s Only One Story High, So No Safety Rules Apply

Image credits: FendersAreGreat

#51 I’m Sure It’s Safe, I Just Think There Might Be A Better Way

Image credits: 5_Frog_Margin

#52 “All Of This Product Was Broken When We Received It”

Image credits: Seraphiem93

#53 Me: “Safety Regulations Say No Ladders On This Job Site, You Have To Work Of Scaffolding”. My Crew:

Image credits: johnieringo

#54 Is This Safe?

Image credits: Coolace34715

#55 I Had No Idea

Put my own septic tank in last summer, seeing all these trench posts has got me feeling like such an idiot. Does this look as stupid as all the others? Or less stupid because less deep? Please, rate my dumbness.