Workspace safety measures exist for a good reason. And real professionals know all about getting results without putting their lives on the line (don't ever let anyone tell you differently). But the people on our list are cutting so many corners trying to get the job done, that they have completely forgotten about their safety.
We're not talking about going to the construction site without your hard hat on. We're talking about crazy, life-threatening situations that seem pretty obvious for everybody; except for the people who are involved. If you don't believe us, just check these mind-boggling pictures. And believe it when we say it: these images are not for the faint of heart!
11. Friends Always Have Each Other's Backs
There's so much going on in this picture that we don't even know where to start. First, why would you use your friend as a cutting table when there's a perfectly good real table right behind you? And second, how can you care enough about your safety to ear protective headphones, but allow your friend to be the chainsaw bait?
We guess that this was the result of an irresponsible bet going wrong. Otherwise, we see no reason as to why a sane man would submit himself to this kind of dangerous predicament!
10. They're Not Digging Their Own Graves, But It's Close
Construction sites don't get any weirder than this. Tasked with the job of removing the entire floor of a house, this construction crew is putting their hammers and shredders to work. But they seemed to forget an important detail: construction workers need a floor to stand on too.
What's going to happen when they remove the entire floor? We're not sure, but we're getting chills just by looking at this taunting image. And judging by the number of witnesses, this tragedy on the making has already attracted some masochistic peeping toms.
Who Left the Lights On?
When this man was hired to clean the warehouse, his bosses told him nothing about sweeping the fluorescent lights. But he figured out a solution to conveniently get the dust out of the lamp. With the help of some heavy machinery and a very fragile piece of wood, he found a way of getting the job done. But at what price?
There's no way that lamp is going to clean itself, but a responsible worker would've got it down in the ground to perform a thorough and safe cleaning. This guy? He didn't even care about turning the lights off before getting started!
Get Chill or Die Tryin'
At first glance, it does look like a Mob is threatening this poor young man. But when you look closer, you realize that he's just trying to repair the air conditioner. Luckily, he can count on the help of his two trusted friends, who are holding him heads-down by his pants.
It's easy to laugh at this picture, especially when you consider how "hard" the guy on the left is working to keep his friend safe. But this is nothing short of a life-and-death situation. It would work as the perfect ad for a line of strong belts, though.
Never Miss a Spot
Life is a lot about establishing priorities. This man, for instance, was faced with a dilemma. Should he risk his life by standing up on his front door and finish painting the ceiling? Or should he simply ignore the little spot that was without paint?
Being a perfectionist, this guy made what he believed to be the best choice. Awkwardly standing on top of a wiggly door, he was finally able to get his brush to that final spot in the ceiling! We admire his balance and braveness, but we're not exactly fans of his self-awareness and problem-solving skills.
Please Do Not Disturb
Careless people love risking their lives to get the job done. But some men are ready to face certain death for the chance of...not working at all. This desperate AC repairman has finally found the perfect place for a nap!
Not only he's ultra-comfy, with proper back and head support, but he's also pretty sure that nobody will disturb his sleep. When the going gets tough, there's nothing like laying your head down and forgetting about everything, including the fact that you're at least 5 meters away from the ground. Let's just hope he's not a sleepwalker!
30. Smoking Kills, Literally!
They say that every time you smoke a cigarette, you lose 5 minutes of your life. But, on some occasions, smoking a cigarette can cost you your life in 5 minutes. The dangers of tobacco have reached a whole other level on this construction site, in which a clueless worker is not paying attention to the signs.
It's not only a bad example for the people passing by, but it's also a double threat. Smoking is, by itself, dangerous enough. But when you combine it with flammable gas, things can get...explosive!
19. It's Geometry, Bro
When we think about math, we think about engineers, astronauts, or architects. But math is as important to them as it is to the regular working-class man. This anonymous geometry genius just finished up making all the necessary calculations to get his work done in peace.
He's not only able to reach any spot with his brush, but he's also not getting in the way of the people living in the building. We know that he's very close to certain death here, but you have to admit that he seems pretty comfortable.
18. "I Can't Take It Anymore"!
Life is hard. Sometimes, all you want to do is to disappear completely and forget all about your problems. But there are better ways of doing it than submitting yourself to the painful experience of being shredded by an industrial wood chipper.
Relax, this worker is not attempting suicide in here, at least that we know. He's simply frustratingly kicking the stuck wood to the inside of the machine. Unfortunately, he's paying no respect to the value of his own life. Next time, it would be better if he just used that shovel to avoid getting his legs chopped off.
17. Bravery? We Call It Something Different
You know that a workplace picture is shocking when even the workers seem to be slightly worried about what's going on. In this scene, a young worker is trying to impress the veterans by standing on two thin iron bars that look as steady as quicksand. A fall would represent a certain death, but he is not worried. He's all about living in the moment.
But the thing they don't tell you about living in the moment is that, sometimes, one moment can end up being your last one. At least his friends are trying to keep him safe, although we're not sure holding his necklace will work.
16. Santa Claus is Coming to Town
Chimney sweepers are still a thing, and they're as fearless and brave as you think they are! This chimney sweeper is getting a hard time trying to get to the location of his next job, but he's undoubtedly not going to give up. He will do anything to reach that chimney, even if that ends up costing him his life!
It makes you wonder: does Santa Claus get in this kind of trouble every single Christmas? One thing's for sure. This man's job would be a lot easier if he were able to count on the support of a bunch of flying reindeers.
15. Working While on Vacation Was Never This Dangerous
These three buddies have had enough of their balmy hotel room. So, they decided to apply simple math to find a way of fixing the problem. Using a ladder, they have calculated that two buddies are heavier than one and are now doing their best to get that AC working properly once again.
From the other side of the street, a baffled photographer captured the moment. Was it the prologue of a deadly tragedy? Or were these three buddies successful in fixing their AC? We don't know for sure, but we've learned one thing from this: some people will trust their friends with their own life!
14. Have You Ever Heard About Pruning Scissors?
Ah, the garden. Real men know how to take care of theirs, and such includes trimming the bushes now and then. But when using the pruning scissors seems like a way-too-girly thing to do, there's nothing like calling your heavy machinery friends to get some much-needed support.
This man is working his backyard bushes like a boss. He is using the lawnmower, a crane, and the entirety of his crafty wisdom. All of his neighbours think he is crazy, but we are mainly thinking about how lucky he is for being alive.
There's a Circus in Town
Why should you pay for a pricy ticket to the circus when you can get the same level of excitement by watching your local construction workers? These men are putting every tightrope walker out there to shame by showcasing their balancing talents on the street. All without a safety net!
Not only do they get to act on the stage, but they also get to make it! In this case, they're trusting their safety to this complex scaffolding structure that, by some unknown reason, seems to be entirely made out of bamboo. The Cirque du Soleil doesn't seem so impressive now, does it?
13. Are They Hammered?
These two stooges must have been drinking before work because they're doing everything wrong. They needed to get that iron bar in place, but it was too tall for both of them. So, they decided to get support from heavy machinery and apply some team-work to the problem.
Sometimes, solving a problem isn't worth it if you're creating a new one. The unbelievable tactic of these workers should be a display of practicality, but, to us, it seems like a sheer display of stupidity. Way too many things can go wrong in this picture.
12. Ladders Are Just Like Legos, But Not Really
No, ladders are not to be placed on top of other ladders. Still, some people are so concerned about getting where they need to be, that they have decided to ignore even the most basic of safety rules. We could compare it with mountain climbing, except in this case the mountain is barely holding itself on top of another mountain.
We do hope this picture was taken after a well-done job, and not by a team of forensic experts studying the site of a terrible accident. Either way, and we cannot express this enough, please do not try this at home!
9. Certain Death 101
There are countless different ways of dying. But few as creative as the one this guy figured out. Desperately trying to reach the top of the roof, this worker didn't have a long enough ladder. But that's not going to stop him!
With the support of an iron bar and a piece of wood that looks as sturdy as a toothpick, he figured out a way of either getting the job done or breaking every single bone in the process. We would praise his creativeness, but we're not sure he's even alive anymore to listen to our compliment.
8. Nothing to See Here
It's just another morning, and you get stranded in traffic. Then, you look to your side, and you see this unbelievable scene. Two workers casually "helping" their friend by shoving him heads-down in the sewer... All because somebody forgot to bring the proper equipment to work.
We don't know a lot about sewer repairing, but we're pretty sure that this is not the right way to do it! For all we know, these men could be two stone-cold gangsters trying to get their money back. Come on, guys; there's got to be another way!
7. "I Got You!"
Nothing adds fun to a life-threatening situation like inviting a pal. This worker made sure to bring a friend to witness his almost-certain death, as he tries to fix the roof on the top of a 3-ladder DIY construction. Going to the hardware store to get a proper ladder seemed like a lot of work, so he found this alternative solution with the equipment he already had on his garage.
Looking at this picture is safe and guaranteed entertainment. But for the men involved in this mindless task, the risk is as real as it gets!
6. What Will You Do When the Wood Starts Cracking?
There are two types of men in this world. The first type knows nothing about engineering and has to pay hundreds of dollars to the mechanic every time his car is not working. The second type understands what it takes for a vehicle to move, and is always ready to get his hands dirty and fixing the engine by himself.
But wait, because there's a third type of man! The man who knows how to fix his engine, but forgot what it takes to stay alive during the process.
5. Sign? What Sign?
Working at the supermarket is tough. Not only do you have to listen to the orders coming from your employers, but you also need to be wary of a bunch of safety measures? Well, the men and women working at this supermarket are not going to take orders from a door sign!
They decided not only to ignore everything we know about fire exits but to do the exact opposite of what the sign was saying! A line of blocking shopping carts was not enough? Don't worry; a heavy rock will, for sure render this fire exit useless!
4. Blind Faith
The thing about Braille is that you need to use your hands to read it. That's its entire purpose. Considering this, what did the people think when they decided to leave exposed, faulty wiring right next to a Braille sign? Being blind is hard enough by itself, but it gets even more complicated if you have to deal with street traps like that!
We should be equipping our streets with better conditions for the blind and disabled, but instead, we're doing the opposite. What's next? A hole in the sidewalk? A guide dog that only bites the blind? Let's take better care of the ones who need it the most!
3. Prepared for Any Catastroph... Oh, Wait!
Fire extinguishers save lives, especially in the workplace. But what can you do once the fire extinguisher is gone? Unfortunately, nothing. At this warehouse, nobody cared about replacing the fire extinguisher, and all that's left is this empty memorial to what was once a safe work environment.
Ironically, a fire extinguisher is missed the most when it was already used. Why? Well, if you already took down a fire once, isn't it likely that it is going to happen again? At least they have kept the fire extinguisher sign, which should work as a reminder of just how possibly deadly it is going to work every day.
2. That's Shocking!
Without proper electrical wiring, civilization would be doomed. So, why are we not providing our electricians with better working conditions? This man is working for 2, simultaneously holding a ladder with his left leg and fixing a street wire with his arms.
Luckily, he's wearing a protective helmet; but is it going to make a difference? Once again, a public worker is proving that it doesn't take that much to appear in the circus. Tightrope walkers can do it in front of huge crowds, but could they pull it off while fixing a street wire? We don't think so.
1. So Close!
Life and death are opposite words. But in real life, life and death are closer than most people think. In this picture, for instance, life and death are about one inch away. All it takes for this guy to fall from his improvised ladder and break his bones is a slight breeze, a sneeze, or a loud bassy noise.
Ladders are extremely helpful, but they must be used properly. When your current ladder doesn't meet the required standards to fit into your current task, please get a different ladder. This sort of DIY ladder improvement shows way too much potential to end up in a tragic accident.