Horseplay leads to many injuries and property loss damage incidents in Australia every year. While you should enjoy the work that you do, your work should always be completed safely and responsibly.
Some companies actually condone and provide resources to employees to horseplay and fun have such as Google, but many companies have a zero-tolerance for it in their workplace. While horseplay may seem innocent and fun it, can lead to devastating consequences.
Examples of Horseplay Leading to Injuries
- A person pulls the chair from beneath a co-worker as he goes to sit. The victim falls and bruises his tailbone and cannot properly walk for weeks.
- A man decides it would be funny to blow an air horn in a co-worker’s ear. This action ruptures the victim’s eardrum, requiring medical attention.
Some Safety Tips Involving Horseplay in the Workplace
- Continual mocking, derogatory remarks or horseplay towards co-workers will not be tolerated.
- Stay busy at work. Excessive downtime often leads to horseplay or other activities to pass the time that can distract workers from tasks going on around them.
- Do not initiate horseplay. You do not want to be the one responsible for an injury, fatality, or property damage incident in your workplace.
- If others around you are taking part or initiating horseplay, report it to a supervisor. Do not just turn a blind eye. An incident can have a huge effect on you, your job, and the company as a whole depending on the severity of the incident.
Discussion points:
Have you ever witnessed horseplay lead to an injury or a property damage incident on a job.
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