Horseplay in the Construction

Conclusion

• Even harmless fun can become fatal or catastrophic.

• Remember to work smart, safe, and stay mindful of you surroundings.

• Be a professional & keep horseplay away from the job!

Stay Safe!!!

Stay Alert!!!

Creates Unnecessary Risks

Giving less than full concentration and attention to safety procedures makes you less likely to notice or account for hazards until it may be too late.

Directing your horseplay at others is even more dangerous. They’re not expecting the distraction and could easily have an accident such as falling into a moving machine part, slipping on the floor, dropping a tool, etc.

• You can prevent most workplace accidents by being alert to hazards and following safety rules.

• You can’t do either when you indulge in horseplay.

OSHA Regulations

OSHA Reporting Requirements

Due to this being held under the General Duty Clause this regulation is not well understood. There are only a few examples in which such actions are specified as intolerable and/or a cause for an OSHA violation.

Cal/Osha - IIPP

• Specifies that all injuries sustained from horseplay are reported under the injury sustained. Although there is no horseplay category, all results from horseplay falls under the Code of Safe Practices:

General Duty Clause

Appendix C: Code of Safe Practices - (Suggested Code)

GENERAL

(1) All persons shall follow these safe practice rules, render every possible aid to safe operations, and report all unsafe conditions or practices to the foreman or superintendent.

(5) Horseplay, scuffling, and other acts that tend to have an adverse influence on the safety or well-being of the employees shall be prohibited.

Example

General Duty Clause Definition

Two workers are slap-boxing on a roof. One worker steps off the roof and sustains a fall injury.

The injury is reported as a fall.

Statistics

29 U.S.C. § 654, 5(b): Each employee shall comply with occupational safety and health standards and all rules, regulations, and orders issued pursuant to this Act which are applicable to his own actions and conduct.

General Duty Clause

Due to the method by which injuries are reported, there is very little data that can accurately illustrate the impact of horseplay on a company's Recordable Injury Rate and therefore it is under reported.

The only thing that gets counted is the end result and not the initiator making this very costly for the company long term.

You may get away with it for a while...

Due to recent events, this may change. Horseplay has become an increasing problem with the ability to film stunts and display them on video sites such as YouTube.

But it may come back to haunt you...

Recent Issues

• As a result, certain companies have began to regulate cell phone use on site, because these videos have been taken using cell phone cameras.

• This poses a problem because cell phones have become an effective method of communication on the modern construction site.

Larson's Workers' Compensation Test

Litigation

• The scope and seriousness of the conduct's deviation from employment activities.

• Whether it was co-mingled or separate from work duties

• Whether horseplay is accepted in the workplace in question

• Whether the nature of the job typically includes horseplay

Litigation due to horseplay exists. When approaching horseplay issues, the Larson's Workers' Compensation Test is utilized. It consists of 4 evaluation points.

Actions to Prevent Horseplay Injuries

Be a Professional

• Don't play into, initiate, be peer-pressured, and most importantly don't ignore it.

Work Defensively

• Watch out for other people. Be aware of how their unsafe acts might affect you. At the same time, be aware of how your actions might affect others.

Stop It or Report It

Be The Example

• You are not being a rat or a snitch.

• You're taking responsibility for safety.

People will respect you if you take a stand against horseplay and come down firmly on the side of safety. And others will follow your lead.

The result will be a safer workplace for all.

The life you save could be your own!

Pictures and Videos...

End up becoming incriminating evidence & will follow you forever !!!

ID the Location and Hazards....

Bored Workers

Is Horseplay Dangerous?

• There is a very thin line between harmless play and dangerous horseplay. In most situations, even the most seemingly harmless joke or action can result in serious injury or worse.

• The majority of job sites that take safety seriously prohibit any and all activity that can be considered horseplay.

Definition Cont.

Horseplay Defined

All Fun & Game Until Someone Gets Hurt!!!

• To safety-conscious companies, horseplay can be defined as any distracting or frivolous activity deviating from the task-at-hand.

• Even though most companies claim zero-tolerance with such activity, strict supervision and disciplinary action alone has proved ineffective.

• Rowdy or boisterous play or light-hearted recreational activity for diversion or amusement

• Typical on the construction site between fellow workers, usually within a familiar team or crew

Horseplay & The Construction Industry

An Evil Donkey Creation Inc.