Horseplay in Construction

1
Horseplay in Construction
2
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 jobsites that take safety
  seriously prohibit any and all activity that can
  be considered horseplay.

3
Horseplay?

• Definition -
• Rowdy or boisterous play gay or light-hearted
  recreational activity for diversion or amusement
• Typical on the construction site between fellow
  workers, usually within a familiar team or crew

4
Is Horseplay Dangerous?

• 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.

5
Is Horseplay Dangerous?

• OSHA Reporting Requirements specifies that all
  injuries sustained from horseplay are reported
  under the injury sustained. There is no
  horseplay category
• Example Two workers are slap-boxing on a roof.
  One worker steps of the roof and sustains a fall
  injury. The injury is reported as a fall.

6
Statistics

• Due to the method by which injuries are reported,
  there is very little data that can accurately
  illustrate the impact of horseplay on a companys
  Recordable Injury Rate.

7
OSHA Regulations

• OSHA regulations only indirectly address
  horseplay as a safety issue. There are only a
  few examples in which such actions are specified
  as intolerable and/or a cause for an OSHA
  violation.
• 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.

8
OSHA Regulations

• Title 29 Code of Federal Regulations, Parts
  1900-1926 OSHA - Appendix A to _ 1910.1450
• (23).
• (g) Horseplay Avoid practical jokes or other
  behavior which might confuse, startle or distract
  another worker (23).

9
OSHA Regulations

• Example OSHA Compliance Checklist
• (Page 3, Traveling, 9)

10
Examples of Horseplay

• The following examples were pulled of a jobsite
  tool box talk
• Distracting a worker who is performing a job.
• Startling your fellow worker.
• Playing tricks on young or new workers. They may
  become confused to the point where they injure
  themselves or someone else.
• Wresting, Indian style or tag team. Wrestling
  matches can be held after working hours, not on
  the jobsite.
• Showing off with feats of strength. You may drop
  something on yourself-or someone else.

11
Actions to Prevent Horseplay Injuries

• 1. Dont play into horseplay. Dont initiate it.
  Dont get pressured into participating in it.
  Dont ignore it.
• 2. 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. Its a lot like
  driving defensively.
• 3. Stop it or report it. If you see horseplay,
  try to stop it. If you cant, report it to your
  supervisor. You are not being a kill-joy or a
  snitch. Youre taking responsibility for safety.
  You could be saving a life.
• 4. Set a good example. 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.

12
Recent Issues

• Jobsite horseplay is especially popular in the
  UK.
• Numerous videos involving horseplay in
  construction have been surfacing on Youtube .
  This occurrence was the primary subject of debate
  at the All Party Parliamentary Building Services
  Engineering Group at its most recent meeting.

13
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.

14
Litigation

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

15
Horseplay Does Exist

• This is a blatant example of dangerous horseplay
  on the jobsite. This video was shown at the All
  Party Parliamentary Building Services Engineering
  Group Meeting.
• Extreme Horseplay- Please Mute Volume
• (Worker is being penalized by fellow worker for
  not wearing a hardhat. He attacks him with gypsum
  board repeating Wheres your hardhat?!? Victim
  is not pleased)

16
Conclusion

• Even harmless fun can become fatal.
• Remember to be a smart worker, not a smart
  aleck. Keep horseplay away from the job!