Toolbox talk on horseplay at work

Horseplay at work can cause problems for workers on-site or at the office. Horseplay is a rough play in which people behave in a silly way. They hit and push each other when they engage in horseplay. Even rough play and pranks are what can be called horseplay.
Playing around, racing and grabbing people, harassment. Workers play jokes which can be a stress relief for them. However, horseplay can take things too far. It can put workers at risk. Horseplay can happen in any sector, but they are more common in the construction industry.

Things horseplay can cause at the workplace.

• Horseplay can make a worker not concentrate on his work, and the person involved is fooling around at work.

• Horseplay can cause accidents when you direct such to people. Since they are not expecting the distraction, it could easily make them fall into a moving machine part or slip on the floor. 

• Horseplay can make you have less concentration on the safe work procedure, hence exposing you to hazards that can cause injuries. 

• Horseplays are unsafe acts. Unsafe acts are among the cause of accidents in the workplace.

What can you do to prevent or control horseplay at work?

• Ensure that all employees follow the safety rules in place in the office. If there are no existing rules, you should create one and disseminate the information to all employees.

• Avoid throwing tools at the workplace.

• Avoid playing with your PPE at any time during your work. Doing this may expose you or another to injury or harm.
• Do not initiate or participate in horseplay at the site or even get pressured into doing it while working. 
• Always make use of your protective equipment whenever you’re working on-site and ensure that they do not constitute a hazard on their own
• Always report those misbehaving at the site to the management for necessary actions. 
• Ensure that the workplace is safe and healthy for everyone.
• Create a policy against workplace horseplay and inform the workers know about it.
• Engage the workers in training, educating them on preventing horseplay at the site. 

• Avoid overspeeding with moving equipment for this may collide with workers in the environment. 

• Avoid running around with a hand truck. Move it in the best safer way. Running around with a hand truck could spill a load on someone. 

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Onyekachi Emmanuel

Onyeka Emma is a QHSE Professional, a business person, and an entrepreneur. He is very passionate about health and safety, Business and Entrepreneurship.