Heavy machinery operator reports factory friend and coworker to management after he jump scares her while she operates heavy machinery, treating his “prank” like the serious safety issue it is: ‘He disregarded rule #1, clearly didn't care about my safety’

Most of us work in an environment where a jump scare can cause a major typo. And typos can be annoying or embarrassing or, in some cases, cost money. But a typo won't put anyone in danger.

Jump scares in an office or ones in a carnival haunted house are one thing, a jump scare next to a spinning blade and a 400 lb metal part is basically begging for disaster. This factory worker stands at a machine that could turn a mistake into scrap metal and a body into a cautionary tale, and the workplace clown decides this is the perfect moment for hands on shoulders and a loud boo from behind.

Industrial safety sounds like it's already on thin ice. Everyone knows the rule: do not distract someone running heavy machinery, yet somehow a grown adult hears that and thinks exception for friendship. First warning comes from a lead who literally spells it out, and instead of adjusting, the coworker upgrades from talking in the danger zone to physical contact during an operation that needs full focus. That is not a prank, it is playing roulette with someone else's life because boredom kicked in on shift.

Author image for Etai Eshet Etai Eshet
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  • AITA for reporting a co worker for jump scaring me while operating heavy machinery with rotating blade.

    A focused woman in a hard hat uses a tool to adjust machinery while referencing paperwork in industrial factory setting
    via Jestercine

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

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  • Reporting this kind of stunt is not overreacting, it is basic survival. HR ends up involved because unwanted touching is part of the story, but the real issue is that one jolt at the wrong second could send both people into the machine and everyone else into a paperwork ordeal. If coworkers twist it into drama or start acting weird about accidental contact, that is on their inability to separate flirting rules from not getting crushed by rotating steel. Some people need to learn that a joke stops being funny the second it becomes a safety briefing.

  • I work in an industrial factory. We have machines larger than houses that make parts for some of the largest crafts in the words.
    via [deleted]
  • Needless to say we deal with 10k lbs parts and spinning machinery at 5krpm. I am running a machine with a rather sketchy operation.
    via [deleted]
  • Our item is hardened metal and takes extra pressure and speeds to cut it correctly. This also takes the operator 100% focus as if the machine malfunctions, the part slips, or something goes wrong you need to stop the machine asap before it kills someone or damages the surrounding area.
    via [deleted]
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  • #1 rule: do not distract a machine operator while they are working. How you get their attention.
    via [deleted]
  • 1 stand in eye sight of them away from their machine 2 make eye contact with them and nod or smile to distinguish you need their attention 3 when the operator deems its safe to do so they will give you their attention when the machine is in a safe position.
    via [deleted]
  • Cheezburger Image 10580553728
    via Amorn Suriyan

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

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  • The tea: my co worker and I would be considered friends. I have had him in my tattoo studio twice and we are able to text jokes openly.
    via [deleted]
  • However this co worker does not realize that even if we are friends he can't just distract me while I'm machining.
    via [deleted]
  • First time: he walks up to me and just starts talking while I'm clearly operating a machine.
    via [deleted]
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  • Hands on levers. Rotating parts. Metal chips flying. Etc. His work lead sees this and tells him "You are not supposed to talk to people while they are machining" I figured this would be clear enough but it wasn't So I'm running this operation and my co worker sneaks up behind me.
    via [deleted]
  • Places a hand on either shoulder to shake me and say "boo!" I am p ed and yell at him "Don't ever do that again it's not funny" He replies "wait?
    via [deleted]
  • Woman operating a metal bending machine in a workshop, carefully positioning a large sheet of metal while wearing gloves and safety gear.
    via BearFotos

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

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  • Really?" "Don't EVER touch me or do that again it's not funny and inappropriate" I so p ed.
    via [deleted]
  • If I had reacted poorly I could have d d from being entangled in machinery. I could have punched him and sent him into the machine.
    via [deleted]
  • We both could have dod. Etc. He disregarded rule #1 clearly didn't care about my safety and escalated from distracting with just words to physical touch.
    via [deleted]
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  • Ever after his work lead corrected his behavior. I brought up thos event in our morning meeting and my boss immediately took action.
    via [deleted]
  • Even though I am a woman and his touch was unwanted I have reported this as a safety issue and not as a harassment issue.
    via [deleted]
  • I was clear he has no permission to touch me and am more concerned he almost pushed me into the machin let alone the fact he thinks jump scaring somrone is ok.
    via [deleted]
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  • Unfortunately since the situation included unwanted touching we did have to talk to hr. But again I was clear the point is I'm trying to bring up a safety issue not as ual harassment issue.
    via [deleted]
  • Aita? I was debating saying anything as we are friends but clearly we aren't if he doesn't care about my safety while working with a 400lb metal part.
    via [deleted]
  • I need advice on how to react if this turns into a twisted rumor. Some of my co workers are already acting more spacial, like if they touch me accidently its gonna be an hr thing.
    via [deleted]
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  • I literally only care about the safety part. I don't need hr to help me tell people to f off.
    via [deleted]
  • OP [deleted] NTA. Your "friend" was absolutely in the wrong, and if your coworkers act weirdly about it they're simply immature. Safety when using deadly machinery should be everyone's chief priority.
    via [deleted]
  • GiantPixie44 I'm a workers' comp lawyer. Ignore the idiots. You very well may have saved someone from a terrible injury down the line. NTA.
    via [deleted]
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  • OP [deleted] That's the way I see it. Thank you. I am determined every day to go home safe and it's up to me to make sure that happens.
    via [deleted]
  • Designer-Carpenter88 Uh yeah NTA. He's immature and is going to get something cut off.
    via [deleted]
  • OP [deleted] That would be best case scenario. These machines are brutal. They are old school 16 gear driven machines. They can handle parts weighing up to 22,000 lbs and don't care if some human gets caught in their teeth. It's quite terrifying sometimes
    via [deleted]
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  • GiantPixie44 It's frustrating that people like your friend behave so incredibly stupidly in the workplace. I see the fallout of stuff like that daily and it's truly life-changing in the worst of ways.
    via [deleted]
  • OP [deleted] Do you work for a company or freelance? I'm curious now
    via [deleted]
  • Rare-Selection2348 NTA - if he still has a job (and he absolutely should not), he shouldn't be on your shift or on the floor when you're working. He was probably flirting and your coworkers know he likes you. Well, that's one possibility. Your coworkers likely don't know what he did. Ask the work lead if it's possible to have a short safety talk with everyone to reiterate the importance of not talking to, touching, or purposely startling someone machining. Done quickly enough, it will quash any
    via [deleted]
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  • OP [deleted] Thanks for the advice. Where I work we have 2 shifts for our 24 hr operation. They overlap and during the shift change wich is when this co worker finds me. Unfortunately we can't just remove people from the floor or expect them to avoid one another in the way a regular job could. Nor can we just change someone's schedule by and hour or so as there are only 2 shifts. He is married with a child sol don't think its flirting. And if it is that's really wierd lol.
    via [deleted]

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