Whether you’re a millennial, Gen Z-er or X, there’s no doubt you will have heard of TikTok. Launching fully in August 2018, the platform has now been downloaded more than 2 billion times globally. That’s no mean feat!
We talk a lot here at Safety Stage about ways to shake up your daily toolbox talks and to create safety messages of the month that stick, and TikTok videos are another excellent way to do this.
5 TikTok Safety Accounts To Follow
The way we use TikTok’s use is so unique to other platforms. So, we’ve split this article into two pieces: accounts to follow and hashtags to follow. You’ll want to follow a mixture of both for the latest in OSHA violation memes, funny safety videos and workplace safety content.
@accuratesafetyco
Using the magic combination on TikTok of popular music and safety content, the @accuratesafetyco channel posts frequent videos about workplace safety. Recent topics of the account include slips, trips and falls, driver safety tips and ladder safety too.
While these videos are exclusively around what not to do, the account often posts captions and comments explaining very concisely the safety rule that has been broken here.
@accuratesafetyco ?♂️HOMEMADE WORK PLATFORMS #hardwork #laddersafety #plywood #hardworkwork #safetytraining #platforms #homemade #fyp #safety
♬ Hard Work – U.S. Drill Sergeant Field Recordings
@MechanicLink
On April 27th 2019, use MechanicLink posted a video of himself at work singing “Pure Imagination” by Gene Wilder, but swapped the term with “OSHA Violations” leading to the beginning of a huge trend.
@mechaniclink #willywonka #singing #auto #mechanic …Lets not tag OSHA in this.
♬ Osha violations – MechanicLink
This video has now been viewed millions of times, and his account has now gained over 477,000 followers as a result. While this account now covers a wide range of topics, the video has been used to create thousands of other videos using his cover of the song.
MechanicLink still posts regularly, and he’s worth following for his funny sense of humour, safety videos and insights on life as a mechanic!
@Lilhayseed
This account is run by Roxandra M Koch, a crane operator based in Texas. With 12,500 followers, she’s gained a following for her hilarious and relatable content. Using the hashtag #oilfieldprincess, she showcases the highs and lows from her office and out on the oilfield, with funny videos and by miming to popular songs.
@lilhayseed #oilfieldprincess #oilfield #craneoperator #help #nottrue #spongebob
♬ original sound – Lackinmeme
While she doesn’t post a ton of safety content, she’s a relatable account and a must-follow for anyone working in the industry!
@jokesfromthebunker
With almost 165,000 followers from around the world, @jokesfromthebunker is an active and interesting safety account to follow! He regularly gets between 15,000 and up to 500,000 views on each of his videos.
His TikToks are well-edited with captions on screen, and he shows plenty of safety fails in his content! From masks and robotic tree removal to the worst engineering and driving errors, there are plenty of examples of what not to do on this account! He also talks through the differences between the safety rules and regulations of other countries compared to those in the USA, making for some interesting viewing.
@jokesfromthebunker #stitch with @eldon_faulkner #redneck #likephotoshopbutwithwelding #WildAnimals #fyp #nothankachina
♬ original sound – Bunker Jokes
@those_drywall_chicks
From TikTokers and twins Brit and Ash, @thosedrywallchicks have amassed almost a quarter of a million followers with their videos! Based in Montana, the two of them work in the construction industry building houses, putting up drywall and decorating homes.
You’ll also find Brit and Ash frequently using ladders, scaffolding and even stilts in their videos! Some of their most unique and interesting content are their stilts videos, because they use them so often during their work. From stilt races to mounting and dismounting, and altering the stilts to reach some seriously high ceilings, it’s a really interesting insight into the building and construction world! While their content sometimes includes questionable PPE (not #oshaapproved…) and painting methods, they’re a really fun account to follow with plenty of great videos to keep you entertained.
@those_drywall_chicks Stilt sisters!! ?♀️ #twins #fyp #foryou #foryoupage #twinsisters #doubletrouble #stilts #racing #constructionlife#womenintrades #tradeswoman#drywall
♬ La La Land (feat. YG) – Bryce Vine
Now, onto hashtags! Almost every viral TikTok you see would’ve shot to fame through its hashtags. While your main TikTok feed will be full of the people you follow, you can search and follow certain hashtags to find the content you’re looking for.
We would also recommend checking out some of the users you find using these hashtags! There are plenty of small accounts out there who are posting inspiring and useful safety content.
Lots of the safety content on TikTok is OSHA fails and rules and regulations being broken — which we don’t encourage! But there are plenty of interesting topics to follow. From foreman on the ground giving insights to scaffolders sharing scary shots from up high, you’ll find plenty of content to enjoy. You may even find a funny safety moment or two to share in your next toolbox talk, or a 10-second video that inspires your next short workplace safety topic.
When it comes to hashtags to follow on TikTok, we recommend checking out some of the following.
#OSHAviolations
We mentioned it earlier in the article, the OSHA violations hashtag is definitely one to follow! With 126.2 million and 166.1 million views respectively, the #OSHAviolation and #OSHAviolations hashtags have gone from strength-to-strength since!
#Constructionfails
With 83.5 million views, the construction fails hashtag covers a wide array of themes. Keen TikTok-ers use it to share failures in construction that they find when they’re out and about. And construction workers also upload content to share the fails they witnessed at work. Who knows, one of these TikToks may inspire your next construction toolbox talk.
#OSHA
If you’re looking for a combination of funny videos and plenty of examples of what not to do, take a look at the #OSHA hashtag. With over 162 million views, there is an endless volume of videos from all around the world. While viewer discretion is definitely advised, you’ll find plenty of inspiration for your next OSHA compliance talk!
#Workplacesafety
With almost 1 million views, the #workplacesafety hashtag has plenty of examples covering the dos and don’ts of safety in the workplace. However, this hashtag is used ironically more often than not, to highlight some of the worst practises in workplace safety. And, we’ll be honest, the don’ts definitely outweigh the dos on this one!
#OSHAisthissafe?
With an enormous 33.5 million views, the #oshaisthissafe hashtag is used to highlight some of the most brazen OSHA violations in the USA and beyond. From filming TikTok trends and the latest dances on the top of diggers to some truly brazen tree cutting techniques, you will find OSHA violation after OSHA violation using this hashtag! Of course, viewer discretion is advised, and TikTok often marks such videos with a warning: “The action in this video could result in serious injury”.
#Oilfield
For those working in oilfields or interested in “day in the life of” content, we recommend following the #oilfield hashtag. It has a whopping 273 million views and counting! You’ll see plenty of perspectives from life on an oilfield, and it’s definitely an interesting topic to follow.
Again, we certainly don’t recommend repeating some of the actions in these videos. But these videos can inspire conversations at work about safety, and some of the consequences of not following OSHA requirements.
For anyone interested in life as a crane operator, the #craneoperator hashtag gives a huge amount of insight! With plenty of interesting POVs, “day in the life of” pieces, information about cranes, and insights into tower driver training, this hashtag is a must-follow. It also has 48 million views and thousands upon thousands of videos, giving you plenty to catch up on!
Conclusion
We’ve covered a range of topics above including accounts and hashtags to follow. With videos all available in 15-second bursts, they’re a great way to spend your downtime watching. And they can also help to inspire safety topics and toolbox talks.
You’ll also find plenty of examples of “what not to do” here. You could even make a presentation or longer-form lesson showing the videos, followed by asking what went wrong, what could they have done, or which violations were made during the video. This is an exciting and modern way to engage staff with their safety training.