16 Truly Terrifying Photos Taken By People At Work

If you’re an adult, there’s a strong possibility you have to work, whether you like it or not. Some people love their jobs, some hate them. Either way, I think it’s safe to say that most people would like to end their day or night shifts alive and unharmed. And most times, that is the case. But data shows “a worker died every 96 minutes from a work-related injury in 2022” and that’s just in the United States.

People have been sharing their scary work situations on the internet. Keep scrolling for a list of the most terrifying times people saw their life flash before their eyes while trying to put food on the table. And don’t miss the exclusive interview Bored Panda had with a high-level security expert, who puts his life on the line every day.

16 PHOTOS

#1 Extreme Waves In The North Sea

As a journalist, my job has taken me into some pretty scary situations. Gang wars? Check. Gun violence? Check. Hostage dramas? Check. Chased by armed men? Check. I’ve also been to some pretty creepy places. Crime scenes. Mortuaries. Maximum Security Prisons... Check, check, and check. 

Even so, a few of the pics here send shivers up my spine. There are the dangerous and deadly, and then of course, the downright creepy. To be honest, I’m surprised some of these people had the nerve (and the time) to take photos.

Someone with nerves of steel is L. Taylor. We've withheld his full name at his request to protect his family. He’s a highly trained former bodyguard, who is now working for a global security company. He’s faced some extreme danger on the job and agreed to share some of his scary experiences with Pictolic.

#2 This Hallway At My Job

Taylor’s work has taken him around the world. He has a long list of terrifying “outdoor offices” that might make you want to chain yourself to your boring desk job forever. But there’s one that stands out. “I worked in Mosul, Northern Iraq towards the end of the liberation from ISIS, living in a rented house in the old city,” he told us. 

“The area of operation was classed as Extreme-Risk and it was the most destroyed city in the world at the time. Vehicle-borne IEDs were exploding within a 500m radius of our house daily. Multiple liberation exercises around us weekly.”

For context, a PBS article reported at the time, “Investigations by the Associated Press and NPR estimate anywhere between 5,000 and 11,000 civilians were killed in the fighting.”

#3 This Is A Door I Found At Work, In The Basement Of An Old Factory

#4 Appears That I Had A Visitor While Working Alone In A Large Abandoned Basement

Not only has Taylor feared for his own life, he’s also lost friends and colleagues along the way. “It is always a risk,” he said. “When I worked in a 17-man team in 2015, we were well trained and were actively preventing crime. But through desensitization and skill fade, many of my teammates are now unfortunately not with us.”

Taylor added that extreme danger doesn’t just lurk in war zones. “I have also worked in some of South Africa's highest-risk townships, combatting armed robbery and organized crime syndicates,” he added, saying some of those times were the most challenging in terms of controlling threats. 

#5 A Happy Little Sign At My Work

#6 Sydney Ferry Worker

If it's so incredibly dangerous, why does he do it? We had to know… 

“It’s a calling,” answered Taylor. “You get to help people and if you get the right contract, it's worth it financially.”

On the topic of contracts, who has he protected in the past? It would be unprofessional not to ask... “It would not be professional to name them, but I have protected politicians, actors, and sports professionals around the globe. I have also worked for ultra-high net worth individuals and families in many locations,” he revealed.

#7 My Friend Took This Photo From The Fishing Boat She Works On In Antarctica

#8 My Father Was Almost Pulled Into A Lathe While Working. Only Stopped By His Clothing Being Tangled

#9 Plumbing Is Not An Easy Job, Especially With Incredibly Bizarre Objects You Might Find As The Cause Of A Clogged Sink

If you’re lucky, you’ll forget the nauseating images in a few days, but it’s bound to stay with you for some time when you come across things like this.

But there’s another type of client he willingly puts his life on the line for. “My preference is working with the NGO sector, who regularly operate in developing countries, resource-poor communities, and conflict-affected areas,” he told Bored Panda.

#10 This Fisherman With A Deep Sea Wolf Eel

#11 Got Stuck In This Hole In An Elevator Shaft At Work Today, Thanks To My Tools And Climbing Gear

#12 My Friend Was Here, Working With The Crane Contractor At Boise Airport, And An Accident Happened. Three Guys Were Crushed, And Nine Were Hurt Badly

Donald Trump’s attempted assassination in July reminded us that not even powerful (former) presidents are immune to danger on the job. In case you missed it, Trump dodged a bullet when a gunman narrowly missed his head and shot his ear instead, at a packed rally in Pennsylvania. One person died and another two were injured in that incident. 

Police have since revealed the gunman searched for details about John F. Kennedy’s assassination just a week before the rally. 20-year-old Thomas Crooks managed to fire eight shots in six seconds before a U.S. Secret Service sniper eliminated him. The Secret Service and Trump’s security detail have come under fire for not preventing the shooting. 

We asked Taylor for his thoughts on the incident. “This was a catastrophic failure of the U.S. Secret Service,” he replied bluntly. “The purpose of these teams is to ensure no one ever gets close enough for this to happen.” It’s a sentiment that’s been echoed by others, and the head of the Service has since stepped down.

#13 My Friend Works On A Fishing Boat And Sent Me This Abomination

#14 There's A Real Metal Casket In The Basement Of The Fire Station I Work At

#15 I'm The Only Person Who Works The Night Shift At My Job. I Walked Into The Restroom And Saw This

Taylor worked “boots on the ground” for fifteen years before taking up a high-level position as a Security And Risk Consultant at a global security company. He’s held several different roles in the security sector over the years - and even worked as a police officer at one point. 

“I worked in the breach and penetration team. A unit mandated to combat gangsterism with a focus on clamping down on the drug trade. We would be deployed as needed in the most hostile of locations,” he said of his time in the police force. “Replicating what I learned in the police, I took this into the private sector, working for a tactical security company, protecting township-based retail outlets from armed robbery and extortion.”

#16 This Scary Job