Smash Bros. owes millions of dollars in OSHA violations | Unraveled
Polygon’s “Unraveled” series examines Super Smash Bros. Ultimate through an absurdist lens by applying Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations to the game’s stages. Host Brian David Gilbert analyzes the various battle arenas to determine which safety violations each stage would incur, calculating the hypothetical fines that would be owed. The video explores the dangerous design elements present in Smash Bros. stages—from hazardous obstacles and environmental hazards to poor structural safety standards—applying real-world workplace safety compliance rules to fictional game environments. This comedic deep-dive blends gaming analysis with bureaucratic inspection standards, treating the video game stages as if they were actual physical workplaces subject to federal safety regulations.