Staff were fired for serious breaches of health and safety guidelines, and not for planking, Woolworth says.

According to earlier reports of the Daily Telegraph, top food store Woolworths has dismissed a total of eight employees with in the week across three states. The accounted workers were caught planking on top of display shelves, meat grinders, stacks of milk crates and trolleys.

But Woolworths denied this saying the issue was about staff safety and not the popular fad.

Anthony Wilson, who is Woolworths' risk and safety general manager, said in an interview that they were not trying to be “killjoys”. They were concerned mainly with the “plankers” who are putting themselves and customers at risk.

"It's not about being the fun police, it's about making sure people are looking out for their own safety," Wilson expressed.
He added, "Planking is a direct contradiction of our safety and health policy. Our employees have a responsibility to ensure their own safety and the safety of those around them."

The popularity of planking, which involves photographing one’s self while lying flat and face-down on top of an object, has invaded a lot of social networks such as Facebook. On the other hand, it had gained widespread condemnation from authorities as one man from Brisbane died when he lost footing while doing the stunt.