The other day I was walking down a grocery store aisle when I saw a plastic product bag on the floor. Working in a safety conscience industry as I do, I immediately picked it up and put it out of harm’s way. We daily encounter dangers that to many may seem menial, but to those who work in a Risk or Safety position, they can be both hazardous and costly. I began thinking about ways that I could better support my customers as well as my community. Next time you are in a store keep these points in mind. 1. “LOOK OUT!” Are there rogue baggies lingering in the produce aisle? Is there a puddle by the ice cream freezer? Did a bunch a grapes explode on the floor? (These are not-so-affectionately called “million dollar grapes.”) Your providing this information to a store employee could potentially save a life, a law suit and a very bad day for the unlucky person who happens to encounter these items. 2. Speaking of “million dollar grapes” – a lawsuit for a slip and fall on a grape can literally reach into the millions. This is also one of the most effective ways that thieves create accidents. Imagine how easy it is to throw a couple of grapes discreetly on the floor and then stage a fraudulent slip and fall injury. If you happen to see this incident unfolding, don’t hold back – tell the first employee you see. You’ll be a hero! 3. Don’t ignore it. I know it can be embarrassing, but the fact is most of us have accidentally dropped breakables such as a bottle of wine or a jar of pickles. Proper procedure is to stay with the spill and alert others until an employee can clean-up the mess. In today’s day and age, we all want to do what is best for ourselves and those around us. Many stores use the XSORB Spill Clean Up Station as a way to clean up and quickly prevent these slip and fall scenarios. Pay it forward! Be safe & be a good citizen. I’d love to hear what you do to prevent slip and falls. When we share…we’re prepared!
