The Right Answer

It's an entry rug with "bacon" sides and it lay in front of a busy entrance to a Denny's restaurant. In the first half hour or so, I watched about a dozen people catch their feet (mostly those wearing flip-floppy sandals) and stumble forward.

I pointed it out to our hostess who claimed she was too busy to deal with it right now. Yeah, safety can always wait (sarcasm). After another 20 minutes and another 7 people stumbling, I asked our waitress to get her manager.

He came over a few moments later. I introduced myself as a safety consultant and pointed out the rug and the safety issue.

Without hesitation, he summoned a staffer to remove the rug altogether - because that's the right answer.

The second right answer, is to refuse any further rugs with bacon edges from their supplier.

Your right answer is to say something to someone, to bring it the attention of someone who can address it and not let it go until it has been addressed. Your responsibility for safety doesn't end at the door to your workplace. Safety, yours and others, is a 24/7 thing.