Push The Big, Red Button

The first job I secured when I graduated from high school was in a lumber yard in Salem, Oregon. I vividly recall a bunch of tough old guys harumphing about operating really dangerous equipment and sizing up the newbie 17-year-old prank magnet.

However, in the first hour of the first day on the job, one of the crusty ones took me aside and said, "Boy ... you see that big red button on the wall over there?" pointing with his thumb (his index finger was missing).

"Yes, Sir," I said.

"I'm tellin' you right now, you see somethin' unsafe or somebody about to get hurt, you don't think twice. You push that big, red button, and it will shut this place down 'til we get the problem fixed. You got questions?"

"No, Sir," I said.

Please make certain every member of your organization knows they are empowered to "push the big, red button" if they see a safety hazard - including hazing, bullying, character assassination, rumors, gossip, racism, xenophobia, misogyny, and/or shadow chains-of-command. Shut the place down until the problem is fixed.

You got questions?