Beads as a choking hazzard - can you help me please

[Indivijewelistic]

Hello,

I am starting a bead store in Enfield. Obviously loose beads (which will be on sale in the shop on counter tops - as they are in every bead store). This shop has 3 schools around it, one of them is a large junior school and I am hopeful that Mums and teenagers will be part of my client base, clearly they may also bring in younger children with them.

If I put a sign on the door that says something like:

Please be aware that beads can cause a choking hazzard, if you have a small child with you it is your responsibility to ensure they are watched at all times and are not at risk.

1. Is that near the right wording.
2. It sounds a bit rude so it is necessary.
3. Does it need to be:
- on the door (and what happens if the door is wide open and it can't be seen readily by those entering
- on the shop counter
- emblazoned across my chest; or
- a large sign pinned on the wall.

I have put a disclaimer on the webiste saying that the beads form a choking hazzard and are not suitable for children under 3 (is there anything wrong with that and should I say something else?)

I am a new business start up so any help is gratefully received. I don't want to get it wrong, but then I don't want anyone to get hurt either.

With thanks for any assitance anyone can offer.

 

[Kernowman]

The trouble with warning signs is the more wordy they are the less effective they become and the shorter they are the more offensive sounding it gets.

If you walk past an electricity sub-station, it doesn't have a sign saying "Would you mind awfully if I told you that it really isn't wise to climb over the fence because in here we have some rather unpleasant apparatus that may harm you old thing". Very polite of course, but the danger message has far less meaning that the "DANGER OF DEATH" sign someone has thoughtfully created.

The sensible thing to do is keep it short and direct: "BEWARE CHOKING HAZARD FOR SMALL CHILDREN" If someone gets upset over that then they need to get out more Put the signs anywhere and everywhere throughout your premises.

 

[Indivijewelistic]

I thank you, much appreciated and with a touch of humour. I will do as you suggest.

 

[deniser]

Can you not also put them at a height where small children cannot reach them?

 

[MrsPWN]

"All beads choked on must be paid for!"

That should do it

 

[Bri]

I need to concentrate I thought it said beards

 

[Astaroth]

"All beads choked on must be paid for!"

As well as those stuck in noses, ears or any other orifice.

Not being a fan of the nanny state and believing that we managed to survive enough years as a race without H&S laws & disclaimers possibly colours my judgement a little. Personally wouldn't put such a sign on the door - wouldnt exactly give a warm and welcoming feeling to the place.

If your legal advisors suggest it is sensible to have such a warning then at least keep it to somewhere inside the store before you scare people away.

 

[Indivijewelistic]

Fantastic suggestions, thank you people.

They would be on a fairly high table (sort of sideboard height) and you may be right, I may be overly worrying (as I have never seen a similar sign at any bead shop and I have visited most of them for ideas and info).

However, we recently had a child climb on top of our Honda 2000 (right over the long bonet and all they way on top of the soft roof). His mother was standing beside it chiding him. Naturally I went out and voiced my dismay at said child now sitting on the top of the car and her response was that he had climbed on it to stroke a cat and she really didn't see what the fuss was about. I have a feeling that child could come into the shop and stuff beads in every part of him and his mum wouldn't worry till he passed out for lack of breath and would then probably sue me!

I think I will mull it over - but for now feel I will put a sign on a couple of the tables where the beads are and keep it short and pertinent as first suggested. On the door may well and be a little of putting.

Many thanks for your help, much appreicated.

 

[cjd]

I'm afraid signs don't really work - things like 'cars left at owners risk' are completely redundant. Regardless of what signage you have, it's your responsibility to make your shop safe - you can't ward off negligence with a sign.

That said, you just have to take what a normal group of people would regard as reasonable precautions - things like not putting open displays at toddler height.

Probably best to get yourself and your staff trained in the Heinrich manoeuvre too

 

[Kernowman]

It's not just a case of worrying about children inserting objects into their bodily orifices that disturbs me, it is the notion that we have to go to extraordinary lengths to protect ourselves from congenital idiots.

THE prime responsibility for EVERY parent is to raise their offspring to become adults that can integrate into a society that has rules, orders and protocols that commands respect for others in that society. Secondary to that primary role is to educate their children to what does and what does not constitute a hazard, either on a personal safety level (choking on beads), or a social integration level, like picking your nose in public is a "bad thing". What we have though is millions of little Princes and Princesses with next to no social skills at all and a million miles away form being an individual who can obey society's simple yet fundamental rules.

Only recently I read a report in the papers about a youth who had climbed the fence of an electricity sub-station and got the full force of the power line which frazzled him when he cut through it with the intention of stealing it. All around the site are signs which say "DANGER OF DEATH" and "KEEP OUT" but the "brain of britain" obviously believed he was too invincible to be concerned about a minor detail like 44,000 volts.

So, the moral of this story is to be concerned about the little Princes and Princesses choking on the beads, but also the little darlings can poke things into your power sockets, they can pull the cash register off your counter, they can swing off your light fittings, they can drown in your toilet, drink the bleach, eat the toilet roll, they can tip your displays over, kick one of your customers and a thousand other things that will catch you out because you haven't prepared for it. Makes you feel like opening a vein and ending it all

 

[deniser]

also the little darlings can poke things into your power sockets, they can pull the cash register off your counter, they can swing off your light fittings, they can drown in your toilet, drink the bleach, eat the toilet roll, they can tip your displays over, kick one of your customers and a thousand other things that will catch you out because you haven't prepared for it. Makes you feel like opening a vein and ending it all

LOL!!!!!!!

We often have lost children in our shop. Where are they? Pretending to be mannequins standing in the window having climbed into the window display!

 

[Dawg]

Dear Mr K,
May I suggest a large chunk of chocolate to increase the Serotonin in your system?
As men age natural serotonin production diminishes leading to dystopia. The above might help.

(Alternatively you could lace the choco with with exotic toxins and give it to the little darlings...)

 

[Indivijewelistic]

lol - now I will have to make a 'DO NOT STICK HEAD IN LOO' sign and I have an image of my little bead shop being covered in signs whilst 4 unruly children stand in the shop window stuffing beads into themselves!

 

[christian_d]

Remove the cause:

Which in your case is either A: the children (not really possible) or B: The beads - by putting them higher than they can reach, surely you will not just sell beads? Put the safer items lower down.

 

[christian_d]

Put a sign in the window thats says.

Notice to all Adults

1 in every 5,657 beads contained in this shop is laced with arsenic.

Keep your eyes on your kids or take your chances, the choice is yours!

You must then add another disclaimer which states

The Management will not be responsible for any death or subsequent death which occurs on or off these premises.

 

[Kernowman]

Dear Mr K,
May I suggest a large chunk of chocolate to increase the Serotonin in your system?
As men age natural serotonin production diminishes leading to dystopia. The above might help.

(Alternatively you could lace the choco with with exotic toxins and give it to the little darlings...)

Maybe I could apply to appear on the next series of "Grumpy Old Men"