T-shirt gets message across

Apr 29, 2020 | 2:02 PM

It’s a shirt we may be seeing more of — especially for people who work in public places.

James Bennett, maintenance manager at the Silver Springs Seniors Home in Vernon, has started wearing and selling T-shirts that have the message ‘STAY BACK 2 METRES PLEASE!’

James Bennett and his STAY BACK T-shirt (submitted photo)

He calls it “safety clothing” and got the idea after people at his workplace, and those standing in lines, were getting too close for comfort.

“Especially residents here, they want to get in your face and talk. Sometimes they are hard of hearing, and there is just a real danger in that,” Bennett told Vernon Matters.

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He said they also work while out shopping.

“Sometimes you’ll get in a small place where someone will come up right behind you, and it makes me a little nervous,” he said.

Bennett said the message is friendly in nature.

“It says ‘please’ at the bottom. It’s a respect thing,” he said.

He thinks it’s an investment employers should make if they’re concerned about their staff safety.

Bennett said AMI Clothing of Vernon is making the shirts that sell for $34.

While that may seem pricey to some, he said it’s a good-quality shirt, with a silk-screened message on the front and back, and orange in colour.

“I was hoping to give a bit of the proceeds to one of the charities in town, to help them out after I cover the cost,” he said.

Bennett and three other Silver Springs staff members started wearing the shirts a few days ago, and he has found it gets the message across.

“Some [people] think it`s a great souvenir, but most people get the message. It’s a light-hearted thing. It doesn’t come across as a threat or anything. It’s awareness. Most of it — 99 per cent — has been positive, and there is a real interest in it for personal protection,” he said.

If you want to find out more about the shirts, you can email James Bennett at staybackppe@gmail.com

by Pete McIntyre

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