Very Often, firing the guy who just made a big booboo, is the stupidest thing you can do.

Yeah, I know that sounds counter-intuitive; but that is most often the very same guy who has just learned a big-time lesson; the very lesson Bob2 is talking about; the very same lesson you hope to is instilled in all your employees.

Now if you sack him, his replacement has probably not had a chance to learn - may have never even heard of it. So now you start off back at square one, with an unknown untrained quantity. Future safety thus may well have gone backwards!

Of course, if he is unrepentant and does not actually learn; or otherwise exhibits a faulty attitude, and resists the needed attitude adjustment - then you have no choice but to cut your losses and let 'im go.

It is definitely a judgment call. And second guessing someone else's judgment call when you are not in possession of the same detailed facts, is difficult as best - pure bias and bigotry at worst.

Besides, slaughtering a scapegoat never solves a thing; usually makes things worse, actually.

OPB