Dillard bill is good way to put stores on the hook

A kitchen store wouldn't display knives with the points sticking out.

To do so would be irresponsible.

So why do many different kinds of stores still use pointed, sharp metal hooks to hold merchandise - hooks that can, and have, caused serious damage to the unwary, particularly children.

An ongoing investigation by CBS2 and the Naperville Sun has uncovered dozens of injuries, some quite serious, across the nation that have occurred among both children and adults.

One of the least serious injuries, fortunately, was sustained last December by a Naperville woman shopping at Kohl's in Fox Valley Center in Aurora. She was reaching into a T-shirt display when the sharp edge of a display hook slit her arm.

The 46-year-old woman still has a scar from the incident, but at least her injury was relatively minor compared to many others.

A number of small children, and even some adults, have sustained eye injuries when they've been poked in the face by a long, sharp display hook.

Surprisingly, though stores have been aware of the potential danger with such display hooks for months, many have not taken action to replace the hooks.

That may change.

As a story on CBS2 news and in Thursday's Sun explained, state Sen. Kirk Dillard, R-Hinsdale, whose district includes part of Naperville, has introduced legislation to mandate that stores follow National Safety Council recommendations about the use of display hooks. Dillard hopes to have a bill passed and a law take effect by next year.

The safety council, a nonprofit business consulting agency, wants stores to keep a protective barrier, such as a card with the item's price or a price scan tag, at the end of the hook to keep customers from coming into contact with the end of the hook itself.

That's a simple, sensible, inexpensive way for stores to keep customers safe.

While we don't generally favor legislation as the means to every end, in this case with the failure of stores to take action on a matter of public safety, we applaud Sen. Dillard for stepping up.

We would encourage the General Assembly to adopt this and the governor to sign it.

It's a small matter, though not to those who have suffered eye injuries after coming into contact with hooks.

If stores won't make their aisles safe on their own, it is appropriate for the state to force them to do so.