I work in a restaurant and I screwed up today when dealing with some wasps/hornets.
Like many restaurants, ours has an outside area--two decks, actually. Now that it's late summer, the flying pests are making their presence known.
We have pest control measures in place, but obviously bees, wasps, hornets, flies, and other flying insects will still occasionally make their way into the deck area. Today, at one point on our back deck, I opened an umbrella, and several wasps/hornets flew out. Two tables away in one corner of the deck sat a couple and their small child. They were partially under the other umbrella--there are two--which had been opened for their use. (It was a sunny day.)
I was concerned the group of wasps/hornets scurried about in the area of the umbrella I opened--about 10-15 feet away from the corner table with the child. I became concerned for all of their well-being, as well as for other guests who would eventually occupy the tables around the second umbrella (the one I opened). I raced downstairs to find to retrieve a can of bug spray, then raced back upstairs and out to the back deck. Some of the wasps/hornets had flown away, but a few remained. Obviously, I'm not going to spray in the direction of any people. But I figured it would be okay to spray a finite amount into the crux of the umbrella--from which the wasps/hornets originated--and a little into the tree branch that borders the wooden deck railing. I took care not to spray too much, doing so in just a few short spurts.
After I did so, the father at the corner table asked me, "Is that kid-friendly?" I don't remember my exact words, but I was taken aback by the question. It's bug spray. It's not exactly "friendly" in any way. I answered awkwardly, saying something like, "I think so" or "I think it's okay." (Obviously, you don't want to touch the spray or ingest it.) I then mentioned to them that I was only doing it away from them; again, I was at least a good 10 feet away, probably about 15.
There was no further incident. They left, and I wished them a good night. But then we received a 2-star Google review where the guy basically said his experience was ruined by my handling of the situation. (He mentioned that he smelled the spray and that some of it "moved" toward them.) To be honest, I am sorry I did it. I was just concerned that the wasps/hornets might lurk and possibly sting one of them or another guest. But I do want to reach out and apologize to him. This is a mistake I don't want to ever make again.
Should I have just left the wasps/hornets alone? Should I have done anything else? Any other advice for next time? Thank you in advance.