Stabbed by syringe in SYD Emirates Business Lounge

[maninblack]

my mum has only just informed me she was stuck with a syringe in the females bathroom of the EK J lounge in SYD.

There is something you have not described which is a little hard to understand. How was she "stuck" with a syringe in the bathroom?

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Oh my what a terrible thing to happen.

There are lots of nasties please be sure your mother is taking precautions to not potentially infect anyone else too.

People with insulin don't use disposable needles. You gotta think about who is using disposable stuff like that ...real risks are hiv and hep c

 

[mannej]

There is something you have not described which is a little hard to understand. How was she "stuck" with a syringe in the bathroom?

By wording stuck doesn't necessarily mean there was any contact. By discussion it would seem as struck would be the more appropriate wording as it does seem to infer there to be a needle handling injury.

 

[anat0l]

Given the seriousness of the potential injury, it was extremely incompetent - if not, bordering on legally negligent - of the staff not to file an incident report. Certainly, especially if the person who wants to file the incident is petitioning and more than ready to do so. (I can't think of a case where I've been at workplaces where the request to fill an incident report has not been rebuffed).

I hope Ms MM works out OK on the medical tests. I would be following up with the owners of the lounge and the lounge authority with a firm letter / email describing the incident, with a specific emphasis on the lack of attention to the filing of a report and/or the flagrant disregard for the seriousness of the incident. Include a reasonable and suitable request for a directed and timely reply to your satisfaction.

If no response is received and/or the response is not satisfactory / is dismissive, I would consider calling in either the Sydney Airport authority or the relevant State authority / body responsible for workplace health and safety.

I'm not sure if Emirates have a Facebook account with a Wall that can be posted on, but it may be worth posting your terse account of events there. Keep in mind that these Walls are often public and whilst airline Facebook Walls may tend to be "crackpot magnets", it doesn't bar the fact that you can see everything that's posted there. Emirates might deal with your issue with some urgency if they know the wide world can see it; they would be rather folly if they simply deleted your Wall post.

(I am assuming that the lounge in question and the relevant bathroom facilities are owned and operated by Emirates; if it were some third party, I would be going after their throats for a faster response)

By wording stuck doesn't necessarily mean there was any contact. By discussion it would seem as struck would be the more appropriate wording as it does seem to infer there to be a needle handling injury.

Maybe you're right. It still doesn't discount the fact that if someone wants to file an incident report, they should not be denied (under almost all circumstances). Even if there is no injury (or even if it is a "near miss incident"), that is no reason to deny the filing of a report.

To be honest, it may just be that the report may be dismissed after filing (viz. fodder for the proverbial basketball hoop over the garbage bin) - let alone will any action or resolve arise from the report - but it just sounds frivolous to dismiss one from filing a report in the first place (at least in this country).

 

[kempvet]

Just to add a couple of points to the already worthy comments
1. The delay in bucking this to the top is going to hurt you, best to have raised hell at the time, not so easy as time passes.
2. You are dealing with a Middle Eastern airline and ultimately management, unlike western airlines, these issues are not viewed as seriously by them so my suggestion to anyone dealing with a non western airline regarding these matters is to push, push and push the issue at the time, record names of people who may be dismissive of you and report it beyond the airline as well, especially to the local airport authorities.
Good luck but I feel that you may have missed the boat on getting a great result on this one because of the time delay.

 

[mannej]

Maybe you're right. It still doesn't discount the fact that if someone wants to file an incident report, they should not be denied (under almost all circumstances). Even if there is no injury (or even if it is a "near miss incident"), that is no reason to deny the filing of a report.

To be honest, it may just be that the report may be dismissed after filing (viz. fodder for the proverbial basketball hoop over the garbage bin) - let alone will any action or resolve arise from the report - but it just sounds frivolous to dismiss one from filing a report in the first place (at least in this country).

I was just concurring with the post above mine, however it is still something that is fairly serious.

From what the OP has posted, it has been handled poorly and it would seem that there are legal issues at play as well...

 

[anat0l]

Just to add a couple of points to the already worthy comments
1. The delay in bucking this to the top is going to hurt you, best to have raised hell at the time, not so easy as time passes.
2. You are dealing with a Middle Eastern airline and ultimately management, unlike western airlines, these issues are not viewed as seriously by them so my suggestion to anyone dealing with a non western airline regarding these matters is to push, push and push the issue at the time, record names of people who may be dismissive of you and report it beyond the airline as well, especially to the local airport authorities.
Good luck but I feel that you may have missed the boat on getting a great result on this one because of the time delay.

I agree the time delay of action has impacted on the OP's chances of a smooth resolution, perhaps - as you imply - cripplingly.

As for dealing with the ME airline and management - yeah, quite true. But as for their operation in an Australian environment, that is luckily not immune nor trivialised, but that is also why if there is no resolution from the airline directly within a reasonable time frame, raising it to an Australian authority rather than chasing after the airline would be the idea.

It would be funny if the management of the airline had trained their staff not to be aware of the bureaucratic etc. sensitivities of the target jurisdiction. I'm sure they would need to be aware of it in other countries. In fact, given that the ones running the lounge would likely be local staff (why would you fly them all the way out from UAE to here?), they should definitely (the staff, especially) know better!

It is more likely one or more of laziness, lack of training, lack of awareness and/or outright negligence. All or part of that must be borne by the employees who dealt with the OP at the time and a decent chunk of that by Emirates and/or their subcontracted service provider (if applicable).

I was just concurring with the post above mine, however it is still something that is fairly serious.

From what the OP has posted, it has been handled poorly and it would seem that there are legal issues at play as well...

Yeah, sorry - was trying to add to your observation, not be antagonistic.

 

[maninblack]

By wording stuck doesn't necessarily mean there was any contact.

It certainly does. A needle stick injury or"stuck with a needle" clearly means that the needle pierced the skin. A needlestick injury means the skin is accidentally punctured by a used needle. If the OP meant something else then I don't know. Still have not heard from the OP how this occurred. The OP says she was "stabbed" so perhaps there was an assault in which case it should have been a police matter from the start.

 

[MartinMemo]

Hi all - still nothing from EK or SYD. In relation to how it happened, her hand was stabbed by a needle from an overflowing syringe disposal unit in the bathroom. After pressing the matter she was told the unit hadn't been emptied since early august. At the moment dad has decided it's best to take her away on a holiday for a while to relax, and I will manage this for them once I return from holidays. The advice is appreciated - I showed my parents your comments and they were moved by the support from strangers.

I agree it is worth contacting a lawyer just for advice and even to make the complaint more formal - luckily for me I'll be spending this week on beautiful magnetic Island with a close friend who is a solicitor (corporate negligence, conveyancing, HR, Jack of all trades kind of lawyer) and I'll be sure to bring this up at some point.

I know my parents will thank any of you who attend OOL in February for your advice - enjoy the rest of your holidays!

 

[anat0l]

Hi all - still nothing from EK or SYD. In relation to how it happened, her hand was stabbed by a needle from an overflowing syringe disposal unit in the bathroom. After pressing the matter she was told the unit hadn't been emptied since early august. At the moment dad has decided it's best to take her away on a holiday for a while to relax, and I will manage this for them once I return from holidays. The advice is appreciated - I showed my parents your comments and they were moved by the support from strangers.

I agree it is worth contacting a lawyer just for advice and even to make the complaint more formal - luckily for me I'll be spending this week on beautiful magnetic Island with a close friend who is a solicitor (corporate negligence, conveyancing, HR, Jack of all trades kind of lawyer) and I'll be sure to bring this up at some point.

I know my parents will thank any of you who attend OOL in February for your advice - enjoy the rest of your holidays!

Does Mrs MM use syringes? Just trying to establish how one gets stabbed by the sharps disposal unit (you would need to come in contact with it somehow; granted, the contact could be accidental, e.g. trying to manoeuvre around in a confined space).

If they conceded that the sharps haven't been emptied since August, then that should be good fodder for the formal complaint. Sharps should be emptied regularly by specialised disposal services. This is a serious sanitary issue; far from it let alone being a safety one.

Good luck MartinMemo. Again, hope Mrs MM is in otherwise good spirits. Hope to hear of some more constructive news in the near future.

 

[Princess Fiona]

A truly horrible thing to happen to your mum OP.
I hope the outcome is an overhaul of the cleaning procedures at EK to ensure that it won't happen again and suitable compensation to your family.
On the upside it's highly unlikely for such a community needle stick injury to result in any long term harm.
All the best
PF

 

[bazoukka]

Need some advice AFF community;

My Mum & Dad were flying EK J to Turkey & Back a few weeks ago and my mum has only just informed me she was stuck with a syringe in the females bathroom of the EK J lounge in SYD. Apparently she reported it to 3 staff who refused to fill out an incident report, and upon checking the register, the female bathrooms had not been checked for/cleared of syringes for weeks. She has written an email to the EK consumer affairs team but has not heard anything for over 2 weeks now, and has asked if I can do anything about it. Any advice on where I can take her complaint would be appreciated,

Thanks guys and Happy Holidays wherever you are spending them!

sorry to hear that has happened. I'm not surprised withe the bad attitude and poor service received from Emirates. You can pretty much expect a letter from EK telling you to get stuffed and they can't do anything for you