AnchorAnchorAfter a co-worker was pricked with a “live” needle at Florida Medical Center (FMC) in Fort Lauderdale, numerous members of 1199SEIU signed onto a grievance that resulted in the delivery of proper equipment and a safer workplace.

Emergency room technician Michelle Franklin received the puncture after drawing blood from an elderly patient suffering from dementia.  She was using the only available cart in the E.D. at the time, which did not have the proper “sharps container.”  When the patient tried to stand up and risk falling, the experienced technician had to place the needle with an exposed point on top of the cart while assisting the patient. Subsequently, she was pricked though her glove when removing items and cleaning up the cart.

With a properly equipped cart, the needle would have been placed immediately into the sharps container and out of danger.

To compound the issue, the hospital did not conduct an expedited rapid test of the patient’s blood or Franklin’s to make sure she was not infected with a serious virus or other disease. So for several days, Franklin and her daughters remained deeply worried. Fortunately, there was no infection.

After the incident, the caregiver and several fellow 1199SEIU members at the hospital spoke up together, signed and filed a formal grievance with hospital management, demanding proper equipment and safety measures at FMC, which is owned by Healthcare Systems of America (HSA).

Shortly thereafter, the faulty equipment was removed from the department floor and replaced with two properly equipped carts.

“Workers sticking together, speaking up and filing the grievance got the hospital to pay attention and make our jobs safer moving forward.  That’s what being in a union is all about,” Franklin said.

“It’s unfortunate an accident happened in the first place, which could have had terrible consequences,” said DeQuasia Canales,  Acting Executive Vice President of 1199SEIU Florida. “But very we’re proud of our 1199SEIU members having each other’s backs and using their collective voice. This is just one example of how workers unite to problem-solve and turn incidents into improvements that protect everyone while delivering patient care.” 

 

 

 

 

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