When workers stand together, they can turn a dangerous incident into meaningful change.

After a co-worker was pricked by a "live" needle at Florida Medical Center (FMC) in Fort Lauderdale, numerous 1199SEIU members signed onto a grievance that led to the delivery of proper equipment and a safer workplace.

Emergency Department technician Michelle Franklin suffered the needle puncture after drawing blood from an elderly patient living with dementia. At the time, she was using the only available cart in the department, which did not have the proper sharps container.

When the patient attempted to stand and was at risk of falling, Franklin had to quickly assist them. With no immediate way to safely dispose of the used needle, she placed it on top of the cart while helping the patient. Later, while removing items and cleaning the cart, she was accidentally pricked through her glove by the exposed needle.

Had the cart been properly equipped, the needle could have been immediately disposed of in a sharps container, eliminating the danger.

To make matters worse, the hospital did not conduct expedited testing of either the patient's blood or Franklin's blood to quickly determine whether she had been exposed to a serious virus or other infectious disease. For several days, Franklin and her daughters endured the anxiety of not knowing the outcome.

Fortunately, the tests ultimately confirmed that there was no infection.

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

Shortly afterward, 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," Franklin said. "That's what being in a union is all about."

DeQuasia Canales, Acting Executive Vice President of 1199SEIU Florida, said the outcome demonstrates the power of workers using their collective voice to create positive change.

"It's unfortunate that an accident happened in the first place, which could have had terrible consequences," Canales said. "But we're proud of our 1199SEIU members for 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."