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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Cut my hand in a supermarket

150 replies

Tasteslikecandy · 14/01/2018 22:15

I was food shopping earlier this afternoon, I picked up a a box to see if I could find a bag of carrots that I liked and scraped the inside of my hand on a metal bit sticking underneath a shelf.

The security guard was nearby and the only members of staff that I could see were all on the tills. I showed him my hand, he very kindly found some tissue. I continued shopping as I was in a bit of shock then the security guard came to find me with a plaster.

At the end of my shop (my husband was pushing the trolley) I thought it should be put in an accident log. I found the shop manager didn’t seem bothered or even asked if I was ok? I said that it should be written done, he then asked if I wanted it in the accident book. My AIBU is that surely that was the first thing he should have done, not asked me if that was what I wanted?

OP posts:
Original poster
Tasteslikecandy · 14/01/2018 23:07

This is the type of shop where you do move things around though so I don’t i was doing anything out of the norm there. It wasn’t in a crate it on on their shelves.

No, not after compo, I just feel their customer service should have been a little better. A simple “Are you ok?” Would have sufficed? Anyway without drip feeding, there was a bit of family drama earlier on in in the day so I was probably feeling more sensitive than I usually would. I am an adult, I will wake up tomorrow and all will be fine again.

OP posts:
Jozxyqk · 14/01/2018 23:08

YWBU for rooting around. If you wanted other carrots you should have asked a staff member to move the box.

However, any injury sustained in a shop or similar premises should be logged. If the OP fails to keep the wound clean, it becomes infected, she does not go to the doctor sufficiently quickly for any reason, she could lose part of the hand. (Not that I'm suggesting this will happen; I'm sure the scratch will be fine, the OP will keep it clean, & would be sensible enough to get medical advice at the first sign of any infection).
However this very scenario has happened; it was only due to the fact that detailed notes were taken by a first aider at the time of the incident, that the company/ shop/ whatever could not be prosecuted, as it was proved that correct advice had been given but not followed. The shop in the OP's case have been most foolish to leave themselves open to problems, should the OP have a problem later on.

I am not suggesting that the OP is the litigious type, BTW.

Nicknacky · 14/01/2018 23:10

They probably didn't think to ask if you were ok because, you know, it was a scratch.

QuestionableMouse · 14/01/2018 23:11

@MonumentalAlabaster, an accident book is a H&S requirment. All of the accident details get recorded in case they're needed.

InsomniacAnonymous · 14/01/2018 23:12

Well they didn't ignore you, they gave you a plaster. As you weren't gushing blood they would've expected that to be adequate. These things happen.

PennyBBT · 14/01/2018 23:12

YANBU imagine if it HAD been a child cutting g themselves. Very different reaction

ShatnersBassoon · 14/01/2018 23:13

Gently insisting on First Aid should be a priority for the supermarket, I think.

Gently insisting on first aid should be a priority for you. Seriously, use some common sense and sort yourself out instead of waiting for someone to notice/care enough to force you to be cleaned up.

Nicknacky · 14/01/2018 23:14

penny But it wasn't a child so what's the point saying that?

Anyone else think this might be the reason the staff usually wear thick gloves when they are moving stock?!

Cakedoesntjudge · 14/01/2018 23:17

To be honest, I work for a big supermarket chain and although someone making a fuss about this would have probably caused a bit of an eye roll behind closed doors, we do (or should) offer to log all accidents, no matter how minor, if we're made aware of them.

To be honest though, it wouldn't be as a means of ensuring the offending shelf was instantly fixed, it would be in case we were then sued.

The accident logging process is long FYI and you'd have probably decided midway it was complete overkill. We would have then gone and checked the shelf to see how obvious the bit of metal sticking out was. If it was very obvious it would have been logged that the injury could have been avoided with suitable observation. Whether or not the shelf repair would have been instantly logged would depend on our budget that week. Which, due to the struggle in retail in general at the moment, would probably not be sufficient.

However, that's what should happen. It would depend entirely which assistant you came across first and how busy the store was that day. It shouldn't make a difference but the reality is it does.

Due to how litigious people have become in general, you are more likely to find management being hesitant and defensive rather than sympathetic anyway unfortunately because they have to be very very careful not to admit fault.

It's ridiculous but that's how it is sadly.

RunningOutOfCharge · 14/01/2018 23:18

She got first aid!!!!

Tissues..... then a plaster!!!

RunningOutOfCharge · 14/01/2018 23:19

Were you wanting a freebie out of it op?

bellagood · 14/01/2018 23:20

@TastesLikeCandy

This happened to me in Sainsbury's once - about 10 years ago, when they had metal baskets. I bled pretty bad, and I did tell them as it's very irresponsible not to IMO. Someone else could hurt themselves too, maybe a child, and get hurt even worse than you.

I went to customer services, and was very pleasant, but did say I had hurt myself. Customer services were mortified, and took the basket away, then promptly checked all the other baskets.

They were very nice to me and gave me a £25 voucher by way of compensation (even though I never asked for it or expected it.)

OP I think you should have mentioned it, but if you have come home now, and never said anything, then it's too late. You cannot even prove you did it there.

I am surprised they never 'logged' it though, as all these places tend to do that. Maybe they were worried about being sued?

ThePinkPanter · 14/01/2018 23:22

Oh dear OP. This thread didn't go the way you were planning! Put it on fb. Everyone there will give nice comments -but say exactly what everyone here has behind your back-

Lifechallenges · 14/01/2018 23:22

I'm not sure what you want out of it OP? Compensation?
Otherwise what's the issue really? All accidents should be logged really just to highlight trends and issues that need addressing e.g. If five people all tripped over the same step
They are also a record for when some one claims they had a nasty accident and want to sue but no record of it / everyone agreed at the time that it was just a scratch

cathycake · 14/01/2018 23:23

You were in shock because you had a scratch?
Hmmm.. that alongside the photos I can see a claim coming on.

The scratch was caused by something UNDER the shelf - shops place products ON the shelf for a reason

BritInUS1 · 14/01/2018 23:25

It's a scratch, it doesn't need to be logged

YolandiFuckinVisser · 14/01/2018 23:28

DD dislocated her finger and broke her knuckle on a trolley in Tesco. It was't tesco's fault, it was ours for letting her sit in the trolley when there's signs everywhere forbidding it. They still gave her loads of glittery shit from the stationery shelves as an apology.

bellagood · 14/01/2018 23:29

Just noticed you DID mention it sorry.

YANBU, they could have showed a BIT more concern.

Take to twitter and slate them. They hate that.

Original poster
Tasteslikecandy · 14/01/2018 23:31

Yes that’s all I wanted was for it to be logged as it said in my OP, instead I had to ask that it was. The sharp metal part wasn’t far under the shelf either so it could be easily covered over with some tape.

The security guard provided the tissue and plaster but there was no one else to ask for help at the time. I didn’t have any tissue on me either.

OP posts:
Bunbunbunny · 14/01/2018 23:32

It drew blood, they gave you first aid it should be logged. Accident books don’t take that long to complete, lifechallenges is right, it’s the recording of near misses that help prevent bigger accidents. H&S isn’t about removing risks it’s about identitying them & reducing them.

SnorkFavour · 14/01/2018 23:33

A PP is correct, in the US a bleeding wound would have been a big/ moderate deal

I read this to my American husband and it made him laugh out loud. He agreed that every little thing turns into a drama over there - it was one of the things he hated most about the place! Grin

I can't BELIEVE the fuss you're making over this OP, how could you possibly be 'in shock' over such a small injury? It's a very minor cut. What do you mean you took photos 'in case' it gets infected? Were you intending to get a diagnosis from the store manager? Because I'd probably prefer to get antibiotics from the doctor and let it heal, as I've done with any cut that becomes infected.

Unless you want compensation of course.

Original poster
Tasteslikecandy · 14/01/2018 23:33

I didn’t want to post this on FB or Twitter as I’m not interested in slating them so publicly. I think the manager could do with brushing up on his customer service a little.

OP posts:
Nicknacky · 14/01/2018 23:34

Was the manager rude?

Original poster
Tasteslikecandy · 14/01/2018 23:36

When I spoke to the manager the first thing he did was walk over to a till and started serving other customers, so yes I found that a little of not quite rude. That’s also probably why I ended up feeling so annoyed by the end of it.

OP posts:
Leigha3 · 14/01/2018 23:39

I don't see the point of it being logged unless it's a serious accident requiring immediate medical attention or the person wants compensation.

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