Cut my hand in a supermarket

[Tasteslikecandy]

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?

Good lord, tough crowd.

Both Tesco and Sainsburys EXPECT people to move the crates in the produce department, so its not like she was doing anything out of the ordinary.

Both Tesco & Sainsbury (I've worked in both) would have logged this in the accident book if the customer wanted it logged, no matter how minor.

No shelf should have metal bits sticking out, if its that easy to scratch yourself on, it could be a risk to the staff as well as other customers.

It's fairly obvious when you gonin a supermarket that you pick from the open display, not start moving boxes around

So, if you want to buy apples but the only ones available in the top box are bruised and rotting, do you just decide you won't buy them, choose the bruised ones - or take them from the box below which you can see has a much better choice, moving the top one if necessary? Because I see people going for that last option time after time in supermarkets.

I would expect the boxes to be rough or sharp from the transportation to the store.

How does transportation make a cardboard box rough or sharp? Or cause metal bits to stick out from the shelf above?

And how does that exempt the supermarket from taking steps to log the injury and do something about the bit of metal so as to prevent injury to other customers and staff?

Well that's the chance you take! You might scratch yourself. Then most people get on with their day.

And, of course, there is nothing that says this injury could only possibly have happened to a customer moving a box. Suppose, for example, some was simply being unco-ordinated about how they picked out their produce; or a child had been messing around and caught their hand on it; or their own staff hurt themselves when taking the old boxes away; or someone had tripped and tried to grab that shelf to prevent themselves from falling. Or isn't the supermarket supposed to mitigate against any of those possibilities either?

No, the supermarket is not responsible for EVERY injury in their premises. Sometimes, people do things that are unexpected and they can NEVER mitigate against stupidity.

So, for example, sometimes produce is on a high shelf. I can't always reach it if something's at the back. Occasionally, I've stood on the lower shelf in order to reach it, BUT that is at my own risk. I KNOW I shouldn't stand on a shelf. Most times I look for someone taller than me and smile politely whilst feeling short and pathetic. But if I choose not to and I break my ankle (for example) because I've chosen to stand on the bottom shelf then it's my fault and not the supermarket's!

Can't argue with stupid, so I give up.

Bashstreet They probably go find a member of staff, interrupt them from whatever job they're doing to get them to move the top crate... because of course, its totally NOT the done thing to lift a crate by yourself!

Quite frankly, if someone had ever done that i'd have laughed at them and told them to lift it themselves.. like you're supposed to!

Both Tesco & Sainsbury (I've worked in both) would have logged this in the accident book if the customer wanted it logged, no matter how minor.

But this is the question isn't it? IF THE CUSTOMER WANTED IT LOGGED!! They asked her if she wanted it logging!!! So they followed 'procedure'. Argh.

What did they actually do wrong?

But, Nicknacky, a responsible supermarket has a procedure for logging such accidents to ensure that steps are taken to prevent a repetition with someone for whom they may be more dangerous, e.g if they have blood clotting problems.

We all take our chances with unavoidable accidents. The point is that, once a business knows about a hazard, the accident becomes avoidable.

Yabu to call it a cut. Minor scrape.

They did nothing wrong, but lots of people saying something that minor wouldn't get logged.

It would, but you can't MAKE a customer stay there for it to be logged, but as soon as something like that is reported to the store, they have a H&S responsibility to log the accident and then take steps to prevent it happening again.

Tattycat, the OP isn't saying the supermarket should have prevented this accident. What she's saying is that they should have logged it in the way other people have confirmed is the norm, not least to prevent a repetition. What is your problem with that?

You seem to be determined to pick a fight without actually bothering to read what people say. If that's the way you normally approach discussions like this, you really need to think carefully before you sling around accusations of stupidity. Because such accusations do rebound very easily.

as soon as something like that is reported to the store, they have a H&S responsibility to log the accident and then take steps to prevent it happening again.

And who says they haven't? This could be the first time someone has logged such an incident.

You seem to be determined to pick a fight without actually bothering to read what people say. If that's the way you normally approach discussions like this, you really need to think carefully before you sling around accusations of stupidity. Because such accusations do rebound very easily.

Thank you for your advice. I will look out for the rebound accusations, so thanks for the pre-warning.

No, Tattycat, they only asked her if she wanted it logged after she had asked them to make a note.

And I would be amazed if good H&S procedure requires staff to log accidents only if the customer says they want them to. The point of logging accidents is as evidence in case they get sued, and to prevent further accidents wherever possible. Clearly you'd be asking for trouble if you only logged things when the customer specifically authorised it.

You scratched your hand. Scratched your hand. Its a teeny scratch. How do you cope with day to day life?! Get a grip.

Consider the accusation made, Tatty.

Bashstreet. Its only put in the accident book with full details if the customer provides them, otherwise it'll be entered generically so the fix can be followed up on.

"And who says they haven't? This could be the first time someone has logged such an incident."

Exactly Tatty, which is why we're saying some posters assertion that it shouldn't be logged or the OP is being a pain for thinking it ought to be are wrong.

It may well be the first time its happened, which makes it all the more important that the Store log it properly so it doesn't happen again!

Sure, Kritical, but the point is that it should be logged either way.

No, Tattycat, they only asked her if she wanted it logged after she had asked them to make a note.

Got me. I missed that.

But do we really need nannying to this degree? Really? What's wrong with seeking out someone to log it with and why isn't it our responsibility to look after ourselves? Why would anyone expect a staff member to seek them out in order to fulfill paperwork?

Why was it the security guard's job to report a scratch and should HE have sought out another member of staff (probably busy stacking shelves!) to deal with it? Really - I'm flummoxed by this.

It's not a question of nannying customers. It's a question of logging it for the supermarket's own sake, and indeed that of their staff. Surely they should take full responsibility for that, not leave it to customers to push them into doing their jobs?

It's not a question of nannying customers. It's a question of logging it for the supermarket's own sake, and indeed that of their staff. Surely they should take full responsibility for that, not leave it to customers to push them into doing their jobs?

I'm still flummoxed. I don't get why every little incident is the fault of someone else. We are human - we have accidents. Sometimes these are our fault, sometimes someone else's carelessness but either way, it's just life. It seems a bit... 'who can I blame?' and hence there are myriad organisations calling us all every day to ask whether we've had an accident that 'wasn't our fault'. And we all wish they'd bugger off!! But it's perpetuated by exactly this culture...

When did we stop taking responsibility for ourselves?

We didn't, but something like a sharp piece of metal that can cause injury ought to be dealt with.

If it happened when she was moving crates, it could happen again, to customer or a member of staff stocking the shelf.

Logging incidents has a two fold purpose... to ensure any cause that isn't the fault of the customer is dealt with, and to protect the supermarket in case the customer decides to make a complaint.

When a customer complains, the management are obliged to investigate it, so having it logged accurately allows them to make a decision on how to deal with it... IE - if it was their own reckless/careless behaviour, the complaint can be dismissed.

I hope you're over the shock!

Of course it must be logged. What if she got an infection and sepsis and died...and no record in accident book. H&S would be angry!