In response to safety concerns from employees, Starbucks has outfitted bathrooms at some locations with needle-disposal boxes. Last year, the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigated the chain and fined it $3,100 after two employees in Eugene were stuck with needles. Needle-disposal boxes have been added to locations in at least 25 domestic markets, Business Insider reports, and Starbucks intends to have such boxes added to bathrooms anywhere considered necessary. The needle-disposal boxes are needed because trash bags are not safe for the disposal of sharp objects, so employees and staff risk being pricked. If they are, they have to take medication to protect themselves against HIV and other viruses.
Needle-disposal boxes have been called for by 5,000 employees who have signed an online petition asking that they be installed to protect both employees and customers. Business Insider spoke with Starbucks employees who expressed support for the move, with one Seattle worker telling the website that “the biggest and boldest move that Starbucks leaders can do right now” is to face the potential negative response and install needle-disposal boxes nationally. Some employees say the issue became worse after Starbucks started its open-bathroom policy last May, though not all agreed with this assessment.
THE SAFETY CONCERN WAS BEFORE WE GOT THE BOXES. Now people can safely dispose of needles and I’m not scared of finding them randomly in cafe anymore! This was huge and I’m so thankful that my store has them!
Jenny from the block (@JennaEberley) April 22, 2019
Starbucks is taking time to install sharps boxes to keep employees safe, and people are so uninformed that they think that's somehow "promoting drug use". Employees are getting stuck with needles, they need to be safe. Drug users also aren't the only people that use needles.
willem dahoe (@hummusnchill) January 10, 2019