Senior woman left 'deeply traumatised' after her last Woolworths visit
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Navigating supermarket aisles should be a mundane task for anyone—even seniors.
However, what happens if a seemingly routine task leaves you fearing for your safety?
This was the case for Dusanka Koljibabic, a pensioner from Western Australia.
The 69-year-old's routine shopping trip to Woolworths turned into a nightmare that drastically altered her life.
On a bustling Saturday morning in Melville, Ms Koljibabic encountered an invisible danger while shopping.
An unsuspecting child sprayed colourless cleaning liquid onto the floor.
With no warning of the slippery surface, Ms Koljibabic slipped and suffered a severe wrist fracture.
'I knew I'd broken something in my wrist, but I didn't know the extent,' Ms Koljibabic shared in an interview.
After a consultation, she found out more about her injury.
'It's a 10-fold fracture on my main bone, plus there was a fracture on the side ball where the knuckle is, so the ligament was detached, and there were loose fragments of bones that the doctor had to do arthroscopy on during the surgery.'
Ms Koljibabic's injury has since robbed her of her independence and left her 'deeply traumatised'.
The aftermath of the fall immediately became a harrowing ordeal for the pensioner, who now faces thousands of dollars in medical fees, relentless pain, and a loss of autonomy.
More than a month after the accident, Ms Koljibabic still cannot perform basic tasks such as driving, cooking, cleaning, or showering without assistance.
The incident raised questions about the safety measures public establishments like Woolworths put in place for their customers.
Despite the presence of an employee at the time of the fall, no immediate action was taken to prevent the accident.
Furthermore, Ms Koljibabic's request for Woolworths to cover her medical expenses was met with a denial of responsibility, citing the company's 15-minute hazard response rule.
This policy gives the store a 15-minute window to identify and address hazards before being held liable for any injuries.
Ms Koljibabic's experience highlighted a critical flaw in this policy: a colourless hazard cannot be identified until after an accident occurs.
This loophole could render the 15-minute rule ineffective in preventing such incidents.
The absence of warning signs advising customers of potential risks further exacerbated the issue, which could leave shoppers vulnerable to unseen dangers.
The pensioner's plight sparked a conversation about the duty retailers have in taking care of their customers.
'We as customers need some form of protection when we go to a store,' Ms Koljibabic stated as she emphasised that her injury was not her fault.
Yet, she felt neglected by the very establishment she trusted for her shopping needs.
While Woolworths offered a $3,000 'gesture of goodwill' towards her expenses, accepting this offer could mean relinquishing her right to further legal action.
Ms Koljibabic, along with many, argued that 15 minutes is too long to wait for a spill to be cleaned up, especially when the hazard is invisible and could lead to accidents.
Other than the $3,000 gesture, Woolworths has refused to comment on the specifics of Ms Koljibabic's case.
The company's claim of taking the health and safety of customers and team members 'very seriously' is at odds with the reality faced by Dusanka and potentially others.
Ms Koljibabic's road to recovery could be fraught with challenges.
Regular specialist visits and ongoing rehabilitation are on the horizon, with complete healing of her wrist potentially taking up to two years.
A fundraiser page has been set up to help her with her expenses, as she now relies heavily on the support of her family and therapists.
If you have had a similar experience or have thoughts on how retailers can improve safety for their customers, we invite you to share your story in the comments below. Your insights could help prevent another person from enduring a life-altering accident.
However, what happens if a seemingly routine task leaves you fearing for your safety?
This was the case for Dusanka Koljibabic, a pensioner from Western Australia.
The 69-year-old's routine shopping trip to Woolworths turned into a nightmare that drastically altered her life.
On a bustling Saturday morning in Melville, Ms Koljibabic encountered an invisible danger while shopping.
An unsuspecting child sprayed colourless cleaning liquid onto the floor.
Ms Koljibabic slipped on the floor riddled with colourless liquid. Image Credit: GoFundMe
With no warning of the slippery surface, Ms Koljibabic slipped and suffered a severe wrist fracture.
'I knew I'd broken something in my wrist, but I didn't know the extent,' Ms Koljibabic shared in an interview.
After a consultation, she found out more about her injury.
'It's a 10-fold fracture on my main bone, plus there was a fracture on the side ball where the knuckle is, so the ligament was detached, and there were loose fragments of bones that the doctor had to do arthroscopy on during the surgery.'
Ms Koljibabic's injury has since robbed her of her independence and left her 'deeply traumatised'.
The aftermath of the fall immediately became a harrowing ordeal for the pensioner, who now faces thousands of dollars in medical fees, relentless pain, and a loss of autonomy.
More than a month after the accident, Ms Koljibabic still cannot perform basic tasks such as driving, cooking, cleaning, or showering without assistance.
The incident raised questions about the safety measures public establishments like Woolworths put in place for their customers.
Despite the presence of an employee at the time of the fall, no immediate action was taken to prevent the accident.
This policy gives the store a 15-minute window to identify and address hazards before being held liable for any injuries.
Ms Koljibabic's experience highlighted a critical flaw in this policy: a colourless hazard cannot be identified until after an accident occurs.
This loophole could render the 15-minute rule ineffective in preventing such incidents.
The absence of warning signs advising customers of potential risks further exacerbated the issue, which could leave shoppers vulnerable to unseen dangers.
The pensioner's plight sparked a conversation about the duty retailers have in taking care of their customers.
'We as customers need some form of protection when we go to a store,' Ms Koljibabic stated as she emphasised that her injury was not her fault.
Yet, she felt neglected by the very establishment she trusted for her shopping needs.
While Woolworths offered a $3,000 'gesture of goodwill' towards her expenses, accepting this offer could mean relinquishing her right to further legal action.
Ms Koljibabic, along with many, argued that 15 minutes is too long to wait for a spill to be cleaned up, especially when the hazard is invisible and could lead to accidents.
Other than the $3,000 gesture, Woolworths has refused to comment on the specifics of Ms Koljibabic's case.
The company's claim of taking the health and safety of customers and team members 'very seriously' is at odds with the reality faced by Dusanka and potentially others.
Ms Koljibabic's road to recovery could be fraught with challenges.
Regular specialist visits and ongoing rehabilitation are on the horizon, with complete healing of her wrist potentially taking up to two years.
A fundraiser page has been set up to help her with her expenses, as she now relies heavily on the support of her family and therapists.
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