ANSETT NEEDLE BINS WIN SUPPORT

HEALTH experts yesterday defended Ansett's decision to install syringe
disposal units in all its aircraft by the end of the year, arguing the bins
were in the public's best interest.

National Council on AIDS chairman Chris Puplick said the issue was not about
condoning drug use on planes but the need to provide a safe environment for
airline staff and passengers.

In 99 per cent of cases, needle pricks didn't lead to infection such as HIV
or Hepatitis C, but the trauma of waiting for results was severe.

"The bins are enormously important because we want to do whatever we can to
eliminate risk to the community," Mr Puplick said.

In the past decade, syringe units have been introduced in shopping centres,
courts and council areas nationwide.

While not commenting on their introduction by Ansett, a spokeswoman for NSW
Health said the bins had helped to clear public areas of contaminated
syringes.

South Sydney Mayor Vic Smith said there had been an improvement since his
council introduced the facilities five years ago. But he acknowledged
clean-up staff still found needles lying in gutters and parks and the bins
had not solved the problem.

The move to introduce the units was first mooted by the Flight Attendants
Association two years ago as an occupational health and safety issue for its
members.

Ansett spokesman Peter Young said the airline had experienced an increase in
the number of syringes found on board in the past five years and several
staff had received needle pricks.

He said that unlike smoking, which can be monitored by smoke detectors,
illicit drug use on planes was difficult to detect.

Checked-by: Don Beck