Nov 11, 2024
Most Common Injuries For Healthcare Workers
Nate Hansford
All healthcare workers have a difficult job that makes their work environments riskier than other industries. It is common for them to suffer injury and illness while performing the duties of their jobs.
When medical workers suffer a work injury, it can be caused by repetitive actions or traumatic injuries. Caring for sick people also means that healthcare worker illness cases are more frequent. Injured healthcare workers can file a workers’ compensation claim; however, it may not always be easy for them to get the benefits they deserve.
Hansford McDaniel – Workers’ Compensation Attorneys stand up for the legal rights of healthcare workers with hospital injuries. We believe that the workers we represent deserve justice for their work-related injuries.
In this informative blog post, our workers’ compensation attorneys discuss the most common occupational injuries suffered by healthcare workers, workers’ compensation for workplace injuries, and how an attorney can help ensure maximum compensation in these injury scenarios.
What Is the Most Common Injury for Healthcare Workers?
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), occupational injuries for healthcare workers were nearly three times greater than for those outside of the healthcare sector. Injury and illness dominate healthcare worker injury claims in a variety of ways.
Here is a look at the most common injuries for healthcare workers:
Repetitive Stress Injuries
Common repetitive stress injuries include back injuries, sprains, strains, work-related musculoskeletal disorders in the upper extremities, and herniated discs.
Patient Handling Activities
In healthcare settings, particularly at residential care facilities and nursing homes, nursing assistants often suffer injuries from moving and repositioning patients. Other settings such as hospitals may leave healthcare workers more vulnerable to injuries caused by scalpels, scissors, and needles that can transmit infectious diseases.
Workplace Violence
Safe patient handling programs are on the rise to combat violent injuries among healthcare workers. Healthcare facilities have become increasingly more dangerous for healthcare workers with irate patients and their families or even third parties, making it a struggle to administer proper health care.
Occupational Safety Concerns for Every Healthcare Worker
There are many reasons why healthcare workers are at risk of many common injuries. Illness rates are higher than other workers, and everyone in the healthcare system, from registered nurses to even a new nursing assistant, should be prepared to avoid these dangers.
In the healthcare industry, these common injuries among injured healthcare workers are the result of the duties involved in a healthcare job. Occupational hazards such as manual lifting can eventually lead to injuries involving the back. Lifting patients without proper support can leave medical staff in need of medical treatment after moving patients into new positions to prevent bed sores.
Exposure to infectious diseases, either through airborne particles or an accidental jab with a needle is a huge public health concern. This is especially true with disease control for bloodborne diseases such as HIV or hepatitis B.
Another risk to registered nurses and other workers in this industry involves slippery floors. From spills of liquids or patients that lose control of their bladder or bowel functions that make these workers more prone to injuries.
If you have suffered a work injury and require medical care for your injury or illness, you will need to file for workers’ compensation to get the benefits you need. These benefits include covering the cost of your medical care and your lost wages, though it sadly may not be as simple as it should be to get the compensation you deserve.
Types of Compensation Available to Healthcare Workers for a Work-Related Injury
Georgia healthcare worker compensation benefits are automatically provided for injuries to workers in high risk environments. Whether you suffered a painful physical injury in an accident on the job, injuries from repetitive motions, or illnesses from needle sticks or airborne pathogens, as long as these injuries occurred while at work, you have the right to seek workers’ compensation.
Workers’ compensation includes medical care for your work injury, reimbursement for your lost income on temporary disability, and permanent disability benefits, if needed. Your employer is required to provide this coverage from your first day of hire. If they fail to do so, neglect to file your claim for your injuries, or a third party was responsible for causing your injuries, you can recover compensation through a lawsuit.
When you sue for your damages, you can receive more in compensation than what workers’ compensation provides in benefits. This typically includes the cost of medical care, rehabilitation, long-term care for disabilities, lost income and future income loss, physical pain, mental anguish, and reduced quality of life. However, the criteria for determining whether you can file a lawsuit differ significantly from filing a claim with workers’ comp. For these reasons, it is best to consult an attorney to learn more about your options.
How an Attorney Can Help You with Your Workers’ Compensation Claim in the Healthcare Industry
Working in healthcare comes with a greater risk of injury. Whether it is due to exposure to illnesses from patients, an injury from trying to carry patients, punctures from medical equipment, or even slip and falls, you should be compensated for your injury.
If you are denied proper coverage from workers’ compensation or a third party caused you to sustain injuries, there are legal avenues you may be able to pursue. Hansford McDaniel – Workers’ Compensation Attorneys can help by reviewing the factors of your case. Suppose you have suffered harm on the job. In that case, we can thoroughly investigate your claim, identify liable parties, document your injuries and losses, and aggressively negotiate for your full and fair settlement.
Set up a free consultation and you will be able to discuss what happened in a completely confidential setting. It is best to set this up as soon as possible following your injuries to comply with the statute of limitations.
