Healthcare workers are responsible for providing essential services to patients at very vulnerable points in their lives. Yet, healthcare workers are rarely afforded the decency of working in safe, occupational hazard-free environments. They can constantly be at risk of work-related injuries. At Diefer Law Group, we’re here to help you seek compensation for many of the most common healthcare worker injuries in California.
Understanding the most common healthcare worker injuries is key to ensuring that important safeguards and preventative measures are in place to protect these vital workers. If you or someone you know has been hurt on the job in healthcare, legal advice regarding your injury claim can ensure that you obtain the compensation and support you need. Healthcare workers need to get the help they deserve when injuries occur in the workplace.
Common Types of Healthcare Worker Injuries
Healthcare system employees have to cope with a lot of hazardous incidents produced by human error that can lead to serious injury. The most common types are:
- Musculoskeletal Injuries: These injuries occur due to lifting, transferring, moving, performing repetitive tasks, or standing for long time periods. Musculoskeletal injuries are some of the most common injuries to healthcare workers. They usually affect the back, neck, shoulders, and limbs, and they can produce chronic pain and disability.
- Falls: This can occur due to slippery floors, items on the floors, or narrow and cluttered walkways. Falls can easily cause fractures, sprains, and other injuries.
- Needlesticks and Sharps Injuries: Serious diseases, like HIV or Hepatitis B or C, can develop when the skin is punctured by a needle or other sharp instrument.
- Violence and Assault: Healthcare workers are at high risk for physical attacks by patients or visitors. Workers on psychiatric units face great risks of verbal threats and physical assaults, which can result in serious physical injury and severe psychological trauma.
- Chemical and Radiation Exposures: Adverse drug and equipment-related exposures can cause pulmonary disease and/or cancers.
Preventative Measures for Healthcare Worker Injuries
Combating musculoskeletal injuries among healthcare workers requires action on multiple fronts to improve education, equipment, and organizational practices. Some vital measures include:
- Training and Education: Training on the transferring and movement of patients, tools, or equipment, as well as emergency procedures, can make a huge difference. Refresher courses and practice sessions can ensure safety.
- Ergonomic Improvements: Providing ergonomic equipment (adjustable beds, patient lifts, and orthopedic footwear) can lessen the movement burden on healthcare workers.
- Violence Prevention Programs: This can include training, education, and changes to the physical environment (surveillance cameras and alarm systems).
- Infection Control Protocols: This can include the use of PPE, the safe disposal of needles, and hand-washing rules.
Steps to Take After a Workplace Injury
- Seek Medical Attention: Get immediate medical attention for any injury, even if it appears very minor. Your claim can be strongest if the record shows prompt treatment. That way, you will be attending to both your health and your claim.
- Report the Injury: You should report the injury to your employer as soon as possible. An official report is necessary to begin the workers’ compensation claim process and to record the circumstances surrounding the injury.
- Document the Incident: Make sure to keep updated notes on the incident. Be sure to also collect photos, witness statements, and medical records. This type of documentation can support your claim and help establish the cause and extent of your injuries.
- Consult a Lawyer: An experienced lawyer who focuses on workplace injury cases can advise you of your rights, negotiate with insurance companies, and pursue additional compensation or personal injury claims.
Impact of Psychological Stress on Healthcare Workers
Nurses and other frontline healthcare workers might have to work in high-pressure environments with patients who are in emotional distress, resulting in psychological stress. These emotional stresses may cause healthcare professionals to have burnout, anxiety, and depression, negatively affecting their mental health and job performance. Implementing wellness programs and providing mental health support are crucial for mitigating these effects and promoting overall well-being among healthcare professionals.
FAQs
Q: What Is the Most Likely Injury to a Healthcare Professional?
A: The most likely occupational-related injury for a healthcare professional to suffer is a musculoskeletal injury. This mostly results from lifting or moving patients, repetitive work, and spending an extended period of time on foot. Utilizing proper lifting techniques, ergonomic workplace improvements, and assistive devices can decrease the risk of strain.
Q: What Are the Most Common Accidents That Occur in a Healthcare Facility?
A: The most common accidents that occur in a healthcare facility are trips and falls, needlestick injuries, and patient mishandling incidents. Falls often occur because of wet floors and clutter.
Mishandling needles and other sharp objects can lead to a risk of needlestick injuries and contagion exposure. Lifting or moving patients incorrectly can lead to contusions, sprains, and strains.
Q: What Is the Top-Reported Workplace Injury?
A: In healthcare, musculoskeletal injuries, such as back disorders, sprains, and strains, are ranked as the most prevalent type of injury in the workplace. These injuries include manual patient handling injuries, repetitive tasks in performing daily work activities, and standing for long periods of time. Implementing these safe patient-handling programs can help prevent injuries.
Q: What Is the Injury Rate for Healthcare Workers?
A: The injury rate for healthcare workers is considerably high. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), private industry hospital workers have an incidence rate of 6.0 cases per 100 full-time workers. This high rate is due to the physical demands and hazards associated with healthcare work, such as lifting patients and exposure to infectious diseases.
Healthcare workers in California are at risk of suffering a serious and debilitating on-the-job injury. People who work in healthcare should be aware of the most common workplace injuries as well as methods to prevent them.
Contact an Attorney
If you were injured while working on the job in healthcare, it’s important to know your rights. Contact an experienced lawyer who can help you recover the compensation you deserve for your injuries. At Diefer Law Group, P.C., we have years of experience assisting clients who were hurt doing their jobs. Our firm can help you get the justice and compensation you deserve while you focus on your recovery. Contact us today for a consultation.
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