Working in medicine is actually a very dangerous career. Most people understand that health care professionals are vulnerable to pathogen exposure. As if exposure to illnesses weren’t enough of a concern, medical workers are also at risk of various physical injuries on the job. Health care professionals can end up sustaining injuries that force them to take a lengthy leave of absence or that make them permanently incapable of fulfilling critical job functions.
Health care workers who recognize on-the-job injuries can take steps to protect themselves and can also be more assertive about pursuing workers’ compensation benefits if they require leave or must change their profession because of an injury.
What are the top causes of medical worker injuries?
1. Overexertion and bodily reaction
When looking at data related to hospital worker injuries in particular, overexertion is clearly the biggest safety concern. Professionals can throw out their backs, develop repetitive strain injuries or permanently damage their joints rushing to assist a patient or attempting to lift a patient. Overexertion injuries often require light-duty work functions or an extended leave of absence to ensure the worker’s full recovery.
2. Exposure to dangerous substances and objects
Accidental contact with dangerous objects and exposure to dangerous substances can cause both illness and injury. Medical professionals may need to handle radioactive materials in some cases. They are at risk of making accidental contact with a syringe or other sharp object that may already be contaminated with the bodily fluids of a patient.
There are also pieces of heavy machinery that can injure medical workers. Even the devices used to restart the heart in an emergency can cause serious injuries to anyone touching the patient.
3. Slips and falls
Nurses and other medical professionals sometimes need to respond to emergencies in progress. They have to reach a patient’s room or an operating theater as quickly as possible. They could easily fall while rushing through a medical facility. Slips and trips, even if they are same-level falls, can lead to brain injuries and possibly broken bones.
The good news for hospital employees injured on the job is that workers’ compensation benefits can help replace their wages and pay for their treatment expenses. Reporting an on-the-job incident after it occurs and monitoring symptom development can help injured health care professionals better ensure that they get the treatment they require and may make it easier for them to pursue workers’ compensation benefits as well.