Now more than ever, we rely on selfless healthcare workers to care for our community’s sick and injured. Nurses especially must deal with grueling demands on the job including long shifts, inadequate staffing, exposure to contagious illnesses and moving heavy patients.
While the healthcare field encompasses a variety of different jobs, ranging from home care aid to registered nurse to orderly, almost all medical professionals share certain risks that increase the chances of an on-the-job injury.
Hospital administrators and healthcare leaders have an obligation to provide its workers with a safe environment, which includes providing stringent protocols and ongoing training. Brad Parker says, “One of the greatest ways for employees to protect themselves from injury is to follow all safety regulations. Employers must not only enforce them strictly, but also empower employees to report safety violations and stop work if they observe any wrongdoing.”
Some of the top causes of injury in the healthcare field include:
Slips and Falls
Patient Handling
When liquids are spilled, a healthcare worker can fall on the slick floor. This oftentimes will lead to head injury.
Overexertion
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) indicates that healthcare workers are more than seven times as likely to develop musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) compared with other workers. Nursing aids, attendants and orderlies have the highest risk of MSDs.
Manual lifting of patients as they are transferred to different positions or helped in and out of the bed can lead to back injuries and slipped discs.
Needles and Infections
Healthcare workers routinely use needles and sharp medical instruments that could cut or puncture the skin if proper precautions aren’t taken. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that needlesticks significantly increase the risk of spreading bloodborne diseases such as HIV/AIDS or Hepatitis B or C. Other infections can occur as a result of airborne pathogens or exposure to mucus and bodily waste.
Violence
Healthcare workers are at high risk of being violently assaulted at work. Certain drugs can lead to aggressive reactions from patients and therefore cause a physical violence.
Sprains and Strains
Most strains and sprains affect the shoulders and the lower back.
Have You Been Injured In A Texas Accident?
If you’ve been injured you need to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Contact us online or call our Bedford, Texas office directly at 817.440.3888 to schedule your free, no obligation consultation. We help personal injury clients throughout Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington as well as all areas of Texas.
At Parker Law Firm, our experienced personal injury lawyers believe people matter. We are committed to our clients, not case numbers, and we believe in the power of the civil justice system. With years spent both representing accident victims and participating in the state legislative process, our founder, Brad Parker, has developed a deep understanding of the law and gained unique experience that helps him get results for his clients.
