Common Causes for Healthcare Worker Injuries
Working in the healthcare industry is a fulfilling experience as you help people address their medical needs.
However, being a health care worker also exposes you to injury risks like slip and fall accidents, toxic exposure, and repetitive stress. These could cause minor discomfort but could also result in debilitating conditions like spine injury.
So, know more about these injury risks to avoid them while working as a health care professional. Also, remember to call a Glendale workers’ compensation lawyer to help you claim benefits if you sustain workplace injuries.
Top 7 Causes of Health Care Workplace Injuries
1. Slip and Fall
Medical care workers commonly slip and fall because of different factors, like spills and obstacles on the floor. However, you may also encounter this accident while rushing from one room to another, especially when responding to emergencies.
This type of accident may cause superficial injuries like minor discomfort and bruises. However, you may also sustain severe injuries like head trauma or spine damage.
2. Transporting Patients
You may also sustain injuries when transporting patients from one place to another.
For example, frequently lifting heavy loads may cause overexertion injuries, like strain and sprain. You may also fail to notice an obstacle on the way while moving patients on stretchers, causing you to trip and fall.
Moreover, driving an ambulance may pose vehicular accident risks, especially since you need to drive faster than usual.
3. Repetitive Stress
Repetitive stress or cumulative injury occurs when you repetitively perform particular tasks over a prolonged period.
For example, using the computer for long hours daily may irritate the median nerve at your palm and cause carpal tunnel syndrome. Another example is sustaining a cumulative injury on your leg because of constantly walking back and forth in the hospital.
4. Sharp and Pointed Objects
Many healthcare workers sustain injuries because of sharp and pointed objects like:
- Scalpels
- Lancets
- Scissors
- Needles
- Broken glass items
You may sustain minor cuts from these objects. You may also suffer from severe infection, especially when something contaminated causes the injury.
An example is sustaining a bloodborne disease after being poked by a needle previously used on a patient.
5. Physical Violence
There are chances of encountering physical violence as a medical care worker. For example, you may sustain injuries while restraining a misbehaving patient in the psychiatric ward.
These violent accidents may cause minor or debilitating injuries and even death. So, always be careful when around misbehaving patients and never attempt to restrain them without help from your coworkers.
6. Toxic Exposure
Medical care facilities have different toxic substances that could harm you.
As mentioned above, contaminated sharp and pointed objects could cause severe infection. You may also get infected with communicable diseases like COVID-19 from patients or your coworkers.
Moreover, exposure to hazardous chemicals like disinfectants and cleaning agents may cause skin and eye irritation. Inhaling these substances may also trigger lung infection.
7. Fatigue
It’s also common for healthcare workers to experience fatigue and stress because of overwork. They often have to work for longer hours and perform multiple tasks.
They thus experience different physical and psychological symptoms like:
- Sleepiness
- Dizziness
- Depression
- Headaches
- Exhaustion
Workers’ Compensation Attorney in Glendale for Your Health Care Workplace Injury Claim
Remember the common injury risks healthcare workers should avoid in the workplace. It will keep you safe while providing better health care services to the patients.
However, be sure you claim workers’ compensation to receive your deserved benefits if you sustain a work-related injury or ailment. A professional Glendale workers’ compensation lawyer will guide you through the entire process.