Injuries to Healthcare Workers in Hospitals

Injuries to Healthcare Workers in Hospitals

By Pyle Law, Reviewed by E. Thomas Pyle March 12 2020 2:48 pm

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, healthcare is among the fastest-growing segments of our economy. The healthcare industry is critical to the health and welfare of our nation, but healthcare workers face a wide variety of job hazards that can lead to serious injuries and illnesses. In fact, healthcare workers’ rate of nonfatal occupational injury and illness is among the highest of any industry sector. If you’re a healthcare worker who’s been injured on the job, consult with an experienced Kansas workers’ compensation attorney today. 

Risks to Healthcare Workers

Healthcare workers face significant risks on the job, including:

• Physical Injuries Sustained while Moving or Lifting Patients – Part of a healthcare worker’s job is taking care of patients who often need to be physically moved or lifted. This is heavy, awkward, and often dangerous work that can lead to injuries over time and to serious accidents that happen in an instant. 
• Infectious Diseases – Healthcare workers regularly work closely with sick patients, which means they are often exposed to infectious diseases, such as MRSA and tuberculosis. Further, healthcare workers are vulnerable to blood-born pathogens that can be transferred during needlestick injuries, which are not uncommon.  
• Exposure to Radiation – Healthcare workers who are exposed to radiation in the course of their work may be at greater risk of contracting radiation-related diseases (including cancers).
• Exposure to Toxic Chemicals – Many of the drugs and sterilizing agents that healthcare professionals work with are extremely toxic and are associated with significant health risks.
• Exposure to Assault – Healthcare professionals (especially those who work in the ER or in psychiatric units) are vulnerable to workplace violence and verbal threats perpetrated by patients.  

Stress and Overwork

No one denies that many healthcare providers work long, grueling hours and that the work is uniquely stressful. In fact, the stress and overwork inherent to the healthcare industry is one of the major health concerns associated with these jobs. Exhaustion and stress exacerbate one another and can lead to maladaptive physical manifestations, including fatigue, headaches, gastrointestinal distress, depression, and aches and pains. Further, when healthcare workers are spread too thin in a low nurse-to-patient ratio, the risk of serious injury and illness increases. 

Culture of Safety

While a lot of attention has been paid to creating a culture of safety for patients, little attention has been paid to the healthcare providers themselves. When healthcare providers have physical limitations, to begin with, or are injured on the job, they’re often forced to either retire early or to change careers (contributing to the nursing shortage that is looming). Healthcare workers’ vulnerability to injury and illness on the job can contribute to poorer health outcomes for healthcare providers and patients alike. 

If You’re a Healthcare Provider Who’s Been Injured on the Job, Contact an Experienced Kansas Personal Injury Attorney Today

Healthcare providers do important work, and when they are injured on the job, it’s bad for everyone. If you’re a healthcare provider who’s been harmed on the job, the experienced legal team at Pyle Law in McPherson, Kansas, is on your side. Attorney Tom Pyle is committed to aggressively advocating for the best resolution of your claim and to helping you make your fullest recovery. For more information, please don’t hesitate to contact us online or call us at (888) 381-1155 today.