Healthcare Worker Injuries
10/23/2019 Workplace Accidents John Whitfield
According to the Nashville Healthcare Council, the city of Nashville has diverse healthcare companies including leaders in industry niches impacting the healthcare landscape locally, nationally, and internationally. The city is home to more than 500 healthcare companies and nearly 400 professional service firms providing healthcare industry expertise. The healthcare industry is also the region’s largest and fastest-growing employer, directly employing more than 250,000 people locally.
Since healthcare is obviously a major industry in Nashville, unfortunately, healthcare worker injuries are likely in the course and scope of these jobs on a regular basis. Healthcare workers represent one in every eight jobs in Nashville. Registered nurses are by far the largest segment of Nashville healthcare workers. Nurses often face workplace hazards while performing routine duties, including a higher-than-average risk of sustaining musculoskeletal damage. The type and severity of their workplace injuries vary by worker age and work environment.
Common Healthcare Worker Injuries
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), a hospital is one of the most dangerous places to work. In fact, OSHA found the injury and illness rate in hospitals higher than the rates in construction and manufacturing—two industries commonly thought to be the most dangerous. Some of the most common healthcare worker injuries sustained include:
- Slips, trips, and falls
- Intentional or unintentional violence by the patient (approximately three times greater than the rate of violent events for all occupations)
- Overexertion while lifting or moving a patient
- Strains and sprains
- Fractures and contusions
- Punctures and lacerations
- Exposure to blood borne pathogens, radioactive materials, chemicals, waste, drugs, and more
Options Available for Nashville Workers
In the United States, more workers are injured in the healthcare and social assistance industries than in any other sector. Nurses, nursing assistants, doctors, home health aides, occupational therapists, administrative staff, and more all face many health and injury risks at work. If you or a loved one works in the healthcare industry and suffered an injury on the job, you may be entitled to compensation and benefits. The Healthcare Worker Injuries Lawyers of Whitfield Bryson LLP can help, so contact us today.