Health care is one of the most rewarding professions in Illinois and elsewhere. It gives you the opportunity to make a real difference by helping people. It’s also very demanding, making it easy for injuries to occur. These are the most commonly suffered injuries among healthcare workers.
Overexertion and repetitive motion injuries
Nurses and other healthcare workers have to continuously lift and move patients, use computers and handle various objects. Due to all of those tasks, it’s easy for them to develop overexertion and repetitive motion injuries. Strains and sprains can occur when muscles, tendons and ligaments get affected. Some even end up suffering carpal tunnel syndrome and file workers’ compensation claims.
Needle pricks
Healthcare workers frequently work with needles, scalpels and other sharps. Even the most seasoned nurse who knows how to properly handle those objects can have an off day if they’re fatigued. Other healthcare workers might not be properly trained to handle sharps. In either situation, workers can suffer pricks from those objects and become injured. In the case of used hypodermic needles, this could also pose the risk of exposure to diseases like HIV or hepatitis.
Slips, trips and falls
Slips, trips and falls can result in minor to serious injuries depending on how bad the fall is and the area of the body affected. Healthcare workers work in a variety of settings with spills, wiring and other potential obstacles. In some cases, this type of injury can be avoided if workers wear the appropriate footwear.
Acts of violence
Acts of violence can also pose injury risks to healthcare workers on the job. This can occur when they work with patients suffering from mental health disorders or patients’ loved ones react badly to situations. In some cases, an intruder could even wander into the facility and commit a violent crime, causing severe injuries.
Employers have a duty to keep their workers safe. This includes those in healthcare; proper training can help minimize or even prevent accidents and injuries.