If you work in the health care industry, you probably don’t expect to need medical support yourself because of something that happens while you are on the clock. You got into your profession because you wanted to help people and make a difference in the world, but in reality, health care is actually one of the riskiest professions. You may actually be at risk of harm every time you step foot inside where you work.
As a New York health care worker, you may be aware of some of the dangers you could face each day. However, it is always beneficial to review these risks and make sure you know how to stay as safe as reasonably possible. It is also in your interests to know what to do in the event that you experience an injury because of your job and how you can get the help you need.
Startling statistics about medical care
Doctors, nurses and medical technicians provide care to others, but while providing this type of support, they also face personal risks themselves. This includes risks associated with everything from toxic exposure to violence from patients. Consider the following statistics about the risks of working in the medical field:
- Over half of all injuries suffered by health care workers are because of overexertion, which is overworking the body when lifting or moving.
- Around 20% of injuries reported by health care professionals is because of accidents due to tripping or slipping.
- Approximately 10% of injuries suffered by people who work in this industry are because of violence from patients or the families of patients.
Working in medicine means you may have to touch a sick patient, move a patient from bed to bed, manipulate heavy medical equipment, work with sharp objects and deal with people when they are unstable. If you suffered injuries of any kind while you were at work, you have grounds to pursue benefits through a claim filed with your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance coverage.
Help for the helpers
You make a living helping others, but that does not mean you will not need help yourself at some point in the future. If you need to file a workers’ compensation claim, you may want to speak about your concerns with an experienced attorney first. He or she can help you with the appropriate paperwork and fight back in the event your claim is not successful.