When people in New York think about the most dangerous jobs, they typically think about roadwork or construction. However, health care jobs can be just as risky. Every year, thousands of health care workers are injured on the job or exposed to violent situations. As a result, they might be forced to take time off work and apply for workers’ compensation.
What are the biggest causes of injuries in health care workers?
Studies have shown that nearly 60% of health care worker injuries are caused by overexertion. Health care workers tend to have long, stressful shifts that leave them exhausted by the end of the night. They go home and get a few hours of sleep, and then they wake up and do it all over again. In the health care industry, there’s not much room for error. People’s lives are in their hands, so workers can’t slack off or take extra breaks during their shift.
Additionally, 30% of injuries in one study involved a patient in the hospital. Sometimes, it was due to overexertion when the worker tried to move a heavy patient. Other times, the workers were exposed to violent patients. In fact, health care workers face more violence than most other professions. They’re dealing with angry, confused and hostile patients who either don’t know what they’re doing or lash out deliberately.
About 20% of injuries to health care workers are caused by everyday trips and falls. It can happen to anyone, but health care workers are particularly at risk because they spend so much time on their feet. If they get injured, they might have to take time off and seek workers’ comp. This means that their hospital has even fewer employees to take care of their patients. It’s important for all facilities to make their employees’ safety their top priority.
How might an attorney help you collect workers’ compensation?
If you’re thinking about filing for workers’ compensation benefits, it may help to have an attorney on your side. Your attorney might help you file a claim and prove that you suffered injuries due to unsafe working conditions. Your attorney may also help protect you if your workplace tries to retaliate.