When you go to work in the morning, you are probably not considering the various ways you could suffer an injury at some point in the day. If you work in health care, however, you actually face certain risks every time you show up for work. It’s in your interests to know how to stay safe and what you can do in case you do experience an injury.
Health care workers go into this profession because they want to heal and support people who cannot help themselves. This is noble, but it often comes at great personal cost to these individuals when they are on the job. If you are an Ohio doctor, nurse or other types of health care professional, you could face risks associated with everything from toxic exposure to violent patients.
Are you in danger?
It is smart to know what types of risks you face in the workplace, as this will allow you to be more vigilant about your own personal safety while you are on the clock. Statistics indicate that it is actually quite hazardous to work in health care, and some of the following facts about the medical field may surprise you:
- Around 60% of injuries suffered by those who work in health care are because of overexertion, which can happen when lifting patients, moving equipment and assisting with a procedure.
- Approximately 20% of health care injuries related to slip-and-fall or trip-and-fall incidents.
- A startlingly high number of injuries suffered by health care workers happen as a result of violence from patients or the family members of patients.
Even minor strains and sprains can significantly impact your ability to work without pain or risk of further harm. No matter why or how your workplace injury occurred, you have the right to seek support and benefits through your employer’s workers’ compensation coverage.
Get the help you need
It’s both expensive and painful to suffer an injury at work. If you have grounds to move forward with a claim for benefits, you may want to first discuss your case with an experienced attorney. This can help you understand what to expect from the claims process, as well as how to maximize the benefits coming to you.
Health care workers deserve a full and fair recovery after suffering an injury on the job. The process of getting what you need after this type of incident is not easy, but you do not have to walk through it alone.