Hospital Workers Among Those at Highest Risk of Occupational Injuries

Many people recognize that certain types of professions or occupations are more dangerous than others when it comes to risks of workplace injuries. To be sure, lists are commonly created that identify the most dangerous jobs in the United States, which often list jobs where hazards seem apparent, such as logging work, roofing and construction work, steel work, delivery driving and freight hauling, electrical work, and handling refuse and various forms of waste materials. While these jobs certainly do come with known and clear risks of injury, it is important to know that there are many other types of occupations where there are a wide range of injury risks that can be debilitating and fatal. One common industry that people may not immediately think about when it comes to imagining a dangerous job — but where serious workplace injuries occur routinely — is hospital work and health care work more broadly.

According to the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), hospitals are actually one of the most dangerous places to work in America, and the rate of injuries and illnesses are “almost twice the rate for private industry as a whole.” In fact, as OSHA underscores, “it is more hazardous to work in a hospital than in construction or manufacturing.” What should you know about the injury risks hospital workers face? And what can you do if you are injured while performing work at a hospital?

Wide Range of Jobs in Hospital Settings 

Hospitals need to employ a very wide range of workers to perform many different tasks, and any of these employees can be at risk of serious injuries. Common types of jobs in hospitals in Maryland include:

• Physicians and surgeons;
• Nurses;
• Medical assistants and technicians;
• Custodial workers;
• Laboratory technicians;
• Emergency medical technicians (EMTs);
• Physical therapists;
• Pharmacists;
• Cooks;
• Social workers; and
• Records clerks.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that hospitals and outpatients care facilities tend to employ the highest rate of health care workers, and the healthcare industry — including workers at hospitals — is “projected to be the fasted growing sector through 2024.” In other words, more workers will be employed at hospitals where they may be at risk of a range of occupational injuries.

Top Causes of Injuries Affecting Hospital Workers 

What are the most common causes of injuries among Maryland hospital workers? According to OSHA, the following are the top five causes of injuries in hospital settings for employees:

• Overexertion injuries;
• Slips, trips, and falls;
• Contact with objects;
• Violence; and
• Exposure to substances.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) emphasizes that these types of injuries include “sharps injuries” (or needle sticks), exposure to bodily fluids as well as dangerous drugs and chemicals, back injuries, stress-related injuries that are both physical and emotional, and allergies. While injuries can affect any hospital worker, nurses are often afflicted with a particularly high rate of injuries given the tasks required of them, from lifting and physically assisting patients to administering IVs and medications to taking blood.

Contact Our Maryland Hospital Worker Injury Lawyer 

Were you injured while working at a hospital in Maryland? An experienced Maryland hospital worker attorney at the Law Offices of Steinhardt, Siskind and Lieberman, LLC can help you to seek workers’ compensation benefits to cover your medical care and to help replace your lost wages. Contact us today for assistance with your case.

Sources:

forbes.com/advisor/legal/workers-comp/most-dangerous-jobs-america/

osha.gov/sites/default/files/1.1_Data_highlights_508.pdf

bls.gov/opub/mlr/2017/article/hospital-workers-an-assessment-of-occupational-injuries-and-illnesses.htm

cdc.gov/niosh/topics/healthcare/default.html