People who work in health care provide valuable services to people who are sick, injured or need medical attention. Some people don’t realize that these hardworking individuals face significant risks on each shift they work.
It’s critical that employers ensure all health care workers have a safe workplace. Taking the time to mitigate the risks these workers face can include steps like employee training and the use of proper personal protective equipment.
Sharps injuries
Needles and other sharps should be handled with care and disposed of properly. Being pricked by one can lead to disease transmission if the sharp was previously used on a patient. A health care worker who’s stuck by a sharp should get testing, which may not be a single-time event. Depending on the diagnosis of the patient, recurrent testing may be necessary.
Slips, trips, falls
Bodily fluids and other liquids are a slip risk. Items, such as electrical cords and IV lines, present a trip risk. Health care workers can mitigate some of these risks by wearing slip-resistant shoes; however, that won’t help to prevent trips.
Some workers may try to tough it out until their shift is over, but that could lead to the injury getting worse. Immediate medical care can minimize the chance that the damage will worsen. Workers’ compensation coverage should cover the cost of care. In the case of more serious injuries, it may also provide other benefits like partial wage replacement. Working with someone who can assist them with the workers’ compensation process may be beneficial.