Nurses, doctors and other healthcare professionals dedicate their time to making other people better. It is easy to forget that such workers are exposed to a number of injury risks themselves.
It is worth taking a moment to consider some of the health hazards that healthcare professionals face each day. Outlined below are some of the more common injury risks faced by employees in the health sector.
Slip-and-fall accidents
There is no denying that hospitals are a fast-paced environment with workers trying to care for as many patients as possible. This itself creates the potential for slip-and-fall accidents. However, the threat is heightened further when employees are under extreme pressure. Even the most simple obstacle, such as a bag left on the floor, presents a serious risk of injury when workers are making their way around the facility. Additionally, cleaning is permanently taking place in these environments. Any failure to adequately clean or dry a floor could have catastrophic consequences.
The physical demands of healthcare
Caring for numerous patients at a time can take its toll on the body. Nurses and doctors are often moving patients, lifting equipment and exerting themselves over and again each day. This produces a risk of repetitive strain injuries, which can take a long time to recover from.
Hostile patients
Patients in hospitals may be vulnerable, and this feeling of vulnerability can be accentuated when confined within a medical facility. The result can be a backlash towards staff, which may end up in violent behavior. It is crucial that employers take measures to protect staff, as the issue of violence towards medical professionals appears to be on the rise.
If you are a healthcare worker, it is important to take care of yourself as well as others. Facing injury is not part of the job, and there are legal options open to you if you have been placed in this unfortunate position.