Work Comp Lawyer: Medical Professionals Prone to Work Related Injuries

Workers in the health care sector are more likely than the workers in other industries to suffer occupational injuries and work-related illnesses, according to a recent study by The NPSF Lucian Leape Institute, an organization dedicated to improve patient safety. The study claims that around 5.6 percent of health care employees get injured on the job every year. The injury rate of health care employees is 33 percent higher than that of private sector employees.

Some other key findings of the study include:

• Health care workers are often ill-treated both mentally and physically. Being physically and mentally assaulted is nothing unusual in most health care job positions.
• Health care workers often need to work within strict deadlines and tackle huge work pressure. As a result, many workers say that they feel strained and are not satisfied with their job.
• Those who work in the health care sector are more prone to injuries and illnesses than the employees in several other sectors that are considered more demanding and risky, includingthe construction and =mining sectors.

Some health care jobs involve some specific risks

First of all, it is important to note that almost every health care worker is more likely than the average worker to suffer work-related injuries and illnesses. However, you should also know that some health care employees are prone to specific injuries and illnesses. For instance, surgery specialists are more likely than any other doctors or health care workers to suffer injuries from needles. They are also susceptible to cut injuries that may lead to severe infections. Similarly, health care workers that often handle harmful chemicals are more susceptible to skin diseases.

When a health care worker suffers a work-related injury, the cost of treatment can quickly go out of control. In most cases, they are advised to undergo several tests to be absolutely sure about the nature of the injury. If the worker has a history of blood-borne illness, he or she may need to spend around five or six times higher on diagnosis of severe injuries, according to the report.

Health care institutions can take the following steps to lower the risk of occupational injuries and illnesses of healthcare professionals.

• Take the necessary steps to ensure safety
• Work collaboratively to improve safety
• Build a database with information that could be useful in maintaining safety and improving job satisfaction
• Provide training to health care workers
• Foster a wok culture that helps encourage workers and patients to prioritize safety
• Form committees to encourage safety

If you suffer any work-related injury or illness, you could be entitled to workers' compensation insurance. You should contact an experienced St. Louis Work Comp Lawyer at the Law Office of James M. Hoffmann for a free workers compensation lawyer consultation. Call (314) 361-4300 to speak with an attorney.