Healthcare providers such as doctors, nurses, EMTs and paramedics are essential employees who often work tirelessly to help care for others. Along with working irregular hours and being under constant stress, medical professionals face many other occupational hazards, simply due to the nature of their work.
According to data published by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), a hospital is one of the most dangerous places to work, with workers sustaining work injuries and occupational illnesses at almost twice the rate of those who work in private industry. It’s even been shown that working in a hospital is more hazardous than working in construction or manufacturing, two industries that are well-known for being dangerous.
Detailed data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals that the top five most common causes of injury among hospital workers are:
- Overexertion
- Slips, trips, and falls
- Contact with dangerous objects
- Workplace violence
- Exposure to hazardous substances
Healthcare workers are also susceptible to injuries from lifting and moving patients, repetitive motion injuries, and contracting an infectious disease or virus from contagious patients.
What are the most common injuries among hospital workers?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows that muscle strains and sprains make up more than half the injuries sustained by hospital workers that result in days missed from work. Other injuries that force hospital workers to miss time from work include:
- Bruises
- General soreness/pain
- Bone fractures
- Cuts and puncture wounds
- Multiple trauma injuries
These injuries come at a high price, as workers’ compensation claims cost hospitals somewhere around $2 billion annually. According to one national survey, the average workers’ comp claim for an injured hospital worker between 2006-2011 was $15,860 – and that data was just from a survey of 1,000 hospitals (there are more than 6,000 hospitals in the US alone).
Hospital workers who sustain a work injury or occupational illness also often end up paying the price. Getting hurt at work can have a major impact on not just your health, but your finances. Medical expenses can add up fast, and if your condition requires surgery or long-term care – the cost of treating your injury can end up being too much to bear. That’s why making sure you get all the workers’ compensation benefits you’re eligible for is so critical.
A New Jersey workers’ comp lawyer can help you get benefits
If you are a doctor, nurse, hospital employee or any other type of healthcare worker who has sustained a work injury or occupational illness, the New Jersey workers’ compensation lawyers from Shebell & Shebell can help you get the benefits you’re entitled to.
You may qualify for medical and wage benefits, but sometimes dealing with the insurance company and navigating the confusing claims process can be overwhelming. Whether you are in the initial stages of filing for workers’ compensation or you want to file an appeal because your workers’ comp claim was denied, our law firm can review the details of your case and help you figure out the best way to move forward.
See how an experienced New Jersey workers’ compensation attorney can help you with your claim. Contact us online today for a free consultation.