When might healthcare workers need workers’ comp?

Regardless of whether you consider caring for others to be your true vocation or just a way to earn money, working in health care can be tough on your body. 

Countless nurses and carers have had to stop doing the job or take time off due to injuries requiring workers’ compensation. Here are some examples of when that might arise:

If you hurt your back 

Lifting and moving patients is part and parcel of the role, and some of those patients can take a lot of lifting. You won’t always get a clean shot at the lift either. It’s not like a weightlifter who can stand in the ideal position. You may need to make a lift in a cramped position and out of the ideal plane. 

You may also need to bend down a lot, to help a client bathe, change their sheets and do other such tasks. That can add to the strain on your back. While a one-off event could put your back out of action so too could the cumulative effect over months and years.

If you get cut

You may need to use needles to administer drugs to patients. Some patients might have needles on them they have not disclosed. Scalpels might also be required for certain tasks. It is very easy for you to end up coming into contact with the sharp end of one of these, especially if you are tired through overwork or the patient is prone to sudden movements, perhaps because they are scared or under the effect of drugs.

If you get an infection

Some of the patients or clients you deal with could have an infectious disease. Being in such proximity to them puts you at a high risk of contagion.

Doing your best to account for these hazards is crucial, as is your employer taking steps to mitigate the risks. However, injuries can still occur and frequently do. In that case, you may need help to learn how to get the workers’ compensation you deserve.