Work Injuries in the Health Care Industry
Health care is one of the most fundamental sectors to both society and the economy, with workers in this sector providing vital services to patients in public and private hospitals, nursing homes, home care situations and medical clinics.
Health care workers include nurses, doctors, psychiatrists, psychologists and carers. Work in the health care industry can be physically demanding and take a toll on the body. Nurses and personal carers are especially prone to suffering many different types of injuries or harm whilst on the job.
Whilst many systems have been implemented to reduce work injuries, unfortunately at times injuries are unavoidable. In performing their duties, nurses and carers often encounter a remarkable range of work hazards. Fatigue related to overwork and staffing patterns as well as working shift work can contribute to injuries and stress.
Some other top causes of injuries to nurses and carers include:
- Patient handling activities.
- Repetitive duties and over exertion.
- Needlestick injuries.
- Slip and falls.
- Violence from patients or family members.
Some of the most common injuries sustained by nurses and carers include:
- Sprains and strains.
- Slipped disc/back injuries.
- Shoulder injuries.
- Blood borne infectious diseases.
- Psychological injuries.
Let us help you
If you are a health care worker and are injured at work, no matter how serious or minor the injury, you may be eligible to make a claim for workers’ compensation. Tindall Gask Bentley is a national leader in workers’ compensation, with experienced lawyers who can help you in South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
If you or a loved one has suffered an injury at work please contact our Workers Compensation team online via our enquiry form or call us on (08) 8212 1077 (SA), (08) 9211 5800 (WA) or (08) 8995 9520 (NT). You should not feel like you need to go it alone. Let us manage your claim whilst you focus on your recovery.
Case Studies
Read Part 2 of this blog featuring case studies of some injured health care workers that Tindall Gask Bentley have assisted.