Common Safety Concerns for Healthcare Workers 

Working in healthcare is one of the most rewarding jobs there is. Unfortunately, it is also one of the most dangerous. This is because healthcare work is both physically and mentally demanding, while also putting you in contact with patients who may not be in their normal state of mind. In fact, healthcare workers experienced 562,500 injuries in 2023. Knowing the most common safety concerns for healthcare workers can help you to avoid being injured in the line of duty, allowing you to continue providing compassionate care to those who need it.

Lifting and Patient Handling Injuries

As you know, there are often patients under your care who do not have the ability to move on their own. Such patients may need help getting out of bed, walking down the hall, or may need you to move them from one bed to another. While patient handling is a necessity, it is also a huge risk. Back and neck injuries commonly occur when lifting and moving patients.

Your employer should provide training on proper lifting techniques to use when moving a patient. You should always follow the protocols you are trained in. This will seriously lessen the chances of injury.

Slip, Trip, and Fall Accidents

Healthcare work is fast paced by nature. You probably find yourself bouncing from patient to patient and moving quickly for most of your shift. Healthcare facilities are filled with wet floors, crowded hallways, cords, equipment, and other tripping hazards. Falling due to one of these can easily result in breaking an arm, sustaining a head injury, or worse. It is important that while you are working, you are aware of your surroundings and being careful when moving around. Awareness is often the key to avoiding a slip and fall injury.

Exposure to Infectious Diseases

One of the most obvious risks healthcare workers face is exposure to infectious diseases. Healthcare facilities, such as hospitals and doctors’ offices, are filled with sick people. Unfortunately, being a healthcare worker does not make you immune to getting sick yourself. It is important that you protect yourself by using proper PPE and following proper infection control protocols. It is easy to get relaxed and allow these standards to slip. This is a massive mistake. Saving time by not donning PPE or following protocols is not worth the risk of becoming infected yourself.

Needle Stick 

Giving vaccines, taking blood, and inserting IVs are normal parts of a healthcare worker’s day, and all of these require the use of needles. It is quite common for healthcare workers to accidentally stick themselves when performing these tasks. If this happens to you, you may be exposed to bloodborne pathogens. When used, all needles must be placed inside of an FDA-cleared, puncture-proof, and leak-proof sharps container. You should pay careful attention when doing this to ensure that the needle never comes close to making contact with your skin. If this happens to you, you should remain calm and follow OSHA’s procedure to the tee.

Workplace Violence 

Patients are often extremely stressed out and scared, if not down right terrified. This can result in angry, and sometimes violent outbursts. When this happens, their rage is usually unfairly directed at healthcare workers. It is important that you follow procedure and contact security as soon as you feel threatened at all. Your employer should also train you in deescalation techniques, which you can use to calm the patient and lower the risk of violence toward you occurring.

What To Do If You’re Injured 

It is likely that at some point in your healthcare career you will be injured. When this happens, it is important that you report the injury immediately. You may also apply for workers’ compensation, which will provide benefits to help you make it through your injury. It is a good idea to hire a workers’ compensation attorney. They will be able to walk you through the process and give you the best chance of having your claim accepted. This will allow you to focus on recovery, so that you can return to helping those in need as soon as possible.