According to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare workers face the highest risk of on-the-job injuries and illnesses.
In both 2022 and 2023, this job sector recorded the most reported work injuries and illnesses, coming in at about 650,000 cases in 2022 and about 550,000 cases in 2023.
This statistic ranks healthcare and social assistance well ahead of other careers, even careers that in many circles are better known as dangerous, such as construction and manufacturing.
While hospitals and doctors’ offices might not seem like dangerous places to work, medical workers face several risks to their health and safety.
- Hospitals and other medical facilities expose workers and patients alike to contagious diseases.
- Staff are often around medical waste products and other dangerous substances.
- Many healthcare workers do a lot of heavy lifting of supplies and equipment. They also may have to help move a fully grown adult patient who is not able at all to support their own weight.
- Patients and even hospital visitors can get unruly and violent.
- Medical workers also must engage in activities that involve repetitive motion. On a related point, fatigue is common in the healthcare industry.
- Medical facilities have other hazards that are common in other work environments.
New Jersey healthcare workers may need financial support after an accident
After a workplace or illness or injury, a Bergen County resident who works in healthcare may require ongoing medical assistance themselves for their own symptoms. Sometimes, an injury can leave a healthcare worker without a source of income for weeks or even months.
New Jersey’s workers’ compensation system is available to those in the healthcare industry who need financial support after a work-related illness or accident. Workers should make sure they understand this option, and they may find they need legal assistance when pursuing a claim.
