Common Injuries to Healthcare Workers

Why Healthcare Workers Face a High Risk of Injury

Healthcare professionals regularly perform physically demanding work while caring for patients in fast-paced environments.

Common injury risks include:

• Lifting and repositioning patients
• Repetitive bending and reaching
• Exposure to infectious diseases
• Slip and fall hazards
• Workplace violence
• Long shifts and physical overexertion

Because of these unique risks, healthcare workers frequently suffer injuries that may qualify for Pennsylvania workers’ compensation benefits.

Repetitive Stress and Overexertion Injuries

In Pennsylvania, you do not need to suffer a single traumatic accident to receive workers’ compensation benefits.

Continuous overexertion and repetitive stress injuries are recognized under the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act.

For example, repeatedly leaning over patients, lifting equipment, transferring patients, or performing repetitive movements may place significant stress on the neck, back, shoulders, and joints.

These activities can lead to:

• Disc bulges
• Disc herniations
• Neck injuries
• Back injuries
• Shoulder injuries
• Other musculoskeletal conditions

Patient Lifting and Repositioning Injuries

Maneuvering and repositioning patients is one of the most common causes of injury in the healthcare industry.

This is especially true for:

• Nurses
• Nursing assistants
• Home health aides
• Personal care aides

Patients may unexpectedly fall, lose balance, or go limp during transfers, placing significant strain on a worker’s body.

A one-on-one home health aide who is required to lift, maneuver, and reposition a patient is often at a particularly high risk of injury.

Importantly, injuries sustained while caring for a patient in the patient’s home may still be covered by workers’ compensation if they occur in the course and scope of employment.

Needle Stick Injuries

Doctors, nurses, technicians, and aides regularly work with needles and other sharp instruments.

Needle sticks, puncture wounds, cuts, and lacerations can occur even when proper safety procedures are followed.

Pennsylvania workers’ compensation is a no-fault system. This means that even if a healthcare worker accidentally punctures or cuts themselves while performing job duties, they may still be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits.

Workplace Assaults in Healthcare Settings

Healthcare workers face a higher risk of workplace violence than employees in many other professions.

We frequently see these injuries among workers who care for:

• Behavioral health patients
• Mentally disabled patients
• Dementia patients
• Individuals experiencing medical emergencies

If you are injured after being physically assaulted by a patient while performing your job duties, workers’ compensation benefits may be available.

Slip and Fall Injuries

Slip and fall accidents occur in virtually every industry, and healthcare is no exception.

Hospitals, nursing facilities, medical offices, and patient homes often contain hazards such as:

• Wet floors
• Spilled liquids
• Uneven surfaces
• Cluttered walkways

These accidents can cause serious injuries, including fractures, head injuries, back injuries, and shoulder injuries.

Even home health aides injured while working in a patient’s home may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits.

Back and Neck Injuries

Back and neck injuries are among the most common workers’ compensation claims filed by healthcare workers.

Heavy lifting, awkward patient transfers, repetitive bending, and physically demanding tasks can place significant stress on the spine.

These injuries may include:

• Herniated discs
• Bulging discs
• Pinched nerves
• Cervical spine injuries
• Lumbar spine injuries

Because spinal injuries can become serious and permanent, prompt medical treatment is critical.

Infectious Diseases and Occupational Illnesses

Healthcare workers are routinely exposed to infectious diseases and workplace illnesses.

COVID-19 highlighted the risks healthcare workers face every day, but it is far from the only occupational illness that can occur in healthcare settings.

Infectious diseases contracted through workplace exposure may qualify as compensable work injuries under Pennsylvania workers’ compensation law.

Insurance companies frequently dispute these claims by arguing that the illness was contracted outside of work. Successfully proving these cases often requires detailed medical and factual evidence.

Steps to Take After a Healthcare Workplace Injury

If you suffer a work injury or occupational illness while working in healthcare, taking the proper steps can help protect your rights.

1. Report the Injury

Notify your employer as soon as possible after the injury or illness occurs.

2. Seek Medical Treatment

Prompt medical care can protect your health and create important documentation for your claim.

3. Document Your Injury

Keep records of symptoms, treatment, and communications related to your injury.

4. Speak With a Workers’ Compensation Attorney

Navigating the workers’ compensation process can be difficult, especially when claims are denied or injuries are disputed.

Talk to a Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Lawyer

As a healthcare worker, you spend your career caring for others. Unfortunately, workplace injuries can sometimes force you to become the patient.

If you suffer a work injury or occupational illness, obtaining proper medical care and protecting your workers’ compensation rights is critical.

The attorneys at Stern & Cohen have decades of experience representing nurses, home health aides, hospital workers, and other healthcare professionals throughout Pennsylvania.

Contact us today for a free consultation.

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