Medical employees working in hospitals and similar caregiving environments face many hazards on the job. Patient violence and intense physical exertion can cause injuries that leave workers in need of medical treatment and time away from their jobs.
Accidental contact with or exposure to dangerous objects is a top cause of lost-time incidents in hospital settings and similar medical environments. What types of medical objects pose the greatest risk to healthcare workers?
1. Needles and other sharp objects
A needlestick incident occurs when a medical professional accidentally pokes themselves with a needle previously used for patient care. They can end up exposed to bloodborne pathogens that could cause serious medical conditions. There are safety rules in place to help minimize the risk of such incidents, but accidental needlesticks are still a common hazard.
2. External defibrillators
Using electricity to stimulate the heart can potentially save a person’s life. However, the amount of electricity used can be dangerous to a healthy person with a heart functioning as it should. People who touch an external defibrillator or make contact with the person during the application of electricity could end up seriously injured.
3. Dangerous drugs and radioactive material
Sometimes, exposure to drugs used to treat patients can cause medical issues for health care providers. They could also end up sickened due to exposure to radioactive materials in some cases.
Other hazards include the pinch points of moving equipment and magnetic machinery that can pose a hazard to anyone with metal on or in their bodies nearby. When health care workers get hurt on the job, they may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. Filing a workers’ compensation claim can help injured professionals cover their medical expenses and replace their lost wages.
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