You enjoy your work as a health care worker taking care of patients throughout Arizona. That said, there may come a time when you find yourself on the receiving end of an injury and in need of the same medical attention you administer.

RightPatient helps you understand which injuries are the most common for health care workers. Know what to look out for to stay safe, and recognize which hazards your employer has an obligation to protect you from.

Bone fractures

Being on the go so much is great for your health, but can come at a cost. Slip-and-fall accidents are all too common for health care workers. While a bruise or skinned knee may be no big deal, the same does not apply to a fall that results in a bone fracture.

Musculoskeletal injuries

When you have to adjust, lift, turn or otherwise move patients, doing so can place a great deal of stress on your body. Over time, all that patient handling can develop into a musculoskeletal injury, which can make it hard for you to perform your duties; that is, if your injuries do not make it so that you cannot work at all until you heal.

Spinal injuries

On a related note, health care workers are also prone to spinal injuries. You know all too well how much bending, twisting and other spinal movements your job involves. Employers do not always have the proper equipment, or personnel, needed to take the stress off workers’ backs, which can lead to avoidable injuries.

Burns

Paramedics and other health care workers who specialize in emergencies can sustain burns in the line of duty. Again, an employer may not provide such workers with the protective personal equipment necessary to keep them safe.

Incisions and cuts

With the abundance of needles, scalpels and other such medical equipment in abundance in health care settings, it is easy for workers to sustain incisions and cuts.

Health care worker injuries deserve a thorough investigation. The fault could rest with negligent employers.