Healthcare workers keep our society running, providing essential services and critical care to the communities of Lehigh Valley, Bethlehem, Allentown, and greater Pennsylvania. The field of healthcare is very demanding, both physically and mentally, and many healthcare workers care for those around them at great risk to themselves, as workplace injuries are common in the healthcare field.
Employers and insurance companies don’t make it easy to collect workers’ compensation benefits, even for people who have dedicated their entire careers to caring for people. They will go to great lengths to undervalue your injury, attribute it to non-work-related causes, and or even pass it off as a pre-existing condition. That’s why you need a knowledgeable and tenacious Lehigh Valley workers’ compensation attorney.
Proudly serving the people of Lehigh Valley, Bethlehem, Allentown, and beyond, the experienced workers’ compensation team at Larry Pitt & Associates, P.C. has dedicated an entire practice to advocating for injured workers. Let us help advocate for you, so you can see the workers’ compensation benefits to which you are rightfully entitled.
1. Slips, Trips, and Falls
Workplace injuries in the healthcare industry are most frequently caused by slipping, tripping, and falling. Wet floors are a common hazard in medical care facilities, along with cluttered hallways and wires running from room to room. Healthcare facilities are required to maintain a safe environment for patients and staff by law, but some facilities do not take the necessary precautions to avoid slips, trips, and falls, and even accidents still happen in the best of facilities.
2. Needlestick Injuries
Needlestick injuries are unique to the healthcare field and are difficult to avoid when dealing with sharp objects and the waste they create. These injuries can be incredibly dangerous as they can expose the employee to certain pathogens spread by contact with blood, including HIV and hepatitis. Even when employers provide proper protective equipment and training, the risk of needlestick injuries can only be minimized, not avoided.
3. Sprains, Strains, and Back Injuries
Many healthcare workers are required to move patients or lift heavy equipment, which can lead to musculoskeletal injuries such as sprains, strains, back injuries, and more. Employers can minimize these risks by teaching proper lifting techniques and investing in the appropriate lifting equipment.
4. Exposure to Infectious Disease
Healthcare workers are frequently exposed to infectious diseases when treating contagious patients and performing duties in the environment around them. While most healthcare facilities take strict precautions to prevent diseases from being transmitted, there is no guarantee that staff won’t contract diseases from patients.
5. Burns and Exposure to Chemicals
In the healthcare field, powerful chemicals are often used to ensure the equipment and facility remain clean and sterile for the next patient. Equipment such as sterilizers and autoclaves also use high heat to sanitize equipment. Equipment malfunctions or mishandling of these chemicals can lead to burns and chemical exposures which may require extensive medical treatment.
Larry Pitt & Associates: Fighting for Injured Workers in Lehigh Valley, Bethlehem, Allentown, and Beyond. We Won’t Quit.
If you or a loved one were injured on the job in Lehigh Valley, Bethlehem, Allentown, or in greater Pennsylvania, you deserve to see the workers’ compensation benefits you’re legally entitled to. Turn to the skilled workers’ compensation law team at Larry Pitt & Associates, P.C. to help you navigate the workers’ compensation process and to fight relentlessly so you see all the benefits to which you are entitled. Contact us today or call us at 888-PITT-LAW for a free and confidential consultation.
