Many people have kind and caring natures. As a result, they may choose to go into the health care field in efforts to help others. While this can certainly be an admirable career, health care workers in California and across the country face many hazards on the job. In some cases, they could end up injured and may need workers’ compensation to help cover issues stemming from a work-related accident.
Even just the work environment can pose hazards to workers. For example, individuals can be exposed to hazardous chemicals, like drugs, cleaning supplies and certain laboratory supplies, that could pose serious dangers. They could also face infectious hazards, like being exposed to bacteria, fungi and viruses. On top of that, they also face physical hazards that could lead to injuries, like lifting patients, conducting certain procedures like X-rays or facing workplace violence.
Additionally, the hazards can differ depending on the exact area of health care in which a person works. For instance, hospital workers face different hazards than those who are home health care workers, and nursing home workers can face different risks from those workers. In efforts to prevent illness and injury, it is important to have proper training and for workplaces to have policies and procedures for preventing unnecessary exposure to harm.
Of course, even with best efforts, health care workers can become injured or ill due to work-related incidents. In those cases, California workers may need time off of work, face medical bills and contend with other issues that could cause financial setbacks. Fortunately, workers’ compensation may be able to help them address financial needs after such an incident.