Employees in the healthcare industry are being injured on the job at a higher rate then any other industry.
Missouri workers in the healthcare industry may be interested to know that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has taken a vested interest in their jobs. Recent studies have shown that employees in this sector are being injured on the job at a much higher rate than in any other industry.
If you are a worker in Missouri’s vast healthcare force and have been recently injured on the job, it will be to your advantage to discuss your claim with a Missouri workers’ compensation attorney from The Law Office of James M. Hoffmann. We are fully aware of the changes OSHA is working towards and how that may impact your claim.
The Areas of Focus for OSHA
OSHA investigators have received instruction to focus on five different categories where injury to healthcare workers is most common. These include disorders of the musculoskeletal system, illnesses arising from exposure to blood-borne pathogens, tuberculosis, slips and falls, and injuries related to workplace violence. Since there are no specific regulations governing many of these illnesses and injuries, investigators have been advised to rely on the general duty clause of the Occupational Safety and Health Act.
These investigators have also been advised to investigate any other issues they encounter that are not on the list. The facilities that will be subject to these special inspections is vast and includes any institution that is providing in-patient health care. Hospitals, nursing homes, and clinics will all be under scrutiny. In focusing on these areas of concern, OSHA is attempting to reduce the number of work-related injuries that occur in healthcare facilities.
Employers Required to Report Work-Related Injuries
Earlier this year, OSHA also made an announcement that it would be finalizing a rule making it mandatory for all employers to report the cause of any work-related injury or illness in a database that would be made available to the public. This is a major change in policy, as now they are only required to keep those records but not to share them.
Workers’ Compensation Attorneys
It is likely to take a few years before the effects of the changes in OSHA will be felt by healthcare employers and workers, but in the meantime, you are still protected by Missouri workers’ compensation. If you have injured your back as a result of having to lift or assist a patient, workers’ compensation should cover the cost of treating your injury. If your employer is trying to deny your claim or stop your benefits prematurely, speak with The Law Office of James M. Hoffmann immediately. While the new OSHA initiative is not yet in effect, your injury was a direct result of your job, making the cost of treating it the responsibility of your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance. Call us today at (314) 361-4300 for a case evaluation.