Top 10 Health Care Worker Injuries in Ohio

Workers’ compensation is a system that is put in place to benefit workers who, are injured, have  sickness or die while still working. For a worker to be compensated, an injury should not necessarily have been caused by accident. A worker can also be paid for injuries caused due to repetitive physical movements such as back strains that arise due to lifting heavy goods over a period of time. In some special cases, a worker can be compensated for effects that emanate from psychological stress that results from the job. The main requirement for compensation is that all these injuries happen at work.

When are employees covered under workers’ compensation?

The workers’ compensation law dictates that employees are only covered in work-related injuries or sickness. However, the injury or illness do not have to necessarily occur in the workplace. If it is job-related, then it is covered.

Although the workers’ compensation laws in Ohio state that some types of injuries cannot be covered, an employee should talk to a qualified attorney to get sound advice on what to do next. An attorney can suggest on whether to sue an employer or not.

Employers are not always protected from employee lawsuits that are related to injuries. Types of injuries that an employee can seek the help of an attorney include;

• Horseplay injuries: An employer is not obligated to cover for any injuries that occur to a party that engages itself to horseplay. However, an innocent employee who sustains injuries due to another employee’s horseplay should be covered.
• Occupational diseases: In some cases an employer is required to cover injuries that result from a disease. In rare circumstances they can also include injuries to the nervous system or psychological injuries.
• Emotional or psychological illnesses: These conditions are compensated for if they occur due to a physical injury. This means that a psychological problem that develops from an emotional situation will not be covered.
• Rest breaks: Injuries that occur during a scheduled rest break are not always covered by workers compensation. However, injuries that occur during an unscheduled rest break are compensated.
• Offsite injuries: Such injuries can be covered if the employee was working.
• Injuries that are caused by moving patients: This can be either in a hospital or a nursing home.
• Injuries that occur due to exposure to toxic material: Health workers are exposed to a lot of chemicals and some of them can be very toxic. An employee can claim for injuries or illnesses that are caused by any toxic materials while at work.
• Stress injuries: They can include cubital tunnel syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome and other stress injuries that are repetitive.
• Injuries that are caused by an employers’ egregious intentional conduct: An employee can file a personal injury case against those at fault to get compensation for damages in some limited cases.
• If an employer does not have a workers’ compensation insurance cover: An employee can sue an employer in an Ohio civil court as an option or proceed under the compensation system.

Although the workers’ compensation cover can provide benefits to a worker who has been injured, permanent and temporary disability payments are very low and there is no compensation for pain, stress, and suffering. Workers’ compensation does not also punish employers for poor safety measures and harsh working conditions. Therefore, an injured health worker in Ohio should understand their rights.