New Act Will Help Prevent Healthcare and Nurse Work Related Injuries from Lifting Patients if Passed

Work related injuries from lifting patients is something that is very common in the healthcare field.  If you are a nurse or any other type of person in the healthcare field who works directly with patients you will probably understand how much of a strain on your body lifting patients all day actually is.  In fact, studies have shown that nurses and healthcare providers are more prone to lifting injuries than construction workers are.

Lawmakers have been hearing from healthcare workers who have been injured by lifting patients at work.  This has caused an act, The Nurse and Healthcare Worker Protection Act of 2009, to be considered for approval that would help prevent the work related injuries that workers encounter from lifting patients.  The act would mandate the implementation of electronic lifts and safety protocols for nurses and healthcare workers and would also protect nurses and healthcare workers who refuse to work in a situation that is unsafe for the.

One thing that healthcare workers and nurses are doubtful of though is that they will actually see any change in the way things are run in the hospitals, doctors offices, nursing homes and rehabilitation centers that they currently work in.  They are afraid that instead the act will be taken as more of a suggestion instead of seeing change from it due to the expensive cost of equipment that will need to be used to lift patients.  In reality as a hospital owner or the head of a doctors office, nursing home or rehabilitation center it is more cost effective in the long run to purchase the equipment required to lift patients when compared to the cost of paying workers compensation to an injured nurse or an injured healthcare worker whose injuries are directly caused by lifting patients at work. 

Common injuries that can be lessened or prevented if the patient lifting equipment is implemented by the act are the following:

• Back injuries

• Shoulder injuries

• Hip injuries

If you suffer from any of the above work related injuries from lifting patients you are more than likely eligible for Workers Compensation in the State of New York.  Because each case depends on your specific situation and how and when you were injured you should speak with a New York workers' compensation lawyer to find out your eligibility to receive workers compensation benefits. To speak with Frank J. Dito Jr. Staten Island Workers' Compensation attorney call 800.976.4904 or fill out our contact form.