Pittsfield is the largest city in the Berkshire County of Massachusetts; it is also the county seat. At the time of the 2010 census, the population was 44,737, and according to the American Community Survey 5-year estimates, it had decreased to 44,226 in 2014.
Pittsfield and the surrounding towns and cities in Massachusetts employ 34,020 workers. Of those workers, the Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations employ 2,820 workers, and Healthcare Support Occupations employs 1,650 workers. The Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations, in addition to the Healthcare Support Occupations, include jobs such as:
- Physician Assistants
- Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists
- Radiologic Technicians
- Nurse Practitioners
- Psychiatric Aides
- Registered Nurses
- Orderlies
All of these occupations, among many others in the healthcare practitioners and technical occupational sector, are not without risks. Even those who dedicate their lives to helping others who have been injured or have fallen ill can suddenly find themselves on the other side, as a patient.
Pittsfield Workers May Be At Risk
A news release by The Bureau Of Labor Statistics reported that there were 164,440 incidents of injury or illness nationwide that resulted in days away from work in healthcare and social assistance occupations. Healthcare and social assistance had a rate of 121.3 cases per 10,000 full-time workers, the highest among the private industry sectors with greater than 100,000 cases. This means that even construction workers and manual laborers had lower rates of injuries and illnesses at work. Hospitals, private practices, and care facilities of all sorts can put their workers at risk.
Were You Hurt At Work?
Injuries and illness at work can happen to anyone, and many of the most common causes are due to unavoidable hazards in the workplace, exposure to certain stressors (once or repetitively over time), or simply an unexpected accident. Many incidents of overexertion (e.g. from lifting) occur in settings such as hospitals, simply because of how much lifting occurs on a daily basis. Nurses, for example, may not think twice about adjusting hospital beds, pushing gurneys, or lifting patients when helping them dress, but one of two things could happen. Firstly, the weight being lifted could be more than anticipated, causing a worker to strain themselves. Second, repetitive lifting or overexertion over time can gradually cause injuries. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, overexertion and bodily reaction were the most common cause of injury in the workplace in 2014 with 384,260 cases accounting for 33% of total cases. The 2014 incidence rate for overexertion or bodily reaction was 35.6 cases per 10,000 full-time workers. In addition to lifting and overexertion, slipping and falling is common in healthcare settings. Bodily fluids, medications, or water on the floor could cause workers to slip and fall, as could tripping over respirator cords (or any other machine). Falls, slips, and/or trips accounted for an additional 27 percent of the total in 2014, with 316,650 injuries that resulted in time away from work at an incidence rate of 29.3. These, along with many other causes of injuries at work, can cause a healthcare worker to miss days, weeks, or even months of work, and therefore, miss out on pay.
A Pittsfield Workers’ Compensation Attorney Can Help
Were you injured at work, causing you to miss time and lose money? If so, a workers’ compensation attorney to help and get you the care and compensation you deserve. Those in the healthcare field are familiar with just how expensive medical care can be. A free consultation with a workers’ compensation attorney can help to put your mind at ease. You and your attorney can begin the process of getting your benefits right away; don’t hesitate to call as soon as you are injured.
If you’ve been hurt at work, schedule your free consultation with a Keches Law Group attorney today. Call us at 617-898-0808, or visit our website and chat with us online.
