Studies Seek to Raise Awareness of Health Care Hazards

Hospitals can be a dangerous place to work. The worker injury rate at hospitals is nearly twice that of private industries, with 6.8 work-related injuries and illnesses for every 100 full-time hospital employees, according to the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Much of the attention paid to health care worker injuries has focused on the dangers of lifting and moving patients, which can lead to sprains and strains. But concerns are growing about the handling of hazardous materials in health care settings, an issue highlighed by a series of recent ...