Pennsylvania Workers' Compensation Lawyers Blog
A new report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has found that nursing homes had the highest rate of workplace injury and illness in 2012.
The percentages are really very surprising. According to an article on McKnights.com, the BLS report shows that the illness and injury rate for private nursing homes and residential care facilities was 7.3%. Compare that to the rate for miners (except oil and gas), which was 2.7% and the rate for construction, which was 3.6%.
Nursing homes that are state-run had the only double-digit statistic, with a 14% rate of illness and injury.
Based on an analysis of BLS data from 2011, nursing homes were ranked #5 in the most dangerous workplaces in the United States in July.
According to the article, most injuries occur when nursing home workers are involved in moving residents. In an effort to reduce injuries, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration launched a campaign which focuses on avoiding musculoskeletal injuries among care workers. Also, the American Nursing Association would like to stop the manual handling of residents as a way to avoid work injuries among nursing home employees.