Care for caregivers
When those who provide care and support for others become the patient themselves
When people think of dangerous jobs in Georgia, construction, logging, and factory work usually come to mind. Few realize, however, that hospitals are among the most hazardous workplaces in the country.
Health care workers face daily risks from high-stress environments, exposure to chemicals, infectious diseases, repetitive physical strain, and even violence from patients or visitors. While caring for others, doctors, nurses (RNs and LPNs), certified nursing assistants (CNAs), and other hospital staff often put their own health at risk.
Fortunately, if you were injured or became ill while working in the health care system in Georgia, you may be entitled to workers’ comp benefits during your recovery.
If you have questions about your rights or need help filing a workers’ compensation claim, reach out to our Atlanta work injury attorneys for a free consultation. We help injured workers in Brunswick, Thomasville, Kennesaw, and Tifton get the full compensation they deserve.
Did you know?
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), hospital workers experience work-related injuries and illnesses at nearly twice the rate of workers across all industries.
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What are the hazards of working in health care?
Health care jobs expose workers to a wide range of hazards that can affect both physical and mental well-being. Some of the most common risks doctors, nurses, and CNAs face include:
- Exposure to infectious diseases. Health care workers regularly come into contact with illnesses such as tuberculosis, hepatitis, HIV, influenza, COVID-19, and other contagious respiratory conditions.
- Overexertion when moving patients. Repeated lifting, transferring, or repositioning patients (especially without proper equipment) can lead to overexertion injuries like chronic back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and other long-term joint problems.
- Contact with harmful substances. Daily use of cleaning products, disinfectants, sterilizing agents, medications, laboratory chemicals, and latex can pose serious health risks over time.
- Radiation exposure. Workers may be exposed to radiation from imaging equipment, radioactive materials, UV light, or lasers used in medical procedures.
- Stress and mental health challenges. Long hours, understaffing, and constant high-stakes decision-making can leave health care workers physically drained and mentally overwhelmed, increasing the risk of burnout, anxiety, depression, PTSD, and chronic fatigue.
- Workplace violence or mistreatment. Health care workers also can face threats, harassment, or physical harm from patients, visitors, and coworkers.
Data source: Your level of risk in the health care industry not only depends on your job duties but also where you work. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows that certain health care settings—such as psychiatric facilities, ambulances, nursing homes, and hospitals—report some of the highest nonfatal workplace injury rates in the industry.
In the news: Georgia man convicted for assaulting nurse
In May 2023, a nurse at Coastal Carolina Hospital in Hardeeville was attacked by a patient who stole a pair of scissors from a nursing assistant and held the nurse hostage in the emergency room.
The attacker, a Georgia man from Savannah, pressed the scissors against the nurse’s neck and dragged her toward an exit before other staff intervened, according to the 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office.
In July 2025, the man pleaded guilty to kidnapping and first-degree assault and battery and was sentenced to 12 years in prison. Prosecutors credited the nurse and fellow hospital workers with preventing an even more tragic outcome.
Common nursing injuries & accidents in hospitals
Nurses, doctors and other health care professionals do many different jobs in a given shift, so the way they can be injured or become ill vary greatly. Some of the most prevalent types of workplace injuries among health care workers are:
Illnesses and infections Health care workers are frequently exposed to potentially contagious infectious diseases and viruses. Sharp items are everywhere which can be contaminated with blood-based pathogens.
Hospital staff are often lifting, transferring and repositioning patients who themselves have limited mobility.
Violence Nurses and doctors are also exposed to patients who may be suffering from mental health issues, which often increases the chances of a violent encounter.
Besides these risks, staff are still capable of experiencing overexertion, burns, repetitive stress injuries, strains, sprains, slips, trips and falls, fractures, cuts and punctures just like regular workforce employees. In fact, nurses and nursing aids are among the most at risk for musculoskeletal injuries (MSDs).
Georgia injured nurse compensation
If you (or someone you know who works in the medical field) recently suffered a work-related injury or illness, it’s important to file the appropriate documents that can move your workers’ compensation claim forward. Nurses and medical workers are actually more likely to suffer a workplace injury compared to other private industries. Getting hurt by slipping on a wet surface, straining your back while lifting a patient, or even becoming seriously ill because of your job — these scenarios are all covered by workers’ compensation.
Under Georgia law, hospitals, doctor’s offices and other medical facilities must carry workers’ compensation insurance for their employees. All the injured staff member has to prove is that their injury or illness occurred on the job and is serious enough to require medical care and days of work.
The system allows for the injured worker to receive up to two-thirds of their average weekly income, and covers necessary medical treatment. In exchange, you can’t sue your employer for damages.
If a nurse or health care worker is diagnosed with an illness or injury so severe that they’re unable to continue working, they may be able to collect Social Security disability benefits.
Health and safety tips for nurses in the workplace
Health care professionals must be extra vigilant around unpredictable patients, sharp objects, potentially wet floors — and they must push back against employers if necessary to secure necessary downtime to rest and destress.
Hospitals and medical employers should assist in this cause by offering hazard identification and prevention training, continuing education training programs and offering nurses any tools to assist them in their daily jobs (such as moving heavy patients).
Safety awareness and injury prevention is a team effort.
Help protect your fellow co-workers from everyday hazards and go out of your way to remind others of the dangers they might encounter while working a shift. Unfortunately, no matter how careful you are, accidents still happen. If you are injured or get sick at work, the good news is you should be entitled to workers’ compensation from your employer.
Workers’ compensation rules vary depending on the state where you were hurt. For more information on workplace injuries and other frequently asked questions about Georgia workers’ compensation and disability benefits, visit our FAQs page.
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Our record of winning accident cases in Georgia speaks for itself:
We fight for Georgia’s nurses, doctors, health care workers & hospital staff
If you or a loved one are injured on the job while working at Emory, Anchor, Northside, Piedmont, or the Children’s Hospital or another hospital or medical facility in the Atlanta area, talk with one of our experienced work injury lawyers today. Put our expertise to the test and learn more about your workers’ compensation rights. We’ll make sure that you’re treated fairly at every step of the process.
References
Solicitor14. (2025, July 11). Georgia man convicted in hospital assault. Fourteenth Circuit Solicitor’s Office. https://scsolicitor14.org/georgia-man-convicted-in-hospital-assault/
TABLE 1. Incidence rates of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses by industry and case types, 2024. (n.d.). www.bls.gov. https://www.bls.gov/web/osh/table-1-industry-rates-national.htm
United States Department of Labor. (2019). Worker Safety in Hospitals | Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Www.osha.gov. https://www.osha.gov/hospitals
