Health Care Industry Safety

Employees who work in the health care industry, which includes settings such as hospitals, laboratories, dentist offices, and medical offices, are exposed to a number of serious workplace hazards.

These hazards include, in the hospital setting, lifting and moving patients; exposure to blood, bloodborne pathogens, viruses, and bacteria; workplace violence from agitated or combative patients or visitors; and slips, trips, falls, sprains, and strains, incurred in the course of caregiving duties.

Employees who work in medical offices are at risk of injury from the hazards present in other health care settings, including bloodborne pathogens; hazardous substances; ionizing radiation; slips, trips, and falls; electrical hazards; and may also be subject to exposure to biological agents, toxins, or harmful radiation.

Employees who work in dental offices and laboratories may be subject to a number of occupational hazards, including exposure to infections (including HIV and viral hepatitis); percutaneous (i.e., through the skin) exposure incidents, contact dermatitis, and latex allergy; and may be at risk of developing chronic beryllium disease, a lung disorder resulting from beryllium exposure.

In This Section

This section focuses on workplace safety hazards present in health care settings, as well as certain safety measures employers in these settings can take to minimize the risk of these hazards. Topics include:

• Dental Office Hazards & Solutions 
• General Employer Responsibilities
• Hazard Communication in Health Care  
• Hospital Hazards & Solutions 
• Medical Office Hazards & Solutions 
• Overexertion & Repetitive Motion Injuries 
• Safety Checklists