Healthcare Occupations Demands and Hazards

To safely and efficiently perform work related duties the healthcare worker must be able to physically and mentally satisfy the requisite skills and be able to perform required job related duties with or without reasonable accommodations. This is why so many employers require job applicants to pass a so called pre-employment physical examination before being granted the desired position. 

Essential functions which the healthcare worker must be able to perform are based on factors such as education and job-related work experience, the reason for the position, the number of other employees available to perform the same duties, or among whom the function can be shared, and the degree of expertise or skill required to perform the duties.

OSHA and NIOSH

It is not uncommon for healthcare workers hold more than one part-time job, of which each one comes with unique challenges and and its own set of health hazards. Healthcare workers, especially nurses, clinical laboratory workers and medical assistants face unique situations at work of which some may pose health and safety concerns.

Twenty-five states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have OSHA-approved State Plans and have adopted their own standards and enforcement policies. For the most part, these States adopt standards that are identical to Federal OSHA, however, some States have adopted different standards applicable to this topic or may have different enforcement policies.

Medical office and healthcare facility workplace settings typically involve direct patient care with invasive procedures, exposure to body fluids, handling bio-hazardous materials in a fast-paced setting. Errors and oversights due to the demanding nature of their duties may result in health or safety consequences, however, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) are there to oversee and enforce the safety of workers in healthcare.