Everyone needs to make a living, and with many people working, there is often a risk of getting hurt. In 2023 alone, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that 2,569,000 nonfatal injuries in America caused 946,000 workers to lose time from their jobs and deal with the fallout from these problems.
Recovering from these injuries costs workers wages, hospital fees, and legal costs if they need to seek compensation through the courts. No one wants to be in this position, but if you’re one of the millions of people dealing with an injury from work, how soon should you look for medical help?
Orangevale and Rancho Cordova, California, workers dealing with injuries that need medical attention can get help from Dr. Andrew Nanagalama and his experienced team at American River Urgent Care.
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, these are the most commonly violated standards and resulting work-related injuries:
Falls can occur when workers slip on the ground or fall from a higher elevation, such as ladders or scaffolding, which can happen in many labor-intensive jobs.
This includes exposure to dangerous materials, such as chemicals or electricity, and liquids on walking surfaces, which can also cause falls.
Lacking proper equipment to protect your eyes and face during work can lead to damage that needs medical attention.
Exposure to particles and chemicals that do respiratory damage can result from not having proper protection.
Not following the proper guidelines for operating machines or having people who are not well-versed in using them can lead to many accidents.
Getting help will depend on the nature of the injury, and how quickly will depend on the severity. For example, lacerations, bruises, scrapes, swelling, strains, sprains, and joint stiffness can lead to time away from work but may only be a few days or weeks if the injury is found to be minor.
However, serious injuries need medical attention right away and include severe bleeding, major burns, joint immobility, severe pain, respiratory problems, bodily trauma (bone deformities, significant joint damage), and bluish coloration.
Our comprehensive treatment plan covers determining what’s wrong and putting together an action plan to help in your recovery. We have a number of options for helping to assess and treat injuries, including:
A trip to the emergency room may still be necessary if your injury is too severe, and major medical problems (as laid out above) should take that route first.
If you’re injured at work, are in pain, and you don’t know how bad the damage is, you should see a doctor. If that happens, contact Dr Nangalama and American River Urgent Care as soon as possible.
