Health care Definition & Meaning

How do we define healthcare?

Health Care is concerned, either directly or indirectly ways, with the delivery of healthcare services to people. The services are offered in a range of locations, including hospitals clinics, dental offices, clinics as well as outpatient surgical centers, delivery centers, medical emergency services as well as home health care, and nursing homes.

What kind of risks are workers exposed to?

Health Care workers are exposed to a variety of health and safety risks. They are exposed to bloodborne pathogens as well as biological dangers, possible exposure to chemicals and drugs and gas exposures to waste anesthetics and respiratory risks, the risk of injury from lifting and repetitive work, laser hazards as well as workplace violence, dangers that are associated with laboratory work, and radioactive material and x-ray risks. The potential chemical exposures are formaldehyde which is used to preserve samples for pathology; glutaraldehyde and ethylene oxide and peracetic acid for sterilization, and many other chemicals utilized in health laboratories.

What percentage of workers are injured or sick?

Workers are more injured in the health and social assistance sector than in any other industry. It is among the highest rates of workplace-related injuries and illnesses and is expected to continue to grow. In 2020, the health and social assistance industry saw an increase of 40% in cases of injury and illness which is still more than any other sector. The number of cases was 806,200 (2020 survey of occupational Injuries and Illnesses BLS). More than half of these cases (447,890) caused at least one day off from work. The average incidence rate for this industry is 5.5 incidents per 100 FTE employees in 2020, which was 3.8 in 100 FTE employees in 2019.

Nursing assistants were among those that had the highest rate of musculoskeletal injuries among all occupations by 2020, which included 15,360 patients. Musculoskeletal problems accounted for 52% of the absences from work nurses.

To find out more about occupational injuries and illnesses at hospitals, take a look at the useful tools and resources from OSHA's Understanding the Problem page.

Apart from nurses and doctors, which workers are at risk?

Alongside the medical staff, large health facilities are also staffed with a range of jobs that pose risks to health and safety that are associated with these. This includes mechanical maintenance and medical equipment maintenance food service, housekeeping maintenance of grounds and buildings laundry, and administrative personnel.