An estimated 18.6 million people are employed within the Healthcare and Social Assistance (HCSA) sector. The HCSA sector comprises establishments providing health care and social assistance for individuals.
The sector includes both health care and social assistance because it is sometimes difficult to distinguish between the boundaries of these two activities. The industries in this sector are arranged on a continuum starting with those establishments providing medical care exclusively, continuing with those providing health care and social assistance, and finally finishing with those providing only social assistance. The services provided by establishments in this sector are delivered by trained professionals. All industries in the sector share this commonality of process, namely, labor inputs of health practitioners or social workers with the requisite expertise.
Workers in the HCSA sector are potentially exposed to a wide range of health and safety hazards including infectious, chemical, and physical agents; sprains and strains associated with lifting and repetitive tasks; workplace stress, workplace violence; and risks associated with changing organization of work. Although it is possible to prevent or reduce worker exposure to these hazards, workers in the HCSA sector are experiencing higher rates of illness and injury as compared to all private industry. Special emphasis is currently being placed on predominant injury and illness outcomes and conditions including strains and sprains, overexertion, falls on the same level, assaults and violent acts, slips and trips injuries, respiratory conditions and skin disorders.
Clas Consulting has worked with establishments in all areas of the HCSA sector. We understand the unique needs of your dynamic environments. Our specialty is the occupational safety and health of employees, so we can help you protect your employees from the hazards within your workplace as they care the health of others.