Injury Rates and Costs for Direct and Non-direct Care Employees in Four Public Sector Healthcare Facilities

OBJECTIVE: This study examines injuries among clinical personnel and understudied staff roles (i.e., dietary, cleaning, security). METHODS: Workers' compensation claims from 2017-2019 were analyzed for two state Department of Mental Health Services (DMHS) and two Veteran Care (VC) facilities, including workforce size and demographics, injury/illness claims, and costs. Incident rates and costs were compared by job category and facility type. RESULTS: At DMHS, the highest claim rates were from mental health workers (71/100 full-time equivalents (FTEs)), with assaults, surface wounds, and person-related injuries most common. At VCs, nursing aides had the highest rates (45/100 FTEs), primarily due to patient handling injuries, musculoskeletal disorders, and bodily motion. Some non-direct care workers (e.g., dietary) had similar rates to nurses. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that targeted prevention interventions should address injury risks and include non-clinical workers.