Social Worker Safety: Dangers on the Job

According to the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), the entire industry deals with a serious issue due to unstable and violent clients. In fact, an industry survey was conducted in 2011, and 58 percent of respondents indicated that they had personally been the victim of some type of violence on the job. As a result, the NASW has advocated for important pieces of legislation such as the Teri Zenner Social Worker Safety Act in order to call attention to the need to provide more protection for social workers. Unfortunately, this will not eliminate your risk of becoming injured on the job, so it is imperative to be aware of your surroundings and your client’s behavior at all times.

Warning Signs of a Potential Attack

If one of your clients verbally threatens you or violates boundaries that you had previously put in place, you should definitely take this as credible safety risk and act appropriately. Additionally, it is important to remain cognizant of any known trigger activities or phrases that can cause a client to become violent. You can help protect yourself by always maintaining clear boundaries, keeping your personal information private and having a coworker assist you as often as possible. However, if an incident does occur, you should seek immediate medical attention and report the attack right away.

What Should I do if I am Injured on the Job?

As previously mentioned, reporting the incident to your employer immediately is a very critical step, and you should also follow your company’s guidelines for receiving medical attention. After all, if you are required to go to a specific hospital or clinic, you could end up compromising your legal right to file a workers’ compensation claim if you go somewhere different instead. It is also vital to keep any documentation that pertains to your injury so that you will have proof if you end up needing to take legal action against your employer.

As noted by Auger & Auger,” Under workers’ compensation laws in North Carolina, most workers who get hurt doing any job-related task are entitled to benefits. This includes workers who get hurt at the regular job site or when off-site doing any required employment tasks. Workers who suffer from repetitive stress or occupational injuries or who get sick from exposure to chemicals or toxins at work are also covered. Almost every employee is thus covered…”

Tips for Healing Emotionally after an Injury

It’s never easy for anyone to deal with the trauma of being injured, especially if it comes as the result of a physical attack. Therefore, even though you have training in dealing with emotional issues, it is still a good idea to seek out the services of a professional counselor so that you can freely discuss any feelings of fear or anxiety that the attack has caused you to experience. Keep in mind that you will need to be able to move forward from any emotional ramifications if you wish to be able to continue your career as a social worker. Additionally, you should give yourself enough time to heal before you are faced with the task of working with clients again.

Unfortunately, many people have a legitimate workers’ compensation claim denied. If this happens to you, it is a good idea to retain an attorney who has experience dealing with similar cases. Keep in mind that each area has different workers’ compensation laws. Therefore, if your injury happens while you are employed in Charlotte, North Carolina, you should avoid hiring a lawyer who has not previously been involved in lawsuits in this city.

Knowing that so many professions come with dangerous situations, writer Nadine Swayne sheds light on this problem within the social worker sector. No one should ever be attacked while on the job, but if it does occur, there are personal and legal steps one must take to reclaim their safety and peace of mind.

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