Certified Healthcare Safety Professional (CHSP) Practice Exam

What injury type generally leads to the most lost time in healthcare settings?

1. Cuts and lacerations

2. Strains and sprains

3. Fractures

4. Burns

The correct answer is: Strains and sprains

Strains and sprains are the injury types that typically lead to the most lost time in healthcare settings due to their prevalence and impact on workers' ability to perform their duties. These injuries often occur from activities involving lifting, transferring patients, or repetitive motions, which are common in healthcare environments. When employees experience strains or sprains, they may require extended periods of recovery, rehabilitation, or physical therapy, resulting in significant time away from work. This can affect staffing levels and place additional burdens on colleagues. The nature of these injuries often involves soft tissue damage, which can be unpredictable and may not fully resolve without adequate time and care, further prolonging the associated lost work time. While cuts, lacerations, fractures, and burns can also result in lost time, they generally do not lead to as many lost workdays as strains and sprains. In many cases, these other injuries might be less frequent, less severe concerning recovery time, or more manageable for employees to return to work more quickly with appropriate first-aid measures. Therefore, focusing on ergonomics, patient handling techniques, and staff training is crucial in reducing the risk of strains and sprains in the healthcare workforce.