Employee Accident

Published

Here's the story of what happened to me this past Thursday. I work in a Pediatrician's office. I was reaching for a notebook that we pull out of a bookcase hung on the wall at least 5-6 times a day and the whole thing came out of the wall and came crashing down on top of me. It cut my hands, hurt my arm and hit me in the back of the head. I was holding my head and crying with the mess from the bookcase all around me. The Dr. I work with ran in and said "oh thank goodness it wasn't a patient!" and then had the nerve to ask me if a book hit me in the head. I told her "no, the book hit the floor the bookcase hit my head and my head hurts." She told me to take a tylenol. I told her I was leaving and going to employee health. My manager told me she thought I should go as well, being a bit more compassionate than the MD. The bookcase mind you is about 5 1/2 ft tall and about 5 ft in width full of stuff along with things stacked on top of it as well. I checked the wall to see what happened and the four large screws in the back had not been anchored into a beam or with the plastic anchors. There were also multiple holes in the wall where there had been numerous attempts to hang it. I went to employee health and the nurse checked me out. I have a contusion on the back of my head as well as bruising on my lower back and a sore right arm. The nurse told me to come back in the morning when the employee health MD is there. I saw the MD that works with employee health the next morning and he told me to ice my back and my head and if it's still bothering come back monday morning. The MD also requested a safety inspector go out to the office immediately to check for potential problems. I'm feeling better than yesterday but I'm still light headed and Ibuprofen isn't helping my head much. I may not even get paid for the time I had to take off because of something that wasn't my fault. The hospital said under state law you have to be out 21 days and even then they would only cover the first seven days. Then I was told it would have to come out of my PTO which I don't have enough of since I'm new. A nurse in employee health thought I should talk to my manager since it's ultimately up to her if I get paid or not. I talked to my manager on the phone and she said "I know nothing about that I'll have to talk with (MD in the office.)" I would hope they would if they care at all. I'm feeling irritated with the whole situation and how it was handled at my office. Just needed to vent a bit. Any advice on how to handle this situation?

I hope that one day, when the doc injures HERSELF, you can be there to say "Oh. Thank Goodness its not a patient" and turn your back on her.

Sorry, but I do have a little vindictive streak in me. That doc needs to learn a little compassion and maybe a touch of humility.

Don't forget to add, "Why don't you take a Tylenol?"

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Specializes in ICU-Stepdown.
Don't forget to add, "Why don't you take a Tylenol?"

Hehehehehe. Tazzi, you're MY kinda people!

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Specializes in ER Occ Health Urgent Care.

work comp for "most" states makes a partial payment after 7 days of lost time and full payment after 10-14 days lost time ful payment is generally 80% of your wages medical bills are to be paid 100% from day 1. OSHA will fine them for not fixing a known hazard and from the holes on the wall it is a know hazard also if there is a standard requiring it to be secured then that would be a violation also but I don't know if there is a standard for that. hope this help and you fell better soon!

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Hehehehehe. Tazzi, you're MY kinda people!

*high five*

Sometimes my mouth gets me in trubble, but oh! it can be so much fun! :lol2:

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If you're planning on hiring a lawyer and going that route, definitely take pictures of the bookcase and (if possible) pictures of the screws/holes where it was improperly mounted on the wall. If your employer did not take the necessary precautions to make sure that the bookcase was safe and properly secured, then they SHOULD be responsible for what happened to you.

I'm sorry they didn't have more sympathy for you - hope you feel better soon.

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Wow-sorry for your obvious lack of an employer.:angryfire However, I have two words for you:

NURSING SHORTAGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:rotfl:

As soon as you make them set things right, move right on out of there.

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The ignorant ejaculation of the physician alone is enough reason to GET A LAWYER. Worker's comp or not, GET A LAWYER.

Shoddy workmanship, doctor's totally non-caring statement, manager's lie and attempt to intimidate you by mentioning no pay for 21 days - (she knows the law, trust me, she knows) - all of this adds up to you have to look out for your own best interest. Forget loyalty to an employer, forget warm fuzzies and not wanting to make waves. They are not loyal to you and you needn't be to them, either.

Make it known to that idiot doctor that her statement about it not being a patient hurt your feelings and shocked you. Then get a lawyer.

Didn't the stupid cow even offer to help you up or help clean up the mess?

Definitely take pictures STAT and get written statements.

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