An initial evaluation of staff injuries in human service organizations

Abstract

Recent data reveal an increase in the likelihood of staff injury for those working in the health care and social assistance industries (United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2021). Without information summarizing variables pertaining to staff injury in behavior-analytic service settings, organizational leaders risk the safety of staff they employ. Despite the social relevance, few studies concerning the types of client-related staff injuries have been published. The purpose of this survey was to gather data on the cause, type, bodily location of, and treatment required for staff injury by surveying organizations that serve individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Respondents ranked the leading cause of injury as client-to-staff interactions, type of injury as bite, location of injury as arm, and the most common treatment required as on-site first aid. These initial data could assist in the identification of job tasks that may be associated with increased risk of injury, potential ramifications of client-inflicted injuries on staff performance and organizational outcomes, and how to address injuries in settings within an injury-prone industry. Implications and future research ideas are also discussed.