Most Dangerous Occupations in the us
Each year theBureau of Labor Statisticspublishes data on the number of workers who were killed on the job in the prior year. They report the actual number of fatalities and number of deaths per 100,000 full time workers (100k), calculated using total hours worked. Every year the numbers change somewhat, but there are jobs that show up at the top of the list time after time.
In 2008, more than 5,000 people died on the job in the United States. Two-fifths of all deaths involved transportation incidents, regardless of the profession. If you get behind the wheel for your employer, statistically, you have a much greater risk of death or injury.
The most dangerous type of work in 2008 was in the fishing industry (128 deaths/100k). In addition to transportation incidents, distance from medical facilities and extreme weather contribute to the risks for these workers. To put this number in perspective, deaths in most professions involving office work occur at less than one per 100,000.
Professions involving heavy equipment can often be very dangerous. Loggers (120 deaths/100k) and structural iron and steel workers (47 deaths/100k) are two of the most hazardous jobs. Deaths are most commonly associated with equipment malfunctions or heavy materials handling.
Two of the most dangerous professions that are directly involved in transportation are commercial truck/sales drivers (24 deaths/100k) and taxi drivers (19 deaths/100k). Deaths in these occupations accounted for nearly one fifth of the total fatalities for the year. For taxi drivers, the most common cause of death was assaults and violent acts.
Other dangerous professions for which transportation incidents are the most common cause of death include airplane pilots and flight engineers (73 deaths /100k), farmers and ranchers (40 deaths/100k), and refuse and recycling collectors (36 deaths/100k). Farmers and refuse collectors are dealing with heavy machinery as well as being on the road.
Construction laborers (16 deaths/100k) and roofers (34 deaths/100k) are two dangerous occupations where deaths most often result from falls. The construction industry as a whole accounts for almost twenty percent of the recorded fatalities for 2008. These workers can also be subject to heat exhaustion or heat stroke from long hours in the hot sun.
Electrical power-line workers (30 deaths/100k) are handling deadly electrical currents, sometimes at significant elevations above the ground.
All of these occupations carry significantly greater risk than sitting behind a desk, but there is some good news. Workplace fatalities have declined for the last two years. The number of deaths from transportation incidents and falls were down in 2008 compared to 2007. Fatalities in the construction industry declined by twenty percent in 2008 compared to 2007.
Regardless of the industry, it’s possible to minimize the risk for death or injury. Always use recommended safety equipment and procedures. Sometimes it takes extra time and effort, but it could keep you out of these statistics.
