Even the most everyday kind of jobs, like working in an office, can sometimes result in injury to employees as accidents can happen anywhere. However, the average career is relatively safe.
But, some occupations pose more health and safety risks. These occupations might deal with heavy machinery or involve people working directly with the public.
However, the most hazardous jobs might surprise you when looking at the data on workplace injuries. Here are the most dangerous jobs, according to statistical information from 2021.
Overview Of Workplace Injuries
The Bureau of Labor Statistics released and updated their data on workplace injuries in the winter of 2021, so the information is very recent. It’s the most up-to-date information available.
According to these findings, there were 4,764 fatalities from work injuries in 2020. This was a 10.7 percent decline from the year 2019. Overall, 3.5 per 100,000 die from occupational injuries.
There are also some overall insightful trends based on demographics. Notably, women made up 8.1% of all deaths, but they were 16 percent of all workplace homicides. Also, Hispanic and Latino workers saw an increase in workplace injuries from around 20 percent to 22.5 percent.
As far as the most common kinds of fatal injuries, the majority were transportation-related, followed by falls, slips and trips, and animal or human-related violence. Overall, this shows that many on-the-job fatalities happen because of car accidents, and the more time someone spends in a vehicle for their job, the more the risk of an accident increases.
The Most Dangerous Jobs
Getting a completely accurate rating is tricky because there are various ways to calculate the most dangerous career. Some lists look solely at fatalities per 100,000 workers, while others also factor in the number of injuries that don’t lead to death.
But, the list below is consistent with findings and gives a solid overview of the top ten dangerous jobs. While some other lists rearrange the placement, the top ten usually remain the same.
These jobs are:
- Fishing and hunting workers such as fishermen and women
- Logging workers
- Roofers
- Construction trade laborers and helpers
- Pilots and aircraft engineers
- Sanitation workers that collect garbage and recyclables
- Iron and steel workers
- Truck drivers and other drivers
- Mining machine workers
- Farmers and ranchers
For a list that takes a slightly different approach to the data, you can check out this one. The list above might be surprising to people, as it’s easy to jump to jobs such as police officers or firefighters. But, as many workplace injuries and fatalities occur while doing more mundane things like driving or walking, it makes sense.
Some jobs, such as construction, also involve working with heavy machinery or climbing ladders, which can be dangerous.
What Happens If You’re Injured At Work?
Depending on the state you live in and your occupation, there are different regulations and laws related to workplace safety. If you’re injured because your company was negligent, this is when you may have a workers’ compensation case.
But, when it comes to injuries that happened due to a complete accident or because you broke a rule, things can be a bit trickier. It’s usually best to talk to a lawyer in your state who knows more about the specifics.
Another vital resource is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, commonly known as OSHA. This regulatory agency is part of the U.S. Department of Labor. Their website contains information about workplace safety and workers’ rights. It’s a good idea to read over this information if you have questions.
