Most jobs involve an inherent risk of injury or even death. Every day people, whether they are driving a car or handling heavy machinery, put their lives at risk to perform their jobs. But there are certainly some jobs that are more dangerous than others. These jobs normally involve a real risk of a fatal accident. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, there were a total of 5,250 workplace deaths in 2019, which represents the largest annual increase since 2007. Fatalities among workers aged 55 or over increased to 2,005 in 2019, up from the 1,863 in 2018 and workplace suicides increased slightly to 307.
Employers actively seek to guard themselves from the potential liability of these dangerous jobs. As such, they must do everything in their power to provide a safe work environment. An injured worker may have the opportunity to bring a claim against an employer who fails to shield itself from liability, especially for dangerous jobs. Here is a list of the most dangerous jobs in America, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics:
1. Logging Workers
Fatal injuries per 100,000 full-time workers: 97.6
Total fatal injuries: 74
Number of workers: 53,600
Most common fatal accidents: Contact with objects and equipment
Logging workers are tasked with cutting down, processing, and transporting trees for logging purposes. To do so, they use heavy machinery to fell trees and handle logs. Most of the injuries or deaths stem from a contact with the heavy-duty machines or power tools or by being struck with a log or a falling tree. The rate of fatal accidents in the logging industry is about 28 times higher than the average job nationwide.
2. Fishing and Hunting Workers
Fatal injuries per 100,000 full-time workers: 77.4
Total fatal injuries: 30
Number of workers: 520
Most common fatal accidents: Transportation incidents
Fishing and related fishing workers are responsible for catching and sorting fish. This job includes the use of equipment to track fish and navigate in the water, as well as fishing gear. The most common causes of fatal injuries in the fishing industry include hazardous weather, drowning, shipwrecks, falls on slippery decks, and malfunctioning gear.
3. Aircraft Pilots and Flight Engineers
Fatal injuries per 100,000 full-time workers: 58.9
Total fatal injuries: 70
Number of workers: 84,070
Most common fatal accidents: Transportation incidents
Pilots fly planes, helicopters, and other types of aircrafts. They make sure that these aircrafts are in optimal conditions for traveling. Most commercial pilots suffer from irregular sleep schedules and continuous jetlag, which are common reasons for fatal aircraft accidents. While commercial flights have their own risk, most incidents occur in the private sector.
4. Roofers
Fatal injuries per 100,000 full-time workers: 51.5
Total fatal injuries: 96
Number of workers: 160,600
Most common fatal accidents: Falls, slips, and trips
Roofers are responsible for installing and repairing roofs. This job entails taking roofing materials, such as shingles, and attaching them onto the roofs. Roofers spend most of their time climbing ladders and standing on top of steep roofs, often in hazardous weather. The most common type of fatal accidents suffered by roofers include falling off roofs, sometimes even multiple stories above ground.
5. Refuse and Recyclable Materials Collectors
Fatal injuries per 100,000 full-time workers: 44.3
Total fatal injuries: 37
Number of workers: 115,130
Most common fatal accidents: Transportation incidents
Refuse and recyclable material collectors handle the trash and recycling in a daily basis. They drive around in a truck throughout neighborhoods and collect garbage bins filled with trash which gets dumped into the truck. Most of the accidents and fatal injuries involved in this job are caused by a worker or an innocent bystander getting struck by the garbage truck, or by an accident with another vehicle.
The attorneys at Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner have decades of experience, and have handled thousands of cases dealing with workplace injuries and deaths. If you or a loved one has been injured in a workplace accident, call us today at 713-742-6016 or 1-888-229-5588 for a free consultation.