Could your job be killing you? A look at the most dangerous careers

May 5, 2020

Published 11/24/2019 9:49 PM CST
Updated 05/05/2020 10:00 AM CDT

The vast majority of today’s jobs are completely safe. More people are working in offices than ever before, and business security has only gotten better over the years, making it hard to find excitement or danger when you embark on your daily grind. Of course, though, there are still plenty of roles that come with some sort of risk. While many of these jobs are relatively unseen by the wider population, they still have to be done. Those putting their lives on the line often get the raw end of the deal. But, what exactly are the most dangerous jobs in the modern US market?

Fishing
People have been living off of the ocean for thousands of years, with this vast resource providing countless souls with the food and income they need to survive since long before civilizations started popping up. While this seems like a tame job, those venturing to the deepest parts of the ocean are at great risk. In 2019, the death rate for deep-sea fishermen was higher than you might expect, at 86 per 100,000 workers. This has opened up a market for maritime accident attorneys who offer premier legal representation to those who get injured while they do their work at sea, and are lucky enough not to be killed by this profession.

Roofing
It’s time to think about a job much closer to home, with most people having dealt with professionals like this at some point in their lives. Roofers have to spend much of their career working over high drops in all sorts of weather conditions. It’s no surprise that 100+ people die each year, with the majority of deaths resulting from a fall. Many end up suffering from life-altering injuries. This can be enough to make it impossible for someone to continue in their trade. It is essential that you pay very close attention to the required safety measures – including wearing a safety harness every single time you are working at height.

Logging
Like fishing, collecting wood is something that people have been doing for an extremely long time. While the most basic human tools cut wood, it is not quite on the scale seen in the industry today. In the US, more than 130 out of 100,000 lumberjacks die each year while doing their jobs. This is due to a combination of trees falling in unexpected places. Other reasons include drowning during water transport of logs and complications from the bulky tools they carry. This is arguably the most dangerous job in the US, making it hard for businesses to find employees.

Commercial diving
Most people are blessed with the opportunity to work in an environment that is relatively stress-free. You have plenty of space. You don’t work with potentially hazardous tools, and can breathe freely without the help of a mask. These aren’t luxuries that commercial divers get to enjoy, especially when their role involves engineering. People drown, suffer blunt-force trauma, and can even find themselves exposed to chemicals. Of course, though, the job itself doesn’t have to kill you. Suffering a medical emergency in a place with next to no communication could be enough to do the job.

Waste collection
People are often surprised to see the high salary waste collection workers will get. You’d be right in thinking that there is more to the pay these professionals get. The job doesn’t require prior experience or a college degree. The job is dangerous, with around 34 dying each year for a multitude of reasons. Having to move around busy roads and heavy machines plays a big role, with a lot of waste collection workers simply getting run over. Alongside this, though, there is also the risk of suffering harm by something in the waste they are handling.

There are a lot of dangerous jobs in the world, and this article is barely scratching the surface. Working in an office can be risky, though, with their own set of hazards. Wires, such as extension cords or Ethernet cables, in the open, could be tripped over. Long working hours can result in severe fatigue. There’s also having to appease difficult bosses. This doesn’t mean that you should spend each day worrying about your role. Many people throughout the world simply grit their teeth and carry on when it comes to a day at work. It’s worth remembering that the US has strict work standards. Moreover, this makes it hard for employers to treat their teams badly.