Much of popular culture would have you believe that law enforcement is the most dangerous occupation in the United States. Shows like “Cops” and “The First 48” rely on creating a sense of danger to keep viewers watching. But research has shown time and time again that the occupations with the highest risk of death are not always the ones we see on television. In this blog we talk about the most dangerous occupations in the United States.
According to a study from the Washington Post, the following occupations carry the biggest risk of death:
- Logging Work
- Fishing Work
- Pilots & Flight Engineers
- Extraction Work
- Roofing
- Recyclable Material Collectors
- Mining Equipment Operators
- Commercial Truck Drivers
- Farmers & Agricultural Workers
- Electrical Power-Line Installers
- Construction Work
- Taxi Drivers & Chauffeurs
- Maintenance & Repair Work
- Grounds Maintenance Workers
- Police & Law Enforcement
- Painters
- Athletes
- Fire Fighters
- Electricians
- Bus & Truck Mechanics
The data above comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and shows that occupations that require interactions with heavy or dangerous machinery are the most deadly for workers. Additionally, transportation accidents accounted for 40 percent of all work-related deaths. Other major causes of death among workers include falls (13%), being struck by an object (11%), and homicides (9%).
Occupations that require workers to frequently interact with the public are more likely to see workers be killed by another person while on the job. Research has shown that workers who have odd hours, who work alone, or who handle cash are more likely to be attacked and killed on the job. This risk increases when their work takes them to neighborhoods where crime is abundant.
Were you injured while you were at work? Contact our San Antonio workers’ compensation attorney to request your case consultation today.