“There were 4,764 fatal work injuries recorded in the United States in 2020”, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. As you may already know, accidents and injuries can happen at any job, but there are a few out there that are simply more dangerous in nature and have several risk factors. From long-haul truckers to working in the construction industry, here are just a few of the most dangerous careers out there.
While the Deepwater Horizon incident of 2010 is an excellent example of just how dangerous working on an oil rig can be, there are many more reasons as to why working in such a setting can be dangerous. Aside from explosions, workers are in an environment where other accidents, like crushed body parts, heavy machinery accidents, and equipment malfunctions are all a regular possibility — in addition to additional risks that come along with being surrounded by flammable substances.
To further highlight just how dangerous working in the general industry can be, during 2008—2017, 1,038 oil and gas extraction workers were killed on the job, resulting in an annual fatality rate of more than six times higher than the rate among all U.S. workers. Due to the many risks of working on a drilling rig and the nature of the job, a drilling rig accident law firm may need to come into play for those injured. Like with many dangerous jobs, the result of a severe injury that can lead to being unable to work again can make for a lengthy legal process.
Long haul truck drivers, or those who are on the road an average of 60 hours a week and drive more than 107,000 miles a year, are another of the most dangerous jobs out there. With the job taking place on the open road, most of the risks associated with such a position involve the aspects of driving, such as a lack of seatbelt use, harsh weather conditions, or the risks that come with driving for long stretches of time, like fatigue. In fact, 24% of drivers said they often continued to drive despite fatigue, bad weather, or heavy traffic, while an astounding 47% said they do so “sometimes,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). With the potential for collisions and even more risk involved should a trucker be carrying hazardous materials, there’s no question as to why this job can be so dangerous.
Those that work in construction are yet another one of the most dangerous jobs, and for several reasons, though the most common cause of fatal accidents is falling, slips, and trips. Additional risks include the nature of the job itself, with workers tasked with performing a variety of risky jobs, such as setting up scaffolding, though risks can also be found when it comes to things like noise, which can lead to a damaged hearing. And, with many construction laborers working in all weather conditions, risks like heat stroke also play a role in the risk factor as well. With a total of 259 fatal injuries in 2018 and 20,430 non-fatal injuries, the fatal injury rate for this job was 13 per 100,000 workers back in 2018.
While working with wild animals is an obvious choice for a career that can be quite dangerous, there are also dangers associated with much more common career options that one might not think much about. From construction workers to those who work on oil rigs, each position holds hidden dangers in the everyday risks associated with the nature of the job, making them some of the most overlooked dangerous career choices out there.