Philips ConnorThe most dangerous jobs in the US are those that can cause physical or mental harm. They are tough jobs but someone has to do them. Tough jobs like these require special safety equipment and protocols which take away some of the danger.
Working without them exposes the worker to additional risk, which could spiral out of control, causing grievous harm. Interestingly, this list can vary greatly from country to country; there is a lot of cultural impact, and jobs which are deemed dangerous in one region may not be so dangerous in other places.
This list is centered on the united states; it highlights the jobs that come with the highest amount of risk in that country.
Most Dangerous Jobs In The US
Here are some of the most dangerous jobs in the U.S., based on fatal injury rates per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), particularly from their most recent Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries:
1. Logging Workers
Logging Workers are also called Lumberjacks. They have the task of going into the woods and forests, to cut down trees for the timber industry. They sometimes go into very thick forests, and face dangers from the terrain, wildlife, and even their equipment.
Logging workers use mechanical equipment to harvest trees. The equipment can be handheld equipment or large machinery. Other workers inspect, grade, or estimate the market value of harvested trees. Their work supports consumer and industrial products.
Fatal injury rate: ~82 per 100,000
Dangers: Falling trees, heavy machinery, remote locations, unpredictable terrain.
2. Fishing and Hunting Workers
Fishing and Hunting Workers are individuals who are involved in catching and trapping animals for various purposes, such as food, animal feed, bait, and other uses. This includes activities like fishing, trapping, and hunting, with some relying on boats and others on land-based techniques. They often need navigation skills, knowledge of animal habitats, and an understanding of climate and weather patterns to locate and capture their target species.
Their work is dangerous because they may encounter wildlife, they may face bad weather on the open water.
Fatal injury rate: ~75 per 100,000
Dangers: Harsh weather, drowning, equipment accidents, isolation.
3. Roofers
Roofers are tradespeople who specialize in constructing, repairing, and maintaining roofs on buildings. They use various materials like shingles, metal, and tiles to ensure roofs are durable and weatherproof. Roofers can be residential or commercial, focusing on sloped or flat roofs, respectively.
Fatal injury rate: ~60 per 100,000
Dangers: Falls from heights, heat stroke, power tools, slippery surfaces.
4. Aircraft Pilots and Flight Engineers
Aircraft pilots, also known as aviators, are individuals trained and certified to operate and navigate aircraft. They are responsible for the safe and efficient transportation of passengers, cargo, or both, utilizing their skills in flight controls, navigation, and emergency procedure.
Fatal injury rate: ~48 per 100,000
Dangers: Small aircraft crashes, bad weather, mechanical failure (especially in non-commercial flights).
5. Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors
Refuse and recyclable material collectors, often referred to as garbage collectors or waste management workers, are individuals who play a crucial role in waste management and sanitation. They are responsible for collecting and transporting both refuse (discarded materials) and recyclable materials (like paper, plastic, and metal) from residential and commercial locations.
This involves physically handling waste materials, operating collection vehicles, and ensuring proper disposal or reuse of discarded items.
Fatal injury rate: ~35 per 100,000
Dangers: Traffic accidents, heavy machinery, exposure to hazardous materials.
6. Structural Iron and Steel Workers
Ironworkers install structural and reinforcing iron and steel to form and support buildings, bridges, and roads. Duties Ironworkers typically do the following: Read and follow blueprints, sketches, and other instructions.
Fatal injury rate: ~32 per 100,000
Dangers: Heights, heavy materials, welding and cutting tools.
7. Truck Drivers and Delivery Drivers
Truck drivers and delivery drivers both involve transporting goods, but with key differences. Truck drivers typically handle larger vehicles and longer distances, often hauling goods between manufacturing plants, distribution centers, and businesses.
Delivery drivers, on the other hand, use smaller vehicles like vans or cars to deliver packages or goods to individual customers, often within a specific region.
They are essential workers; we need them to keep our supermarkets and malls supplied. However, they work with substantial risks.
Fatal injury rate: ~28 per 100,000
Dangers: Road accidents, long hours, fatigue, inclement weather.
8. Farmers, Ranchers, and Agricultural Managers
Farmers are individuals who are involved in agriculture, typically by raising crops, livestock, or both, for food and other resources. They may own and operate a farm, or work as laborers on farms owned by others. Essentially, farmers are the people who cultivate land and/or raise animals, providing the food and raw materials that society relies on.
A rancher is someone who owns or operates a ranch, which is a large farm used primarily for raising livestock like cattle, sheep, or horses. They are responsible for managing the land and resources, as well as caring for the animals, including feeding, watering, and protecting them.
A farm manager is a professional who is responsible for the overall management and operation of a farm, whether it’s a crop farm, livestock farm, or a combination of both. They oversee the day-to-day activities, make business decisions, manage staff, and ensure the farm operates efficiently and profitably, according to a job description
Fatal injury rate: ~24 per 100,000
Dangers: Tractor rollovers, heavy machinery, animal injuries.
9. Construction Workers (General)
Construction workers are individuals who engage in the manual labor aspects of building and constructing various structures. Their work often involves physically building, digging, lifting heavy materials, and operating construction equipment.
They perform tasks like digging foundations, erecting scaffolding, and handling building materials, and they use Operating Equipment like trench rammers, drills, and pneumatic hammers.
Fatal injury rate: Varies by specialty, often high
Dangers: Falls, equipment accidents, electrocution, collapsing structures.
10. Grounds Maintenance Workers
Grounds Maintenance Workers are individuals who care for the exterior areas of properties, ensuring they are attractive, tidy, and healthy. They perform a variety of tasks to maintain lawns, gardens, and other outdoor spaces, and may work for local authorities, stadiums, private estates, businesses, or as part of a larger grounds maintenance teams.
Fatal injury rate: ~20 per 100,000
Dangers: Equipment accidents, heat exposure, pesticide exposure.
Other very dangerous jobs include:
11. Derrick operators in oil, gas, and mining
Type of Work: Derrick, rotary drill, and service unit operators, oil, gas, and mining
Fatal injury rate: 46 per 100,000 workers
12. Firefighting supervisors
Type of Work: First-line supervisors of fire fighting and prevention workers
Fatal injury rate: 20 per 100,000 workers
13. Power linemen
Type of Work: Electrical power-line installers and repairers
Fatal injury rate: 20 per 100,000 workers
12. Crossing guards
Fatal injury rate: 19 per 100,000 workers
13. Crane operators
Type of Work: Crane and tower operators
Fatal injury rate: 19 per 100,000 workers
14. Construction helpers
Type of Work: Helpers, construction trades
Fatal injury rate: 18 per 100,000 workers
15. Landscaping supervisors
Type of Work: First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers
Fatal injury rate: 18 per 100,000 workers
16. Highway maintenance workers
Fatal injury rate: 18 per 100,000 workers
17. Cement masons
Type of Work: Cement masons, concrete finishers, and terrazzo workers
Fatal injury rate: 17 per 100,000 workers
18. Small engine mechanics
Fatal injury rate: 15 per 100,000 workers
19. Supervisors of mechanics
Type of Work: First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
Fatal injury rate: 15 per 100,000 workers
20. Heavy vehicle mechanics
Type of Work: Heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians and mechanics
Fatal injury rate: 14 per 100,000 workers
22. Police officers
Type of Work: Police and sheriff’s patrol officers
Fatal injury rate: 14 per 100,000 workers
23. Maintenance workers
Type of Work: Maintenance and repair workers, general
Fatal injury rate: 14 per 100,000 workers
24. Construction workers
Type of Work: Construction laborers
Fatal injury rate: 13 per 100,000 workers
25. Mining machine operators
Fatal injury rate: 11 per 100,000 workers
Summary
The most dangerous jobs in the USA are mostly important jobs; otherwise nobody would do them. These jobs often pay quite well, and offer generous compensations for injuries. Furthermore, there are always studies and research projects aimed at reducing the occurrence of accidents on these jobs.