Most Dangerous Jobs in the USA

A great majority of people complain on a day in and day out basis about having to go to work. Something about sitting behind a desk all day or waiting on customers just seems to bother most people. These jobs are considered boring and tedious, but when considered alongside other potential careers, it actually becomes painfully obvious that flipping burgers may not be so bad. People should thank their lucky stars everyday if they don’t have one of the most dangerous jobs in the country.

• Fishermen - The fatality rate of fishermen is exceptionally high, especially considering the fact that most make less than thirty thousand dollars a year. Rogue waves, dangerous fish, severe weather and even getting tangled in lines are all parts of a fisherman’s job that could lead to his downfall. Safety classes are provided which will reduce the chances of accidents.

• Construction Worker - Danger is ingrained in the job of a construction worker. They often work at great heights and never have a tether or net below to save them if they slip. It is important for these workers to wear all necessary safety equipment and pay attention to what is going on around them. Even though these jobs are innately dangerous, it is still the job of the employer to warn all of their workers if some specific dangerous condition exists.

• Roofer - Roofing is a job that carries a high likelihood of being injured. Unfortunately for roofers, it also has a high fatality rate when compared to other jobs. The leading cause of death for roofers on the job is falling from the roofs of the dwellings they’re working on. Roofers should wear the right boots and use the correct equipment to avoid accidental falls.

• Storm Chaser - It is absolutely no surprise that chasing after funnel clouds isn’t considered the safest job in America. Storm chasers can easily meet their demise from dangerous debris in the air, lightning strikes, flooding and not to mention, tornadoes. Storm chasers can prevent an untimely demise by knowing when to pack it in for the day.

• Police Officer - Unfortunately, the men and women who are paid to protect us everyday have a higher than normal risk of dying on the job. Homicides are one obvious reason that police officers meet their end, but most officer deaths are actually caused by highway accidents. Luckily, the men and women in blue are provided all of the training they need to help them survive.

• MMA Fighter - While mixed martial artists don’t die fighting in the ring every day, they still participate in a dangerous and grueling sport. It is easy to realize why this job is so dangerous: the workday isn’t over until someone is unconscious. Probably the only way to prevent injury in this industry is to call in sick.

• Logger - It is hard for people at home watching loggers on reality television to understand how dangerous the job really is. Loggers face high altitudes, bad weather and dangerous heavy machinery on a daily basis in their line of work.

• Farming and Ranching - Farmers and ranchers have existed for thousands of years, but modern technology has done little to make their jobs any safer. In fact, it is possible that technology has made the work more dangerous. Farmers face long days in sometimes intense heat which can be very dangerous. The bulk of their injuries, however, come from constant work with heavy equipment and machinery.

• Miners - It is not hard to imagine mining being a dangerous job; especially after the recent mine collapse in Chile that trapped several miners below ground for nearly seventy days. Miners work around explosives, heavy machinery and closed-in environments that have the ability to collapse onto their heads.

• Garbage Collectors - Many people wouldn’t think of garbage collection as a dangerous job, but they would be wrong. This job actually ranks seventh in the top ten list of jobs that cause employee deaths. The danger involved in this line of work is related mostly to transportation accidents. Some of these can be avoided by simply following traffic laws.

• Bull Riding - This is another job that doesn’t see an extreme amount of fatalities, but the risk of injury and death is always there. These rodeo professionals face off against an angry twenty-five hundred pound monster every time they go to their ‘office’. Once again, the best way to stay safe in this line of work is to call in.

• Stuntman - A stuntman’s job is literally to take on danger that other people are afraid to face. Working long hours provides a measure of risk to these daredevils, but the obvious danger comes from the stunts that they perform. They are literally hired to do things that people already know could kill them.

These jobs are more difficult and demanding than most of our jobs, but according to construction injury attorney David Perecman, these workers still have be the right to be protected from known hazards by their employers.  In fact, all employers must provide a workplace free from serious hazards and each industry has specific safety and health standards they must follow. Although there are regulations, statutes, ordinances and tough industry standards, these workers still suffer serious injuries at an alarming rate.

It’s a fact: many people hate their jobs. Once they understand how dangerous some other jobs are, however, they may just be thankful for their next boring day at the office.

Shelby Warden is a legal researcher who contributes articles for New York’s construction injury attorney David Perecman. If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of an accident at a construction site, any number of parties may be liable so it is important to speak to an attorney as soon as possible. The attorneys at the Perecman Law Firm are experienced in handling construction accident injury cases and will fight to protect your rights.