What are the Most Dangerous Jobs?

Many of us know people employed in very challenging work environments. Those in the manufacturing industry are constantly working with machines that could cause serious injuries if not used properly. Construction accidents are common at worksites because of the difficulty in getting all workers at the job site on the same page. Police and firefighters are constantly exposed to danger as a routine part of their job.

However, a recent report into the deadliest U.S. occupations showed some surprising results at the top of the list. The report, by eTraining, a workplace safety corporation, examined Bureau of Labor statistics to learn both the number of deaths that occurred in certain occupations, as well as the rate per 100,000 workers in any given field.

According to the list, 4 in 10 workplace fatalities resulted due to transportation accidents. This amounts to nearly 700 workers across the United States. Most of these individuals were employed as truck drivers or sales representatives. Assault and violence was second on the list, with 18 percent of fatalities.

Occupations that had fewer people working in the industry led the deaths per 100,000 workers list. The fishing industry led in this category, with 116 deaths per 100,000 workers. Loggers were second, with 91.9 per 100,000.

This report underscores the dangers for everyone in the workforce, especially for those that spend a lot of time driving as part of their job duties. Despite the number of workplace fatalities continuing to decrease, one death is still one too many. By learning where some of the trouble spots are, officials may be able to help develop policies and procedures that can cut down on the numbers of deaths occurring.

Source: Los Angeles Times “Safe at work? Deadliest jobs involve driving” Tiffany Hsu, August 23, 2012.