The Most Dangerous Jobs in America

When you go to work every day, no matter what you do for a living, there is a chance that you could be injured. While the job itself may not be particularly dangerous, you could slip on the way to the bathroom, you could be hit by the unexpected opening of a door, or your office chair could break, sending you sprawling to the floor. For some people, however, the risks of injury at work are much greater. Recently, a popular data analysis website took a look at the injury rates of more than five dozen occupations and compiled a list of America’s most dangerous jobs.

The analysis was conducted by a team at 24/7 Wall St., an internet company that creates original content regarding financial news and opinions. The researchers examined data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to calculate fatality and non-fatal injury rates per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers. Based on those rates, the three most hazardous jobs in the U.S. include:

1. Loggers: Workers in the logging industry spend virtually all of their time outdoors in remote areas, far from medical facilities. They also work with sharp, heavy machinery to bring down trees. The most common non-fatal injury among loggers is being hit by an object like a falling log or a branch. The fatal injury rate for loggers was 135.9 per 100,000 workers in 2016;
2. Commercial fishers: The Discovery Channel’s docu-series Deadliest Catch is called that for a reason. Workers on fishing vessels face extreme weather and extremely demanding physical labor, and while at sea, they do not have access to quality medical care. In 2016, 24 fishers were killed, putting the fatality rate at 86.0 per 100,000 workers.
3. Aircraft pilots and flight engineers: Those who spend their days on the flight deck of airplanes and helicopters are at more of risk for injury than most people realize. Pilots often work on inconsistent schedules and the demands of the job place them at risk for overexertion. The 2016 fatality rate for pilots and engineers was 55.5 per 100,000 workers.

While it is hardly surprising that loggers and commercial fishers face serious workplace dangers, there were a few entries on the list that may be a bit unexpected—or at least their position on the list. For example, groundskeepers—including landscapers and lawn care professionals—represented the 11th most dangerous occupation while taxi drivers and chauffeurs were 17th. Professional athletes, officials, and coaches were 20th on the list.

Regardless of how you make a living, an injury on the job can dramatically impact your life. Fortunately, you may have options for collecting compensation for your injuries. To learn more, contact an experienced San Jose workplace injury attorneys at Corsiglia McMahon & Allard, L.L.P. today. Call (408) 289-1417 for a free, no-obligation consultation.

• 25 Most Dangerous Jobs in America
• The Top 10 Most Dangerous Jobs in America