Every day in the United States, millions of men and women put themselves in harm’s way, all in a day’s work. While federal safety guidelines, employee training, and innovative protective gear have all reduced the risk to employees in dangerous professions in recent years, some jobs will always be risky. The following is a look at the top five most dangerous jobs in 2019 as reported by Newsweek.
Logging
Logging is essential for providing raw materials for paper, wood, and cardboard. Logging workers spend their days felling imposing trees and transporting logs offsite. According to Bureau of Labor Statistics data, logging results in an average of 135.9 fatalities for every 100,000 workers. The job is physically challenging and requires the use of dangerous machinery and falling trees. Contact with trees and equipment are the main causes of worker deaths.
Fishers and Fishing Related Jobs
These workers find, catch, and transport fish and other marine life. Working on the water, they are vulnerable to extreme weather conditions, such as fog and storms, transportation accidents, and equipment failures. Yet, most fishers die in drownings. The fatality rate for commercial fishing is 86 deaths per 100,000 workers.
Aircraft Pilots and Flight Engineers
Airplane pilots average around 75 fatal accidents every year, nearly all of them in aircraft crashes. This category includes pilots of all types of crafts from private planes to helicopters and commercial jets. Pilots do more than just fly planes. They communicate with air traffic control, monitor aircraft systems during flights, and make decisions to protect crew and passengers.
Roofing
Every year, an average of 100 roofers die, mainly in falls from heights, making this profession the fourth most dangerous job in 2019. Roofers carry shingles, tools, and other materials up and down ladders and spend hours at a time installing roofing materials off the ground. Slip and falls in this line of work can leave workers with catastrophic and sometimes fatal injuries.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors
Men and women who collect trash and recyclable materials provide a vital service to communities across the country. Yet, these jobs come with a significant risk. As the fifth most dangerous profession in 2019, refuse collection has a fatality rate of 34.1 per 100,000 workers. Most of these fatal accidents involve workers being hit by trucks or trucks colliding with other vehicles.
This is just a small glimpse into the many hazards workers face every day on the job. It is every employer’s responsibility to provide a safe work environment and minimize these risks that can have a devastating impact on their loved ones as well. In this country, most workers who are injured or become ill on the job are eligible to receive workers’ compensation benefits. This important form of financial compensation helps cover an injured individual’s medical bills and lost wages after a work accident.
Downingtown Workers’ Compensation Lawyers at Wusinich, Sweeney & Ryan, LLC Fight for Pennsylvania’s Injured Employees
If you were injured at work, the Downingtown workers’ compensation lawyers at Wusinich, Sweeney & Ryan, LLC help men and women in every sector recover benefits and damages after a preventable work accident. To learn more about our legal services, call 610-594-1600 or contact us online to schedule a free initial case review at your convenience. Based in Exton, Pennsylvania, we serve clients throughout Morgantown, Reading, Chester Springs Parkesburg, Uwchlan Township, Wagontown, Lyndell, Malvern, Phoenixville, Coatestville, West Chester, and Lancaster County.
