Workplace injuries can happen to anyone, but there are some industries that are inherently more dangerous than others. Employees who work with heavy equipment or are tasked with intense manual labor often suffer workplace injuries, but which industry is the most dangerous? Below we look at the 10 most dangerous jobs in America and explain what puts these workers at such high risks.
Fishermen
Deep-sea fishermen expose themselves to intense risks every day. Not only are they exposed to heavy equipment and sharp hooks, but one big wave can send them over the side of the boat. They also lack the ability to get to a medical facility to treat injuries if they are far out at sea.
Logging Workers
Logging workers suffer numerous injuries in their line of work as they are constantly moving heavy logs. The top injury for workers across any industry is overexertion, and overexertion injuries occur when someone lifts, twists, or moves in an awkward way. Loggers often suffer overexertion injuries when moving logs, but they are also subject to limb injuries if they are involved in the cutting process.
Flight Engineers and Pilots
Much like the above jobs, flight engineers work with heavy machinery on a daily basis. Both flight engineers and pilots subject themselves to danger when testing large equipment. Pilots also run the risk of being in an airplane crash.
Farmers and Ranchers
Farmers work with huge machinery year-round while tending their crops and animals, and they often try to fix their broken equipment on their own. Accidents with tractors or combines are not uncommon. They are also subject to overexertion injuries.
Mining Machine Operators
Mining machine operators also work with heavy equipment, but they are exposed to a different set of deadly forces. Machine operators work with hazardous chemicals, some of which are highly flammable. Fires or overexposure to toxic chemicals can occur if precautions aren’t taken.
Roofers
Roofers put themselves in danger every time they go to work. Roofers work at high heights, and one wrong step can send them tumbling. They are also exposed to high temperatures during the summer, which can lead to heatstroke and exhaustion. Neither is ideal, especially when you’re 50+ feet in the air.
Garbage Collectors
Sanitation workers have a variety of conditions that make their job unsafe. They work with heavy compactors that can crush limbs if they get caught in a machine, and constant lifting and twisting can lead to overexertion injuries. Often, garbage collectors ride on the side or back of a moving vehicle, which can be extremely dangerous if they slip or lose their grip.
Truck Drivers
Truck drivers often drive long hours in some of the worst weather conditions. They drive through the night to get materials from one place to another, and this puts them in danger of fatigue. If they were to fall asleep at the wheel, a deadly