In the spirit of the Thanksgiving season, here’s a reason to be thankful: hopefully you aren’t working in any one of these ten most dangerous jobs in America.
Compiled annually by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) the list for 2011 was recently released (it is compiled from 2010 figures). This list is formally from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CF0I), part of the BLS Occupational Safety and Health Statistics (OSHS) program, and compiles a list of all fatal accidents during the calendar year.
Some analysts and others quibble with this list as it ranks solely by fatalities, and doesn’t include, for example, workplace injuries or stress that leads to a shorter lifespan (admittedly, this last would be hard to measure but I think we all would know these jobs when we see them!). And also, typical of the BLS, there are some weird job classifications.
But methodology aside, these are jobs I’m glad I don’t have.
The good news is that fatalities in the workplace are down over previous years. The bad news is that in part that is attributed to rising unemployment.
Here’s the countdown!
10. Driver/Sales Workers and Truck Drivers
9. Refuse and Recycling Collectors
8. Roofers
7. Mining machine operators
6. Coal miners
5. Farmers and Ranchers
4. Miscellaneous Extraction Workers (these workers examine and inspect equipment, construction sites and work in progress, often at heavy-construction projects)
3. Pilots and Flight Engineers (this includes test pilots and rescue aircraft)
2. Logging Workers
1. Fish-Related Workers (anyone who has seen Deadliest Catch can relate to this one)
Looking at this list, it’s obvious that environment plays a big role in the dangerous nature of most of these jobs. And many of these jobs are inherently risky.
Let’s all hope for a safe holiday season – and beyond – for these workers.
Thoughts? Please email me at Jeff@Staffingtalk.com.
{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
Why is it that these jobs are dangerous? What about seasonal people who put up Christmas lights?? Liability central!
Hot debate. What do you think?
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Oh Wow, Seriously These Are Dangerous Jobs .. ?
Hah .
Yeah Right .
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But Hey, Only Some Of These Jobs Look Dangerous .
If You Think About It ..
I Guess ..
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lol..I’m a logger for life..untill it kills me…don’t laugh untill you actually know the facts
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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what about the cherry picker?
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what about road crews my boyfriend has almost been ran over numerous times the machinary is awful and he comes home with rediculous burns all the time.
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Almost only counts in Horse Shoes and Improvised Explosive Devices.
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some of these jobs are not dangerous unless your a person that cant focus even on other peoples mistakes
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how people laugh when they know nothing…logging was actually no 1 for 100 years before crab fisherman came about….you have to go base jumping for kicks, I go to work!
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Working on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier is a a very dangerous job. I know, I did it..
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I was V-2, USS Enterprise (Flight Deck), Spent 2 winters at Ben Thomas (Logging camp in Kodiak, AK), and a decade fishing Crab and Cod in the Bering Sea. Yes, all plenty dangerous, but I really don’t think any compare to the Bering Sea.
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bandet fishing thats what i do fishing in the gulf and it is my way of life and think you for letting them know fishing is the most dangers job in the world
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funny hw truckers on here but no love for meat packers or anitation crews read fast food nation . Show all you white people what a real job is
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Interesting that firefighters or stuntmen aren’t there. I guess some jobs seem more dangerous then they really are….
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Hey Steve, I’m with you. I was surprised that firefighters weren’t on the list either.
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its because 70% of line of duty deaths for firefighters are volunteers only about 30 or so career firefighters die in LODD. im a volly and consider it my job but the gov doesnt say being a volly is a job
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Funny the people saying these aren’t dangerous jobs are probably at there desk at work right now surfin the net really they are all dangerous jobs on here…some one fuckin up on one of these jobs could cost some one else there life..I’ve seen it first hand
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tow truck driver should be on there
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what about the infantry
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