Getting an injury or illness at work is an unfortunate risk for any industry. A severe accident or sickness at work may even lead to death. According to TIME Magazine, over 5,000 workers died at work in 2016. While some types of jobs are inherently more hazardous than others, workplace fatalities are always a possibility.
Still, it is helpful to understand what jobs are the most dangerous. Here are some of the top industries that are more prone to injuries and deaths:
1. Roofing
Roofers and other home improvement contractors experience a high rate of fatal injuries. Common roofing accidents and injuries include:
- Broken bones and brain injuries from falling
- Cuts, lacerations and punctures from hammering or coming into contact with a nail
- Back injuries from carrying heavy objects or overexerting oneself
- Repetitive motion injuries from performing the same activity over and over again
Overall, 101 roofers died in 2016.
2. Aircraft engineering and repair
People who construct and maintain aircraft have a significant risk of getting hurt on the job. Unfortunately, repairing and maintaining helicopters and airplanes is sometimes dangerous. Heavy lifting, colliding with runway vehicles and getting impacted by jet blasts are all common ways that aircraft workers get hurt.
3. Commercial drivers
A high number of individuals who drive trucks or vans die on-the-job. In 2016, there were 918 fatalities among truck and sales drivers. Injuries and deaths among drivers are often caused by:
- Traffic crashes
- Heavy lifting from loading and unloading
- Repetitive stress
- Slipping and falling on loading docks
The sedentary nature of many driving jobs and the long hours behind the wheel make drivers more prone to work-related complications.
4. Steel and ironworkers
Another dangerous job is working with iron or steel. Falling is one of the main hazards to these workers because they often work high above the ground. They are also at risk of cuts and punctures because they constantly work with sharp objects. Another cause of injury to iron and steelworkers is muscle strain.
No matter where you work, make sure you look into your workers’ compensation options if you get hurt while on company time.
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