These Are the Most Dangerous Jobs in America
Although on-the-job fatalities, as a whole, are decreasing nationwide, some jobs remain very dangerous. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) recently released a preliminary total of work injuries and fatalities for 2013. These are the top ten most dangerous jobs in America, as measured by the fatality rate per 100,000 full-time workers, along with the total number of fatalities for that occupation in 2013.
- Logging workers: these workers harvest timber for industrial and consumer products.
- Fatality rate per 100,000 full-time workers: 91.3
- Total fatalities for 2013: 59
- Fishing workers: fishers catch and trap fish for food, bait and other uses.
- Fatality rate: 75 per 100,000
- Total fatalities: 27
- Airplane pilots and engineers: these workers navigate and fly multi-engine, fixed-wing aircraft, usually on scheduled routes.
- Fatality rate: 50.6 per 100,000
- Total fatalities: 63
- Roofers: roofers install and repair roofs on homes and commercial buildings.
- Fatality rate: 38.7 per 100,000
- Total fatalities: 69
- Garbage and recycling collectors: these workers collect garbage and materials for recycling and transfer the materials from containers to trucks.
- Fatality rate: 33 per 100,000
- Total fatalities: 33
- Mining machine operators: these workers operate machines that remove minerals from mines and load it onto conveyors or cars.
- Fatality rate: 26.9 per 100,000
- Total fatalities: 16
- Truck drivers and driver/sales workers: this category includes long-haul truck drivers, workers who travel a sales route and food delivery workers.
- Fatality rate: 22 per 100,000
- Total fatalities: 748
- Farmers, ranchers and agricultural managers: these workers manage farms that produce livestock, crops and dairy products.
- Fatality rate: 21.8 per 100,000
- Total fatalities: 220
- Electrical power-line workers: these workers repair and install wires and cables used in electrical power systems.
- Fatality rate: 21.5 per 100,000
- Total fatalities: 27
- Construction laborers: construction workers operate hand/power tools and perform physical labor at construction sites.
- Fatality rate: 17.7 per 100,000
- Total fatalities: 215