There were 4,764 workplace fatalities in 2020. This is just under 3.5 deaths per 100,000 workers. For most Americans, death on the job is not a serious risk. Despite workplace protections, some of our most important jobs face a high risk of death.
The people are responsible for harvesting food and mining valuable resources or building infrastructure work in dangerous environments with heavy machinery. While these things may be safer, and technology has lowered accident rates over time, occupational hazards will still exist.
Negligent employers and a lack of safety standards were responsible for many of the most deadly workplace accidents in American history, such as the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire or the Monongah mine disaster. Others were caused by human error and are examples of the dangers in certain industries.
Over the past two centuries, workplace safety has improved tremendously. This is often due to public outcry after such disasters. The increase in workplace deaths due to workplace shootings and highway accidents was partly responsible for nearly 2,000 more workplace deaths in 1994 than in 2020. The safety standards for workers today are a result of a combination of improved protection legislation like the Occupational Safety & Health Act of 1970 and better data collection and analysis like the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries.
Stacker analyzed which occupations have the highest fatality rates according to 2020 Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Rates are calculated for 100,000 equivalent full-time workers, meaning that the rate could be higher than the actual number of fatalities which are also provided.
You might also like: Ex-jobs of the governor of each state
10. Farmers, ranchers, or other agricultural managers
– 20.9 deaths per 100,000 workers – Total fatal work-related injuries: 207
Transportation incidents–particularly overturned tractors which can weigh an average of around 5,000 pounds–are a leading cause of death among agricultural workers. Although this is not a common cause of death, many workers in this industry are exposed to pesticides and fertilizers for a prolonged period.
9. Underground mining machine operators
21.6 deaths per 100,000 workers – Total fatal work-related injuries: 10
Although mining-related deaths have declined significantly in the past century, there will always be serious risks associated with this industry. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the most common causes of death in the mining industry are machinery and equipment accidents, falling earth, and explosions. The Mine Safety and Health Administration has recorded 12 deaths in mining accidents since 2022.
8. Driver/sales workers and delivery truck drivers
25.8 deaths per 100,000 workers of equivalent work hours – Total fatal workplace injuries: 887
Delivery drivers face greater danger than others of getting into an accident because they spend most of their day on the roads. It was reported that Amazon drivers were instructed to skip daily vehicle inspections. This could have led to safety issues such as jammed doors, worn tires, and broken mirrors being ignored. Transportation-related incidents are the leading cause of death among delivery drivers, hitting a five-year high in 2019, according to a 2021 BLS report. Homicide and suicide were the second leading causes of death.
7. Structural iron and steel workers
– 32.5 deaths per 100,000 workers of equivalent work hours – Total fatal workplace injuries: 16
Iron and steel workers construct the metal frames of buildings and other structures. They must balance on narrow girders and perform difficult tasks at high heights. Workers are most likely to die from falls from high heights. Workers are at greater risk of getting lacerations or burns.
6. Refuse and recyclable material collectors
– 33.1 deaths per 100,000 workers of equivalent work hours – Total fatal workplace injuries: 30
Transportation-related incidents are the most common cause of death among waste collectors. These include being in an accident, being hit by the truck from the outside, and falling off the back.
You might also like: Dangerous Jobs from Throughout Human History
5. Aircraft pilots and flight engineers
34.3 deaths per 100,000 workers of equivalent work hours – Total fatal workplace injuries: 50
Although plane crashes are not common, they can be fatal. Many industries have problems with poor weather, malfunctioning navigation systems, and human error, but aviation is no different. They can be deadly. Controlled flight into terrain is one of the most dangerous but necessary maneuvers that a pilot could use. This involves flying an aircraft in any terrain, including mountains and water. CFIT maneuvers were the cause of most fatal aircraft crashes in Alaska, according to a CDC study.
4. Helpers, construction trades
43.3 deaths per 100,000 workers of equivalent work hours – Total fatal workplace injuries: 19
Although they may not be skilled craft workers such as electricians, brick masons, or carpenters, helpers are responsible for keeping construction sites clean, safe, and organized. Construction workers are most likely to die from falls, slips, or trips. Transport incidents, exposure to dangerous substances and equipment, as well as electrocutions, are all potential dangers that could lead to death on a construction site.
3. Roofers
– 47.0 deaths per 100,000 workers of equivalent work hours – Total fatal work accidents: 88
Roofers often die from falling from ladders or scaffolding. Inexperience, user error, or malfunctioning safety equipment can all lead to falls. Heat-related diseases are also possible because roofers are often exposed to the sun and high temperatures during summer.
2. Logging workers
– 91.7 deaths per 100,000 workers of equivalent work hours – Total fatal workplace injuries: 42
Loggers are responsible to cut down trees and limbs, as well as transporting them. They are at risk of falling from high heights and getting hurt by machinery that cuts through wood. Loggers can also be struck by logs that weigh thousands of pounds. According to a Penn State University study, the most common cause of death was being struck. The head was also the most commonly involved in fatalities. Poor decision-making was also a factor in fatal accidents, according to the study.
1. Fishing and hunting workers
– 132.1 deaths per 100,000 workers of equivalent work hours – Total fatal workplace injuries: 42
Trappers, commercial fishers, and hunters face the most dangerous work conditions of any profession. They have to contend with weather hazards, wildlife, and machinery. According to the CDC, roughly half of all commercial fishing deaths between 2000 and 2015 were caused by a disaster such as flooding, rogue waves, or storms. A third of the deaths were caused by fishermen who fell overboard. Working in remote environments–whether out at sea or deep in the wilderness–means that timely access to hospitals is limited in case of life-threatening emergencies.
Post Title: Jobs with the highest fatality rates in the USA
Posted Date: June 16, 2022
Author: USA Jobs