If someone asked you to name the most dangerous jobs someone can hold here in Cleveland, you’d likely mention law enforcement, manufacturing, health care, transportation or construction. While many of those workers run a high risk of suffering an illness or injury on the job, they don’t make it on the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) list of the most deadly roles in the U.S.
There are some inherent dangers associated with all professions, though. Fortunately, labor officials require most employers to keep track of the injury risks workers face, no matter the industry or job. This data can prove valuable to you as you look to learn ways to keep yourself safe at work.
What are the top 3 most dangerous jobs in the U.S.?
The most recent BLS data shows that logging is the most dangerous industry anyone can work in. Only 53,600 individuals worked full-time in the logging industry in 2018, yet 97.6 per 100,000 workers suffered fatal injuries on the job that year. That’s a significant injury risk considering how logging workers receive, on average $40,650 in annual pay.
Fishing is the industry with the second-highest workplace fatal injury rate. It only employs 520 workers nationwide, yet it has a 77.4 per 100,000 full-time worker job fatality rate. Employees in this industry make an average of $28,310 per year.
Aviation workers have the third-highest workplace fatality rate of all industries. There are more than 84,070 workers employed in this profession, and its employees earn, on average, $137,330 each year. The fatal injury rate in this industry is 58.9 per 100,000 full-time workers each year.
What injuries are most common in your workplace?
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration maintains what it refers to as its “300 log”. It lists various professions, and the corresponding injury risks its employees face. The federal agency populates the list from employer injury reports. OSHA requires all employers with 10 or more employees to track injury incidents, including:
- Where it occurred
- What work-related task an employee was doing at the time it happened
- Whether a worker’s use of certain equipment might have caused the incident
- How much leave an employee had to take following the workplace accident
Steps to take if you get hurt at work
You’ll need to take two steps immediately following any workplace accident. You’ll need to tell your employer about your injury incident and see a doctor. Your employer should advise you of the steps you need to take once you report your incident. You may want to consult with an attorney if they’re not forthcoming in doing so.