In the workplace, there are many potentially dangerous occupations. There are 10 industrial occupations, however, that carry with them the greatest likelihood of harm or injury to the employee. In 2015 alone, there were over 4,800 occupation-related deaths. More than half of these were in the transportation industry. Jobs that involve heavy travel, heavy machinery, or the risk of dealing with dangerous people or animals have the highest death rates among American occupations.
These are the top 10 most dangerous industrial occupations that lead to their fair share of industrial accidents. All of these have industrial law specifications in place for employee safety.
1. Construction Workers or Laborers
Of all the occupations that you can choose, becoming a construction worker or laborer is one of the most dangerous ones. This category of industrial occupations carries the highest rate of industrial accidents, more than any other job. Almost all components of construction are dangerous. This includes everything from using heavy machinery to climbing. Every time that a construction worker is on site, there is the potential for an industrial accident.
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2. Corrections Officer
Although there are a lot of safety measures in place for being a corrections officer, people can be highly unpredictable. This is especially true of people who have already been deemed violent or dangerous. Whether a corrections worker is working in a penal or rehabilitative institution, they must do more than just maintain control of prisoners and inmates. They also must transport them to and from the courtroom. In addition, they have to maintain peace in the courtroom. This means that they watch over not just prisoners, but also the families who may want vengeance.
3. Emergency Medical Technician
First responders are often subjected to extreme conditions, mentally as well as physically. They are required to assist those who are injured. This can sometimes put their own lives in peril.
4. Carpenters
As with construction, carpentry can be a highly risky occupation. Even when carpenters are extremely experienced with the equipment they use, there is always the potential for tool malfunction. It only takes a second for something disastrous to happen.
5. Firefighters
There is a reason why firefighters have extensive training and physical requirements to apply for the job. The rigors of being a firefighter aren’t just about putting out fires. They are also about putting themselves in harm’s way to save lives. There are also times when they are subjected to chemicals and harmful materials while they extinguish fires.
6. Nursing Assistant
Being a nursing assistant means that you have to do a lot of heavy lifting. This is demanding on the body and can lead to industrial injury. There are also times when you have to deal with people who aren’t behaving as they normally would. This can result in bruises, bites, and scratches.
7. Law Enforcement
It is a police officer’s job to keep the peace and to protect people in the community from criminal acts. It is a job that often puts them in the line of fire. Police officers frequently are in a position to be vulnerable to harm.
8. Truck Driver
Truck driving is an isolating job. It is also a highly risky occupation. Often carrying heavy materials, truck drivers are on the road constantly. Driving for days or weeks at a time increases the likelihood that they will be in an accident. What’s more, sometimes what they are transporting can increase their risk of a fatal accident.
9. Cab Drivers
It’s not commonly considered a highly dangerous occupation, but it is. According to OSHA, cab drivers are as much as 20 times more likely to be murdered as workers in any other industry in the US.
10. Tamping, Paving, and Surfacing Equipment Operators
Operating heavy equipment does not come without risk. However, paving employees who operate equipment in the road are at even greater risk. This is because distracted or reckless drivers might hit them while they’re working.
Conclusion
There are many industrial laws and agencies such as OSHA to make sure that industries are following protocol laws. However, in these 10 occupations, no matter how careful someone is or how closely they are following industrial laws, there is still the potential for accidents and harm.
If you are injured in any occupational industry accident, you should know your rights. Have Houston personal injury attorneys walk you through the complexity of recovering for your injuries and determining who is liable when you are hurt on the job.
