Did you ever wonder which American jobs are the most dangerous?

 

By David McClelland

 

I wasn't sure, but wondered and did the research. What I learned surprised me.

I would have guessed that, in non-military jobs, it was construction workers, i.e., those who work on the highest buildings, the largest dams, etc. The Bureau of Labor Statistics listed fatalities (with fatalities per 100,000 workers in parens): timber workers (118) faced the greatest odds of losing their lives on the job.  Timber workers' fatalities were 30 times that of those in the typical workplace. Commercial fisherman (71) are the next most likely fatalities. Next, pilots and navigators (70). Then, structural metal workers (58), followed by driver-sales workers (38), which include pizza delivery drivers. Roofing (37) is the next most dangerous, followed by electric power installers (33), farm occupations (28), construction laborers (27.7),(my guess wasn't even close) and truck drivers (25). Underground mining jobs (23.5), still a dangerous occupation.

 

During a lifetime as a construction worker, one may expect to have three or four serious injuries that will keep one off of the job for more than three days each.

Apparently, the BLS doesn't include our military deaths during wartime. I checked the annual military death tolls just since the year 2000 and found that it averaged 1,159 deaths per year. That is far higher than even timber workers. Yes, we must all be thankful for the men and women who serve our country each year, many making the ultimate sacrifice.