This List of Most Dangerous Occupations May Surprise You

When you think of the most dangerous occupations, what comes to mind? If you’re like most people, you probably envision a job with explosions, heavy machinery, or extreme heights. After reading the latest statistics from OSHA, however, you may look at things a little differently.

What do you think is on the list of top 10 most dangerous occupations?

Before you read the list of most dangerous jobs, let’s do a quick check to see if you can guess any of the top 10 most dangerous occupations…

The Top 25 Most Dangerous Jobs & Related Statistics

According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, these were the most dangerous occupations in 2016 (the most up-to-date collection of statistics available). The jobs are ranked by highest fatality rate per 100,000 employees. Total number of deaths and injuries are also shown for reference.

Rank	Occupation	Fatality Rate	Total Deaths	Total Injuries
1	Logging workers	136	91	900
2	Fishermen	86	24	n/a
3	Pilots & Flight Engineers	56	75	470
4	Roofers	48.6	101	3,150
5	Garbage & Recycling Collectors*	34	31	6,170
6	Iron & Steel Workers	25	16	1,440
7	Sales & Truck Drivers	25	918	80,180
8	Farming Managers *	23	260	n/a
9	Construction Supervisors *	18	134	6,090
10	Farmers	17	156	12,710
11	Grounds Maintenance Workers	17	217	20,100
12	Mechanic & Repair Supervisors	16	44	4,140
13	Construction Workers	15	254	24,650
14	Policemen	15	108	28,740
15	Powerline Workers	15	21	1,710
16	Maintenance Workers	13	75	27,900
17	Taxi Drivers *	13	60	2,730
18	Groundskeeper Supervisors	13	30	1,320
19	Telecom Line Installers *	12	21	2,480
20	Sports Related	12	29	4,250
21	Constructions Equipment Operators	11	39	4,750
22	Electricians	10	79	7,790
23	Industrial Machinery Workers	9	45	4,490
24	Painters	9	50	3,530
25	HVAC Workers	8	37	6,830

*These jobs involve a significant amount of driving and interaction with public roadways, and a significant portion of the fatalities are related to vehicular accidents.

What Makes a Job Dangerous in the Modern World?

The leading causes of deaths in the construction industry (which includes a number of the jobs above) were falls, being struck by object, electrocution, and “caught-in-between.” These 4 causes are referred to as the “Fatal Four” and accounted for over 63.7% of the total deaths in the construction industry. Highway collisions, however, overshadow all the other causes of workplace fatalities and span across many of the industries and occupations.

NOTE: This does not include simply “driving to work” which is not considered “on the job” by OSHA standards.

Conclusions: Dangerous Occupations

So, the most dangerous job of the modern world involves chainsaws and downing trees – that seems pretty understandable. What surprised us, and many who have responded to the survey, is that salespeople and truck drivers are MORE at risk than policemen, power line workers, electricians, and construction workers! The lack of perception to danger is one factor that makes it so dangerous in the first place.

Whether your occupation is listed in the top 10 most dangerous occupations or not, safety in the workplace and behind the wheel, is a topic worth discussing with your coworkers, employees, and/or employers.

Are you looking for ways to improve driver safety on the job? Check out the MOTOVATE driver incentive program that helps raise awareness and improve driving behavior.

Useful Resources:

– Laws for cell phone use in vehicles
– Distracted driving statistics

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