Which occupations are the most dangerous

Inspired by the labor shortages in the transport and construction industries, we began this project to assess if the relationship between compensation and the danger of the jobs within those fields could potentially be affecting the size of the recruitment pool. By taking into account the fatality rate a rate calculated by the BLS by considering the number of fatal injuries and the number of hours worked rather than just total fatalities, we can gauge which truly are the riskiest and deadliest jobs in America.

Furthermore, we took a look at how much the individuals within those professions are compensated for the level of danger they are subjected to. Crane operators BLS Category: Crane and tower operators Fatal injury rate: 19 per , workers Total deaths : 9 Most common fatal accidents: Transportation incidents, Contact with objects and equipment Crane and tower operators are responsible for the operation of cranes and other equipment used to lift materials, machines, or other objects.

Crane operators often work at construction sites to lift building materials onto higher levels of a building, or at ports where they lift containers off of ships. The most common fatalities for crane operators occur when their cranes crash into or are hit by other vehicles, or when objects hit cranes or their operators.

Construction helpers BLS Category: Helpers, construction trades Fatal injury rate: 18 per , workers Total deaths : 11 Most common fatal accidents: Falls, slips, trips Construction helpers are construction workers who assist trade workers in the course of construction.

These workers can include building equipment contractors, building finishing contractors, foundation and exterior contractors, and others. The most common cause of death for these workers are falls and trips on construction sites.

Landscaping supervisors BLS Category: First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers Fatal injury rate: 18 per , workers Total deaths : 48 Most common fatal accidents: Falls, slips, trips Landscaping supervisors are responsible for coordinating and supervising the work of landscapers, lawn maintenance workers, and groundskeepers.

In this role, landscaping supervisors manage landscaping projects, enforce workplace standards, inspect work, and instruct workers in the proper techniques for performing landscaping work. The most common cause of death for landscaping workers is falls, which can occur when working from heights performing tasks such as tree trimming.

Highway maintenance workers Fatal injury rate: 18 per , workers Total deaths : 14 Most common fatal accidents: Transportation incidents Highway maintenance workers are responsible for maintaining highways, roads, freeways, runways, and other types of roads. They can perform work such as patching potholes, fixing rails and fences, replacing and repainting road markers, and removing snow or ice. Other tasks that these workers perform include fixing road signs, maintaining roadside shrubbery, and resurfacing roads.

The most common cause of death for these workers is vehicle crashes, which can occur when highway workers are working on active roadways. Cement masons BLS Category: Cement masons, concrete finishers, and terrazzo workers Fatal injury rate: 17 per , workers Total deaths : 11 Most common fatal accidents: Falls, slips, trips Cement masons provide finishing and smoothing work for poured concrete, which can be for roads, sidewalks, floors, or other applications of concrete.

These workers use hand and power tools to align concrete forms and ensure that concrete is smooth and long-lasting. The most common cause of death for cement masons is from falls. Small engine mechanics Fatal injury rate: 15 per , workers Total deaths : 8 Most common fatal accidents: Transportation incidents, violence and other injuries by persons or animals Small engine mechanics repair and maintain small engines such as the engines on lawn mowers, motorboats, and motorcycles.

These mechanics generally work in repair shops, but also spend significant time making service repairs out in the field for service emergencies. Transportation incidents are the most common cause of death for these workers. Supervisors of mechanics BLS Category: First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers Fatal injury rate: 15 per , workers Total deaths : 46 Most common fatal accidents: Violence and other injuries by persons or animals Supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers are responsible for overseeing the schedule and work of other mechanics, installers, and repairers.

In this role, supervisors may perform training and inspect work to ensure that it meets standards. Supervisors may also be responsible for obtaining supplies and equipment such as tools or parts.

Heavy vehicle mechanics BLS Category: Heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians and mechanics Fatal injury rate: 14 per , workers Total deaths : 27 Most common fatal accidents: Transportation incidents, contact with objects and equipment Heavy vehicle mechanics are responsible for maintaining and repairing heavy equipment such as tractors, bulldozers, and cranes.

They can inspect equipment, run diagnostics, perform scheduled maintenance, replace parts, and otherwise ensure that equipment is running properly. The most common cause of death for these mechanics is transportations incidents. Grounds maintenance workers Fatal injury rate: 14 per , workers Total deaths : Most common fatal accidents: Transportation incidents Grounds maintenance workers are responsible for ensuring that the grounds of parks, businesses, and residences are well maintained and clean.

What are the worst jobs in America? First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers. Groundskeeping ranks among the most dangerous jobs in the United States with a fatal injury rate of There were 48 job-related deaths of first-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers in , or Such workers are often working from elevated positions, and the largest share of fatal injuries among workers in the field happened due to slips and falls.

The job can also be physically demanding, and the most common source of the 1, nonfatal injuries for people in this occupation in was overexertion. Construction and extraction work can be relatively dangerous, and Americans in supervisory roles for such occupations are among the most likely to have a fatal accident at work compared to those in nearly any other occupation.

There were fatal work-related injuries among those in the occupation in , or 21 per , workers. Job responsibilities vary but often include inspection of work progress, work equipment, and safety measures to ensure full compliance. Injuries from falls, slips, and trips are the most common cause of serious injury and second most common cause of death on the job.

The leading cause of death in the occupation is incidents involving transportation, like motor vehicle accidents. Structural iron and steel workers have one of the most dangerous jobs in the United States.

The work of installing structural support beams for buildings and bridges is not only physically demanding, but also hazardous as it is often done at great heights. There were 15 fatalities among structural iron and steel workers in , with the largest share attributable to falls, slips, and trips.

The job frequently involves the use of cranes and other lifting equipment as well as torches and welding machines. Mistakes with such equipment can result in serious injury, and the largest share of the injuries reported in the field in came as a result of unintentional contact with equipment or objects.

Farmers, ranchers, and others working in agriculture often work with large animals and potentially dangerous machinery. In this line of work, people are subject to injuries from animals, transportation incidents, and contact with dangerous equipment — each of which caused dozens of fatalities in The fatal injuries suffered by agricultural workers is the third highest total among all professions that year.

Because such drivers spend hours on the road hauling cargo, many of the injuries and deaths are transportation-related. Truck drivers have one of the total number of fatal injuries at and one of the highest totals of nonfatal injuries as well, at over 78, Refuse and recyclable material collectors had a fatal injury rate of The job is one of just five with a fatal injury rate that is 10 times that of the rate for all jobs, which is 3. As refuse collectors spend their days traveling around neighborhoods, transportation incidents are the most common cause of fatal injuries in this job.

The job has many other hazards — like falls, overexertion, and contact with equipment — that occur more often but are not as likely to be fatal. Roofing is one of just four professions in which the fatal injury rate exceeded a rate of 50 deadly incidents per , full-time equivalent workers in The work of installing or replacing roofs is often done at considerable heights, increasing the risk of being seriously injured and worse by a fall.

In fact, 74 of the 96 fatal accidents roofers suffered on the job were classified as falls, slips, and trips. Roofers are also subject to harmful environments as they often work long days in the hot sun, risking heat stroke.

The most common injuries for aircraft pilots and flight engineers are transportation related. For pilots involved in any sort of crash, injuries can easily be fatal. There were 5, workplace deaths last year, a slight increase from , according to new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The rate of fatal work injuries remained unchanged at 3. Death on the job is not what it should take to get the job done. The most common workplace deaths were related to transportation, with transportation accidents accounting for more than 2, work-related deaths.

Many of the most dangerous jobs on the list, including fishing, farming, logging, and roof construction are also socially important, notes Robert Hughes, an assistant professor in the legal studies and business ethics department of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Still, employers have an ethical and legal obligation to provide a safe work environment. Here's a look at the 10 most dangerous jobs in America, based on BLS data:. Landscapers spend a lot of time in cars traveling from site to site, putting them at higher risk than some other industries for transportation-related accidents.

Landscaping and lawn service supervisors manage the teams that care for lawns. They also handle customer relationships. First-line supervisors of construction coordinators manage the construction and extraction workers. Two-thirds of the people who died in this industry last year were independent workers.