The most dangerous jobs

[Markbnj]

Interesting graphic from the BLS ...

Sort of runs counter to the current media-driven narrative of heroic first responders defending us with their lives every day. Not that we shouldn't respect those who are called on to do so, and many are, but I think it's safe to say that when "general maintenance and repair workers" get hurt on the job more than you do, your job isn't that dangerous.

And wtf is up with "aircraft pilots/engineers?" I didn't expect that profession to be so high. Are planes dropping out of the sky or something?

 

[waggy]

I figured fire fighters were higher then police.

but yeah listening to the news you would think being a police officer was the most dangerous job by far.

 

[rudeguy]

Interesting graphic from the BLS ...

Sort of runs counter to the current media-driven narrative of heroic first responders defending us with their lives every day. Not that we shouldn't respect those who are called on to do so, and many are, but I think it's safe to say that when "general maintenance and repair workers" get hurt on the job more than you do, your job isn't that dangerous.

And wtf is up with "aircraft pilots/engineers?" I didn't expect that profession to be so high. Are planes dropping out of the sky or something?[/QUOTE]

That one caught my eye as well. My only guess is that there are such a low number of pilots and "engineers" (no idea what the context is there) that the small number of death inflates the percentage.

 

[Mai72]

With the aircraft pilots/engineers my guess is a lot of them perish in their own aircraft?

I'd think many fly as a hobby which increases the risk of aircraft fatalities.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Interesting graphic from the BLS ...

Sort of runs counter to the current media-driven narrative of heroic first responders defending us with their lives every day. Not that we shouldn't respect those who are called on to do so, and many are, but I think it's safe to say that when "general maintenance and repair workers" get hurt on the job more than you do, your job isn't that dangerous.

And wtf is up with "aircraft pilots/engineers?" I didn't expect that profession to be so high. Are planes dropping out of the sky or something?

Outside of the top 3 and bottom 3 I'd bet that most of those deaths are caused by their own stupidity/negligence.

 

[Jeffg010]

What is up with garbageman on that list? Are they dieing from touching toxic waste or are they getting crushed in the back of the garbage truck or just falling off the back on the truck?

 

[edro]

Do any of these workers secretly work less safe to remain at the top of the list?
:hmm:

 

[Markbnj]

With the aircraft pilots/engineers my guess is a lot of them perish in their own aircraft?

I'd think many fly as a hobby which increases the risk of aircraft fatalities.

I thought of it being skewed by amateurs as well, but since this graphic is supposed to represent data about professions it would seem odd to have stats from amateur pilots in there.

 

[rudeguy]

What is up with garbageman on that list? Are they dieing from touching toxic waste or are they getting crushed in the back of the garbage truck or just falling off the back on the truck?

hit by cars

Most of the new garbage trucks are right drive to cut down on this.

 

[jlee]

Outside of the top 3 and bottom 3 I'd bet that most of those deaths are caused by their own stupidity/negligence.

Yup, some professions will have a far higher rate of accidental death than others.

If you ran another study showing how many people were injured at work, it'd be a bit different - using only fatalities to represent 'dangerous' jobs is misrepresentation of fact.

According to statistics collected by the FBI, 76 law enforcement officers were killed in line-of-duty incidents in 2013. Of these, 27 law enforcement officers died as a result of felonious acts, and 49 officers died in accidents. In addition, 49,851 officers were victims of line-of-duty assaults.

n 2013, of the 49,851 officers assaulted while performing their duties, 29.2 percent were injured. The largest percentage of victim officers (31.2 percent) were assaulted while responding to disturbance calls. Assailants used personal weapons (hands, fists, feet, etc.) in 79.8 percent of the incidents, firearms in 4.5 percent of incidents, and knives or other cutting instruments in 1.8 percent of the incidents. Other types of dangerous weapons were used in 13.9 percent of assaults. Expanded assault details have been included in the 2013 publication. Data for assaults during which officers were injured with firearms or knives/other cutting instruments are located in new tables, figures, and selected narratives.

Over 14,500 injuries in 2013. Certainly far from the highest death rate of professions, but the only job I've had where I was assaulted was LE.

 

[Markbnj]

Do any of these workers secretly work less safe to remain at the top of the list?
:hmm:

Well, in my life I've been a fisherman and a truck driver, and I can confirm that in both cases we would certainly do things like jump off the boat into 35 degree water and steer our rigs into concrete dividers in hopes of moving up a notch or two. It was great fun!

 

[rudeguy]

I thought of it being skewed by amateurs as well, but since this graphic is supposed to represent data about professions it would seem odd to have stats from amateur pilots in there.

Yea the numbers don't add up. There were slightly over 100,000 commercial pilots in 2013 and the only fatal crash involving a US crew was a UPS flight that crashed killing 2.

Hmmm.......

 

[Markbnj]

Yup, some professions will have a far higher rate of accidental death than others.

Run another study showing how many people were assaulted at work - using only fatalities to represent 'dangerous' jobs is misrepresentation of fact.

You can look up the stats for assaults against police officers and it just doesn't happen that often. More often than truck drivers, I'm sure. But ultimately the danger of death or injury is what it is. You're talking about the qualitative differences in the causes of death or injury, and I won't argue that point. If this were a graphic about which professions feel embattled, isolated, and targeted cops would be at the top of the list, I don't doubt.

 

[KeithP]

Sort of runs counter to the current media-driven narrative of heroic first responders defending us with their lives every day. Not that we shouldn't respect those who are called on to do so, and many are, but I think it's safe to say that when "general maintenance and repair workers" get hurt on the job more than you do, your job isn't that dangerous.

The problem is that graphic doesn't really give us any insight to what is the most dangerous job. It just tells us who the most careless workers are.

-KeithP

 

[lxskllr]

For various non lethal injuries, I bet the construction trade is in the top 5.

 

[Markbnj]

The problem is that graphic doesn't really give us any insight to what is the most dangerous job. It just tells us who the most careless workers are.

-KeithP

It's more likely that humans have a generally consistent level of carelessness. It doesn't matter if you're careless and working behind a keyboard, or perhaps sitting in a patrol car. If you are careless cutting a tree down or handling cable on a deck you die or lose a limb.

 

[Genx87]

The most interesting stat about cops deaths. Most of them are traffic related or accidental. Actually being killed by a perp is 3rd or 4th on the list on how cops die.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Yea the numbers don't add up. There were slightly over 100,000 commercial pilots in 2013 and the only fatal crash involving a US crew was a UPS flight that crashed killing 2.

Hmmm.......

Would the term engineers include ground crew? Also, does it include military flight/ground crew accidents in that number?

 

[waggy]

Would the term engineers include ground crew? Also, does it include military flight/ground crew accidents in that number?

I would think it includes ground crew. but not sure how the numbers add up. I couldn't find anything.

I would think military would be excluded.

 

[Harrod]

And wtf is up with "aircraft pilots/engineers?" I didn't expect that profession to be so high. Are planes dropping out of the sky or something?[/QUOTE]

I would be willing to bet that a large part of those numbers come from the crop duster fatalities.

From the article: http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2011/03/01/top-10-most-dangerous-jobs/

Crop dusting and bush flying are by far the most dangerous due to the fact that they fly in small planes, very close to the ground, and often work long hours.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I would think it includes ground crew. but not sure how the numbers add up. I couldn't find anything.

I would think military would be excluded.

I just know that working on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier is one of the most dangerous jobs so I was thinking they might include that since, technically, they aren't combat jobs.

 

[waggy]

I just know that working on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier is one of the most dangerous jobs so I was thinking they might include that since, technically, they aren't combat jobs.

hmm true.

yeah i remember reading how flight deck jobs are very dangerous. You may be right on them being listed.

 

[highland145]

I just know that working on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier is one of the most dangerous jobs so I was thinking they might include that since, technically, they aren't combat jobs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=v2v1Pgpzp88#t=51

 

[jlee]

You can look up the stats for assaults against police officers and it just doesn't happen that often. More often than truck drivers, I'm sure. But ultimately the danger of death or injury is what it is. You're talking about the qualitative differences in the causes of death or injury, and I won't argue that point. If this were a graphic about which professions feel embattled, isolated, and targeted cops would be at the top of the list, I don't doubt.

The thread is based on fatalities, not injury - if it was reporting workplace injuries, you'd see much different numbers. I'm sure logging/etc would also jump dramatically, and you'd probably see the construction folks climb higher on the list as well.

While we're on the complete unrelated cop-hating tangent...perhaps it's hard to not feel embattled, isolated, and targeted when you are being targeted.

 

[waggy]

I would be willing to bet that a large part of those numbers come from the crop duster fatalities.

From the article: http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2011/03/01/top-10-most-dangerous-jobs/

Crop dusting and bush flying are by far the most dangerous due to the fact that they fly in small planes, very close to the ground, and often work long hours.

right. but the use of them have gone down a lot over the years. Even then many are switching to helicopter's instead of planes.

but yeah i have heard its a very dangerous job.