What makes some jobs so much more dangerous than others?

On Behalf of | Jan 18, 2020 | Firm News

No matter what job you have, you are likely exposed to some threat to your safety. That said, certain occupations are far more dangerous than others.

Based on recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the most dangerous occupations in the country share similar risks and conditions that contribute to higher numbers of fatal and non-fatal injuries.

Use of motor vehicles

Transportation-related accidents were the cause of 40 percent of work-related fatalities. They were most common for workers in seven of the most dangerous occupations and industries, including:

  • Landscaping
  • Construction
  • Farming
  • Trucking and driving
  • Waste collection
  • Pilots
  • Fishing

Exposure to natural elements

Working outside can come with serious risks, as Mother Nature can be unpredictable and uncompromising.

Therefore, people who work in logging, fishing, farming and construction face hazards in the form of extreme weather and even encounters with animals.

Machinery, powerful equipment

Some occupations require the use of powerful, dangerous equipment. Loggers, construction workers and steelworkers often use:

  • Welding equipment
  • Cranes
  • Jackhammers
  • Earth-moving equipment
  • Harvesters

These machines are highly dangerous, even when people operate them properly, and they do not malfunction.

Heights

Not surprisingly, people who work at heights are at risk of falling. As such, roofers, construction workers, and structural iron and steel workers can be more likely to experience fall-related injuries than people who stay on the ground.

Does cause affect compensation?

Workers’ compensation may be available to eligible employees who suffer a work-related injury, regardless of whether the cause of an accident was another person, bad luck or a defective machine. Though, a person engaged in misconduct or impaired at the time of an accident may not be eligible.

Injured workers may be able to pursue additional compensation through a personal injury claim if another party’s negligence contributed to an accident. This might include the manufacturer of a defective machine or a stranger who was driving drunk.

Note that collecting workers’ compensation generally bars a person from suing an employer, even if he or she was negligent.

People who work in dangerous occupations can put their lives and livelihood on the line every day. Because of this, it is vital to understand the remedies that may be available after a job-related accident.

WARNING: THIS IS A GENERAL DISCUSSION OF LAW AND IS NOT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE. FOR ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE AND SPEAK TO AN ATTORNEY.

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