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We are counting down the Ten Most Dangerous Jobs in the country based on recent data gathered by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. These 10 jobs have the highest risk of fatality in the country as demonstrated by their fatalities per 100,000 employees.

People always say that you can take all the safety precautions that you can but accidents happen to the most unlikely of people and at the most inopportune times. Still, safety and safety precautions are non-negotiable in any industry. So to boost our safety knowledge in these industries where the risk of accidents and fatalities is high, let’s find out what makes the jobs dangerous and what risks these workers face every day.

10. Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers

FATALITY RATE: 21.8

I’m sure no one is surprised that law enforcement is considered one of the most dangerous jobs anywhere. What you probably don’t know is that deaths among police and sheriff patrol officers aren’t usually caused by homicide or other violent crimes that we often see on TV. Deaths among these men are mostly caused by transportation-related accidents.

9. Refuse and Recyclable Materials Collectors

FATALITY RATE: 22.8

These courageous men and women face danger on a daily basis. Handling garbage and hazardous materials can cause injuries and possible serious illnesses. You will be surprised to know that the primary cause of death for these workers is getting hit by reckless motorists.

8. Driver/Sales Workers and Truck Drivers

FATALITY RATE: 28.2

These workers endure long periods of driving every day, sometimes with poor lighting, fatigue and harsh road and weather conditions. The main cause of fatalities in these professions is also related to transportation. With most of their working hours spent on the road, the risk of them getting involved in a vehicular accident is greater than that of other workers. They are also at risk while performing other tasks like field repair or when changing tires.

Based on the information gathered by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 42% of work-related fatalities resulted from transportation incidents and 25% of all work-related fatalities happened on the highway. Driving is possibly one of the most dangerous activities that we do and we don’t even realize it. It’s not only one of the most common causes of fatality among workers but it’s also one of the leading causes of death to Americans all over the country. Transportation and material moving may not have the highest fatality rate but it is the industry that has the highest fatality on record with 1,503 of the 5,657 total for the year.

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