When you go to work each day, do you think about the dangers you will face? For many people, they never really consider workplace dangers, but there are some jobs that are more dangerous than others.
Today, we want to talk about the most dangerous jobs closer to home. We know that, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there were around 2.8 million nonfatal workplace injuries or illnesses during the latest reporting year. The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) says that there were 5,147 worker deaths that year.
What do you think of when you think of dangerous jobs? Do you think of the TV shows that crop up every now and again about the world’s deadliest jobs?
Pennsylvania’s most dangerous jobs
When you look at the most dangerous jobs in the commonwealth, you might be surprised by some of the occupations on the list.
- Public Administration: this category includes an array of various jobs such as police officers, firefighters, and EMS. These are the workers who are on the front lines of our safety and put their lives on the line each day. They face risks from vehicle accidents, explosions, firearms, assaults, and more.
- Agriculture: We rely on our agricultural workers to keep us healthy. However, they face dangerous conditions from a range of issues. This can include both natural and man-made conditions. These employees work in extreme heat and they also run the risk of injury due to machinery incidents, chemical exposure, vehicle accidents, and more.
- Construction Workers: Construction workers face an array of immediate and long-term hazards on the job. The top four deadly incidents construction workers face include falls, getting struck by objects, electrocutions, and getting caught in between objects.
- Mining: Mining is still a major industry in Pennsylvania and it is dangerous. Working underground means added risks that most workers do not face. Miners can be injured due to explosions, electrocutions, cave-ins, tool mishaps, and more.
- Transportation: Commercial drivers who spend their days on the road face an array of risks on the job. Not only do they have to contend with roadway conditions and negligent drivers, but they also have the added risks associated with hauling so much weight.
- Manufacturing: Those who work in manufacturing and assembly have plenty of risks. They work around moving parts and are at a higher risk of amputation than most workers. Manufacturing and assembly workers are also at higher risk of developing shoulder, neck, and back injuries due to repetitive motions over long periods of time.
What are some of the most common injuries workers face?
When it comes to common workplace injuries, we commonly see the following injuries:
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Back injuries
- Traumatic Brain Injuries
- Head injuries
- Broken or Dislocated Bones
- Severe lacerations or amputations
- Hearing and Vision Loss
- Respiratory Problems
- Certain workplace-related cancers
- Repetitive Stress Injuries
You will see that many of those injuries can be linked to a single traumatic incident. However, other injuries happen over longer periods of time and are the result of long-term exposure to repetitive motions or hazardous conditions.
What you need to do moving forward
If you or a loved one has been injured at work, our workers compensation attorneys at Ciccarelli Law Offices are here to help. You can contact us for a free consultation of your case by clicking here or calling us at (610) 692-8700.