Some US jobs come with great risk to workers

Many professions in the United States are more dangerous than others, including construction work, agricultural labor and the fishing industry.

Every day, countless workers in North Carolina as well as across the country risk their lives to provide goods and services to communities. Many jobs in the U.S. carry a great deal of risk, including the danger of being seriously injured, permanently disabled or even killed. Some people may be surprised that these professions are so dangerous.

According to Forbes, 4,383 U.S. workers lost their lives on the job in 2012. Last year, there were 33 total workplace fatalities in North Carolina, reported the North Carolina Department of Labor. Out of these accidents, the positions with the most fatalities were in the agriculture, forestry and fishing industries and the construction industry.

Construction jobs just one of many hazardous professions

Construction ranks as one of the country’s most dangerous jobs. This point was driven home in an accident last January at North Carolina State University. According to WRAL News, three construction workers were helping a crane operator place a steel beam, when the platform they were standing on suddenly collapsed. The men fell about eight feet to the ground. One man reportedly received a head injury, while another injured his back and the third hurt his leg. Fortunately, none of the men’s injuries were life-threatening.

There are, of course, numerous other jobs during which workers risk life and limb. These include:

• Logging, during which the danger primarily comes from cutting equipment or falling trees
• Fishing and related industries, where workers risk drowning, extreme weather or injury from heavy equipment
• Structural iron and steel work
• Electrical power line installation and repair
• Agricultural management, farming and ranching

Additional dangerous positions include aircraft pilot or flight engineer, truck driver, roofer and refuse collector. Many workers in these positions face injuries from automobile or airplane crashes, falls, equipment failures, electrocution or animal attacks. It’s also possible to be injured at a job that is considered relatively low-risk, particularly where falls or heavy lifting are concerned. These jobs would include office work, grocery store clerk or management, package loading and unloading and food service.

When to contact an attorney

During many jobs, a certain measure of risk can be expected. However, some types of injuries sustained on the job may have been caused by malfunctioning equipment or other preventable factors. If you’ve been injured on the job, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical expenses. Contact an attorney with experience in personal injury cases and workers’ compensation to find out what your rights are.

Keywords: construction, accident, work site