All professions can have work injuries. In fact, in the city of Houston and the state of Texas, the rate of workplace injuries is even higher than the national average due to Houston having many dangerous industries.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 2021 saw 5,190 fatal work injuries. This was about a 9% increase compared to 2020, when 4,764 workplace fatalities occurred.
The BLS recently analyzed the data regarding fatal work injuries to determine the professions with the highest risk of injury and fatality rates.
Based on this research, the 10 deadliest jobs in America are outlined below.
1. Logging Workers
Number of fatal injuries (2021): 43
Fatal injury rate: 82 per 100,000 full-time workers
Non-fatal injury rate: 3% of full-time workers
Average Salary: Approximately $48,000
Most common fatal accident: Contact with equipment and objects
The industry with the highest rate of job deaths, in 2021 was logging. Often, loggers work in poor weather conditions and in isolated areas.
Because advanced education is not required for the profession, most logging workers are trained on the job.
The dangerous and physical nature of the work causes many of the fatalities as loggers deal with the heavy equipment used to fell trees and process the downed logs.
2. Fishing and Hunting Workers
Number of fatal injuries (2021): 23
Fatal injury rate: 75 per 100,000 full-time workers
Non-fatal injury rate: 4% of full-time workers
Average Salary: Approximately $59,000
Most common fatal accident: Transportation accidents
Because these workers are responsible for trapping and catching such a wide variety of animals, they may need to perform their jobs on boats, in forests, or in other isolated areas. With limited formal education, they often use specialized equipment, including:
- Guns
- Nets
- Traps
- Sharp tools and dangerous implements
This profession often calls for workers to travel to remote areas to locate wildlife. Traveling in rough terrain leads to transportation-related accidents.
3. Roofers
Number of fatal injuries (2021): 115
Fatal injury rate: 59 per 100,000 full-time workers
Non-fatal injury rate: 2.4% of full-time workers
Average Salary: Approximately $52,000
Most common fatal accident: Falls, slips, and trips
Roofers are responsible for installing and/or repairing roofs on residential homes and commercial buildings, working with a wide range of materials, including:
- Asphalt
- Shingles
- Metal
- Waterproofing materials
Often, roofers work at great heights, performing jobs in various weather conditions. Most roofing jobs do not require advanced education, and most skills are learned through apprenticeships or training on the job.
Since their working conditions are so treacherous, any trip or slip and fall can be a deadly occurrence.
4. Aircraft Pilots and Flight Engineers
Number of fatal injuries (2021): 68
Fatal injury rate: 48 per 100,000 full-time workers
Non-fatal injury rate: 5.4% of full-time workers
Average Salary: Approximately $190,000
Most common fatal accident: Transportation incidents
Pilots are responsible for navigating commercial and private aircraft. Engineers are responsible for monitoring the aircraft’s mechanical systems, engines, and fuel levels. This industry takes a substantial amount of training.
Commercial aircraft pose fewer risks, but private planes and helicopters are more dangerous because there is less safety and piloting equipment.
5. Structural Iron and Steel Workers
Number of fatal injuries (2021): 14
Fatal injury rate: 36 per 100,000 full-time workers
Non-fatal injury rate: 3.7% of full-time workers
Average Salary: Approximately $65,000
Most common fatal accident: Falls, slips, and trips
Ironworkers handle structural iron and steel while building and supporting bridges, buildings, and roads. They also assist in the demolition and rehabilitation of certain structures. They often learn through apprenticeships.
Because they work at great heights and around such dangerous equipment, a trip or slip and fall can have disastrous effects.
6. Delivery and Truck Drivers
Number of fatal injuries (2021): 1,032
Fatal injury rate: 29 per 100,000 full-time workers
Non-fatal injury rate: 3.5% of full-time workers
Average Salary: Approximately $48,000
Most common fatal accident: Transportation accidents
The American economy is built on the backs of delivery and truck drivers as they transport commercial goods and raw materials locally and across the country. Commercial licenses are required for the job, but not much formal education is needed.
The more time they spend on the road, the higher the risk of vehicle collisions.
7. Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors
Number of fatal injuries (2021): 23
Fatal injury rate: 28 per 100,000 full-time workers
Non-fatal injury rate: 3% of full-time workers
Average Salary: Approximately $46,000
Most common fatal accident: Transportation accidents
Picking up trash and recycling from residential and commercial properties, these workers drive large trucks through congested roads, transporting waste to landfills and recycling centers. A formal education is not required, but drivers do need a commercial license.
Like any truck driver, more time spent on the road elevates the risk of vehicle collisions.
8. Underground Mining Machine Operators
Number of fatal injuries (2021): 10
Fatal injury rate: 27 per 100,000 full-time workers
Non-fatal injury rate: 2% of full-time workers
Average Salary: Approximately $59,000
Most common fatal accident: Contact with equipment and objects
While extracting raw materials from mines, equipment designed to load or transport these heavy materials are utilized. These machines may include:
- Cable-drawn scrapers/scoops
- Conveyors
- Hoisting engines
- Shuttle/mine cars
These machine operators often work underground and in dangerous conditions, making them susceptible to injury and workplace death.
9. Construction Workers
Number of fatal injuries (2021): 15
Fatal injury rate: 23 per 100,000 full-time workers
Non-fatal injury rate: 2.4% of full-time workers
Average Salary: Approximately $57,000
Most common fatal accident: Falls, slips, and trips
The construction trades are notoriously dangerous. This is because construction workers build, remodel, and repair residential and commercial buildings with heavy machinery.
Construction laborers usually learn through On-the-job training or apprenticeships. Seldom is formal education required.
The construction industry often refers to their top hazards as the fatal four. These include:
- Being trapped in or between objects
- Being struck by objections
- Electrocution
- Falls
10. Electrical Power-line Workers
Number of fatal injuries (2021): 30
Fatal injury rate: 22 per 100,000 full-time workers
Non-fatal injury rate: 2.1% of full-time workers
Average Salary: Approximately $82,000
Most common fatal accident: Transportation accidents
These workers bring electricity to households and businesses by installing, maintaining, and repairing the power lines and the accompanying equipment. On-the-job training and apprenticeships are common.
Often working under dangerous conditions and traveling to storm and disaster-affected areas to perform installations or make repairs, transportation can be dicey, making vehicle accidents common.
Were you Injured in a Dangerous Job? Contact The Mejia Law Firm Today for a Free Consultation.
You do not have to work in one of the most dangerous professions to face risks while on the job. It is your employer’s responsibility to create a safe work environment. It is also their responsibility to provide appropriate compensation if something goes wrong and injuries occur.
If you or a loved one was hurt or killed at work, contact the skilled Houston work injury lawyers at the Mejia Law Firm to start your journey of recovery and justice. Getting legal help is often necessary for workers to obtain the compensation you need and deserve to recover.