Survival is the most basic human instinct, and ensuring safety is an essential part of it. Humans engage in multiple dangerous activities daily, either for their work or for the sake of the thrill. Sometimes even the most dangerous jobs are responsible for health issues.
Some jobs are significantly more dangerous than others and come with numerous hazards, including exposure to toxic chemicals or an increased chance of personal injuries. Each threat is unique to a workplace or job, and it would be unfair to say that one is more dangerous than the other as they can all be fatal.
Safety from workplace hazards is the legal right of every employee. The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) outlines many explicit provisions to avoid all occupational hazards.
Here’s a list of some of the most dangerous jobs, the dangers that come with them, and a few safety and prevention tips.
Most Dangerous Jobs and a Few Safety and Prevention Tips
Here’s a list of the most dangerous jobs that can entail health issues for the employee. Check out the list to find out how these threaten someone’s health:
1. Firefighting
Most people will argue whether firefighting is even a dangerous job or not, especially when we compare it to many other potentially fatal professions out there. Well, of course, it is. Fire is both extremely hot and unpredictable!
Firefighting is indeed a risky job. It entails tackling anything from a fire in case of a short circuit, trash burning in a dumpster, or even a national wildfire disaster. Training to become a firefighter is extremely hard. You must overcome many life-and-death situations.
It involves learning necessary survival skills, managing different equipment, learning to deal with small and big fires, and disaster management. More importantly, one must be mentally agile enough to make smart snap judgments within a fraction of a second.
To avoid dangers associated with a job, you should prepare yourself to risk your life for others. Adequate firefighter training is essential to skill up and develop the core strength you will need for the job.
It would be best to get life and health insurance to cover your physical harm. The fire department should also ensure equipment is up-to-date and functional to avoid last-minute setbacks and keep firefighters safe.
This is one of the most dangerous jobs that requires you to have proper safety measures in place for the employees.
2. Fishing
Fishing is as old as any profession can get. And as simple as it sounds, it is equally dangerous too! Nets, hooks, and fishing rods can be deadly if not used carefully. Anglers risk poisoning by making their sinkers because the material they use contains lead.
And the one risk they always deal with is drowning. As surprising as that sounds, not every angler knows how to swim! One way to increase safety for professional fishers is to ensure they have better equipment.
Provide an alternative to lead to make sinks as it is hazardous for humans and the climate. Make training centers for anglers to learn deep-sea swimming and how to fish safely.
Not to mention, anglers are severely underpaid in most developing countries, leading to longer work hours. A better salary will help reduce work hours and the risks associated with the job.
3. Roofers
Roofers get themselves in a whole lot of trouble daily. Repairing, changing, and laying roofs on houses and all kinds of structures is a job that comes with multiple life risks. At the top of the list is the risk of falling from a height and incurring traumatic physical and neurological injuries.
Usually, contractors take full responsibility for ensuring a construction site is safe. However, accidents do not happen with prior notice. And sometimes, it’s mere human callousness that’s the problem.
Roofers should set up a fall prevention system before starting work. Learn how to position ladders and suspension equipment safely. Use scaffolding to prevent any falls at all.
Dispose of all the debris beforehand and check all the electric equipment to prevent fire or electrocuting damage. Lastly, watch your step!
4. Lumberjacks And Woodworkers
Woodworking may not be as fatal as some other entries on this list, but it accounts for many more permanent injuries for workers every year. The machines and tools they use to cut and shape wood are sharp and often close to chopping off fingers, hands, and arms.
These include sanding machines, drilling equipment, shapers, and lathing machines. Woodworkers should always use sturdy gloves and eye-protection gear.
It will help prevent hand injuries and sawdust from entering the eyes. The equipment should be up to date, and the workers should avoid rusty tools to minimize the risk of infections and allergies. Additionally, watch out while sliding wood down the saw.
5. Truck Drivers
Accidents are the most common cause of death, even if you are not a professional driver. Cargo distributors, truck delivery drivers, loading and unloading, all risk their lives daily on the road.
Heavy vehicle crashes can be fatal or extremely dangerous. There is not only a loss of life at risk but also a loss of material.
Drivers should always follow traffic rules and speed limits to avoid these accidents and crashes. Examine the transport vehicles regularly and always check them before heading out on a long drive to deliver goods.
6. Construction Workers
Construction can be a passionate but fatal job. It is an industry with many internal hazards. Construction involves all kinds of work, from simple structural repairs to building commercial plazas, and it involves many dangers, such as electrocution, falling, getting hit by heavy metal, damage by construction equipment, and accidents during demolition, to name a few.
To avoid these incidents, workers should take proper safety measures. Workers should always use scaffolding and platforms while working at high heights.
They should use protective equipment to prevent any damage from construction machinery. The property inspection report should be clear before starting the construction work.
Responsibilities of an Employer
Here are a few things that you can do as an employer to ensure the employees are not hurt. Here’s what you can do:
1. Provide A Detailed Job Description:
- Highlight the specific hazards that the job entails. The dangerous jobs your employees may have to perform should be mentioned in the job description.
The employee must be informed of this during the onboarding process. For instance, mention if your employees are at risk of exposure to toxic chemicals, extreme weather conditions, or heavy machinery. - You can even list instances when accidents show the extent of danger.
2. Provide Data that Depicts Actual Rates of Danger:
- Research and provide accurate data representing injuries and/or fatality rates for such job roles. This will help the employee ascertain the risk to their health.
- Also, the rates of injury in other jobs where the level of danger is high should be highlighted.
3. Be Aware of Safety Guidelines and Regulations:
Certain standards must be maintained for jobs, especially those with health hazards. Thus, as an employer, you must be aware of your business’s safety regulations. This ensures that you are avoiding health hazards for an individual.
For instance, if you are a construction company, there are specific OSHA regulations that the employer must adhere to.
You must also inform your employees of the industry’s best practices necessary for your field. Awareness of the best practices helps maintain safety standards for employees relying on the employer for safety.
4. Obtain Proper Training And Certification:
Training is an essential part of any job that has significant health hazards. In your workplace, identify the areas that require training (handling equipment, etc.), and then ensure the staff is well-trained by an expert.
Continuously emphasize the need for awareness about safety protocols and enhancement in operations that can reduce health hazards.
5. Ensure Appropriate PPE:
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is necessary for job roles where employees may be exposed to health hazards. Each job requires specific PPE to protect the employees from the risks that their roles pose.
It may be exposure to chemicals, biological hazards, or other hazardous substances. Employers’ Common PPE in such sectors include gloves, respirators, masks, helmets (e.g., hard hats in construction), and PPE gowns.
These measures are necessary from the employer’s end to keep your employees safe.
Safety First: Keep Your Employees Safe!
That was all the most dangerous jobs that humans engage in. One must be ready to take risks and learn all the survival skills to avoid any unnecessary danger to one’s life.
You cannot always eliminate a hazard, but you can prevent its expansion and exposure by making the work environment safer. Try to identify and isolate threats by making a list ranging from the most dangerous to the least dangerous and carefully strategize to counter each.
Developing SOPs and rules is essential to ensure safety. If you work in a potentially hazardous environment, ensure necessary precautions are taken!
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