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.
Some jobs are significantly 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
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 have to 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 has to be mentally agile enough to make smart snap judgments within a fraction of a second.
To avoid dangers associated with a job, you should first prepare yourself to risk your own 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 up your and physical harm. The fire department should also ensure equipment is up-to-date and functional to avoid last-minute setbacks and keep firefighters safe.
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 extremely deadly if not used carefully. Anglers risk poisoning by making their sinkers because the material they use to make them contains lead. And the one risk they are at all times is drowning. As surprisingly as that sounds, not every angler knows how to swim!
One of the ways of increasing safety for professional fishers is ensuring that they have better equipment. Provide an alternative to lead to make sinks as it is hazardous for both 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 times 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 to ensure that a construction site is safe to work at. 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. And last but not least, watch your step!
4. Lumberjacks and woodworkers
Woodworking may not be as fatal as some of the other entries on this list, but it definitely accounts for many more permanent injuries for workers every year. The machines and tools they use to cut and shape wood are pretty sharp and often come close to chopping off fingers, hands, and arms. These include sanding machines, drilling equipment, shapers, and lathing machines.
Woodworkers should use sturdy gloves and eye-protection gear at all times. 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 of them risk their lives every day 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. To avoid these accidents and crashes, drivers should always follow traffic rules and speed limits. 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 as electrocution, falling, getting hit by heavy metal, damage by construction equipment, 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 on 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.
Conclusion
One must be ready to take risks, but one must also learn all the survival skills to avoid any unnecessary danger to their life. You cannot always eliminate a hazard, but you can still 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 least dangerous ones, and carefully strategize to counter each one. Developing SOPs and rules is essential to ensure safety. If you work in a potentially hazardous environment, be smart and be safe.
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