What Are the Most Dangerous Jobs In New York?
Dangerous jobs are not for everyone. Performing them involves high risk to yourself and anxiety for your family. Most risks include damage to health, such as illnesses, and sometimes a high probability of fatal accidents. Such work can also be physically and mentally exhausting. A worker can spend several hours a day in difficult conditions, and often not compensated with significantly higher than average earnings, despite increased hazards.
The list of such professions can be never-ending, especially in some impoverished areas of the world. However, certain kinds of work, albeit necessary to an economy, can be found in first world countries like the United States. In this instance, look no further than to one of the wealthiest states in the U.S. – New York. The most dangerous professions in the Empire State are primarily those related to construction work, transportation, and uniformed services. For knowledge, any worker injured in an accident is eligible to file a workers’ compensation case.
Truck Driver
In general, the work of a long-range road driver is demanding, and in the case of trucks, it can take thrice the effort. A truck driver not only faces a high risk of motor vehicle accidents, but the damage it can cause soon after. Truck drivers transport various types of cargo material, including dangerous ones, such as petroleum and chemicals, both prone to explosion. The main causes of death for truck drivers are fires that break out in cabins, as well as sudden heart attacks and strokes. More than 5,000 drivers die each year because of truck accidents nationwide.
Line Electrician
There is little room for mistakes in electrical work. An electrician who repairs damaged or broken traction networks will always be at high risk of electric shock. The situation is not made easier by stress, haste to repair the fault, and unfavorable weather conditions. Contact with high voltage can always turn out to be a fatal accident.
Garbage Sanitation Worker
Although it may seem surprising, working for a garbage removal company is a risky job. Every year, out of 100,000 employees, approximately 40 sanitation workers die while performing their duties. Employees are constantly exposed to chemicals and unknown diseases. Additional threats are road accidents and garbage processing machines.
Scaffold Worker
Scaffolding can be seen everywhere in New York City. While work atop scaffolds may seem light from a pedestrian, point of view, nothing could be further from the truth. Every year, over 60 people die from scaffold-related work, with more than 4,500 injured. Even though workers are typically required to undergo rigorous health and safety training, fatal accidents cannot be avoided. The most common cause of death is falling steel structures and falls from great heights.
Firefighter
To become a firefighter, you must be extremely fit, both physically and mentally. In their work, firefighters are exposed to contact with harmful chemical and radiological substances, as well as toxic gases. Moreover, while performing their professional duties, they may be electrocuted, burned, crushed by debris, fall from a height or drown. In addition, firefighters are exposed to stress and risk, which is why they must be very mentally resilient.
Underwater Welder
Like any other maritime professions, welding is a demanding and risky job. The main causes of death are electric shocks and sometimes, underwater explosions. A welder may also suffer from decompression sickness and any problems with the equipment required to work underwater.
There is no clear answer to whether a dangerous occupation is worth it or not. It all depends on the type of activity and your own predispositions. If we accept the risk, which, despite observing occupational health and safety rules, we can develop in such professions. However, it is worth considering whether the employee’s sacrifice is properly rewarded financially. If a dangerous job comes with the same salary as those doing quiet office work, you might want to think twice about it. Nevertheless, some occupations are simply necessary, and we must do everything we can to protect the workers performing those tasks.