Do you know about the jobs that risk the lives and health of their workers? You don’t have to be a soldier or firefighter to put your life on the line. Many seemingly ordinary occupations could prove hazardous.

There are many dangerous jobs that people endure to help themselves and others. Take a look at these hazardous jobs whose workers deserve plenty of recognition.

1. Health Services Manager

Health services managers take charge of operational duties in a medical setting. They make hospital policies and processes to help balance medical and business needs. Some common tasks include:

• Giving healthcare workers their schedules
• Maintaining all budget records
• Coordinating the delivery of service and care by healthcare teams
• Managing day-to-day records of the entire facility
• Keeping close contact with directors and medical leaders
• Oversees the hiring and training of hospital staff

However, being a health services manager can be one of those hazardous jobs. These workers often sustain injuries from violence. There are at least 134 per 10,000 workers that get sick or injured.

Injuries occur due to patients in the behavioral, geriatric, and emergency health departments. Most health services managers manage high-risk facilities, such as rehabilitation centers. Some of the most common injuries from this line of work are by falling and slipping.

2. Waste Recyclers

Away Today Rubbish Removal state that waste handling is an important job but with the amount of waste and the types of waste we try to recycle makes it one of the most dangerous jobs to have today. Since we tend to replace our gadgets, it’s nothing new to see old machinery in the trash. This gave birth to new e-waste recyclers who are also at risk.

Many e-waste and waste recyclers lack the proper equipment to hold and handle the waste. Many waste materials contain moist nutrients where microorganisms can breed and live. Microorganisms pose a threat of infection and raise the risk of illnesses.

Bacteria in waste materials leave recyclers vulnerable to either touch or breathe it in. This leads many workers to develop asthma and bronchitis. Some recyclers come in direct contact with harmful substances such as lead.

Some of these poisonous materials can enter their bloodstream. It’s common for waste recyclers to get respiratory and acute systemic symptoms. Children have a higher risk since they can become incapacitated when they get older.

3. Loggers and Lumberjacks

Loggers are people who work in the lumber industry. They are responsible for cutting down and loading the trees for transportation. People in the logging industry are 28 times more likely to die than in other fields.

Many loggers and lumberjacks have to work in tough conditions. They have to go through with heavy loads, bad weather, and rough terrains. One of the biggest threats is malfunctioning chainsaws and falling tree limbs.

There are over 91 out of 100,000 loggers who die every year. There are also at least 1,040 loggers every year who sustain small to medium injuries. The risks get much higher if there are first-time loggers on the job.

4. Registered Nurses

Nurses are multi-tasking caregivers who have to handle patients while supporting doctors. You can find them in hospitals, clinics, homes, and schools. They may specialize in other areas such as pediatrics, geriatrics, cardiac care, and so on.

Here are some of the common tasks of registered nurses:

• Applying medications to patients
• Monitoring the side effects or reactions from medication
• Records conditions of patients
• Evaluate, plan, and implement patient care plans
• Educating patients and their family members about treatments and care plans

Nurses have to go over and beyond to handle all their patients. It leads to 45 out of 10,000 nurses getting injuries due to overexertion. There are over 20,730 work-related injuries in this line of work due to lack of sleep and overworking.

On the bright side, there are plenty of people joining the workforce. It means that nurses don’t have to handle many patients at once, and they can take turns. Being a registered nurse needs plenty of patience, compassion, and emotional stability.

5. Fishermen

Fishing may seem like a peaceful, meditative way to spend your time outdoors. However, commercial fishing is one of the most hazardous jobs in the US. This profession has a fatality rate that is 40 times higher than the national average.

There are at least 77 out of 100,000 fishermen that get fatal injuries every year. Fishing involves spending long hours in near-freezing temperatures to catch fish. They have to deal with the bad weather and defective gear in wavy waters.

Most incidents happen due to boat problems or falling overboard. There is also the possibility of the ship sinking or capsizing. It happens when heavy machines sit on tiny vessels, hit other boats, or sudden weather changes.

6. Truck Drivers

Truck drivers have to sell, deliver, and pick up items throughout the entire day. It’s one of the worst jobs in the United States due to the long hours with low pay. Many companies expect truck drivers to drive for at least 14 hours a day.

Sleep deprivation from long work hours causes drivers to swerve off the road. This can result in fatal injuries and, sometimes, death. Most truck drivers have difficulty with maintaining an exercise routine.

It’s also hard to keep a healthy diet, making 88% of truck drivers developing at least one risk factor. They can get a chronic disease with hypertension, obesity, and addiction to nicotine. It’s also common that they are overweight or obese due to road food.

7. Meat Processing Workers

The meatpacking industry is a risky job due to dangerous tools and repetitive motions. It’s common to get cuts, skin disease, and amputation in this line of work.

Meat processing workers can get permanent shoulder and arm damage. There are at least 44 out of 100,000 workers who get serious injuries. If you want more info, you can check out this job hazard analysis software.

Take Time to Appreciate These Hazardous Jobs

These are some of the most hazardous jobs that you may not know about. Workers experience various types of risks, from harsh environments to overstressing. We hope this guide teaches you to appreciate people from various workforces!

Found a career you like? Are you looking for more tips about health and lifestyle? Check out our other blogs for more valuable information.