Everyone has those days where they’d rather be anywhere else than at work, but there are certain industries that really take the cake in this regard. Employers that disregard the physical danger or mental exhaustion of their workers should be taken to task. Here are some of the most egregious examples of industries that put their employees at risk.
Mining
It’s obvious that mining a dangerous profession—just take a look at some of the industry’s headline-making disasters. Mining accidents can hurt, maim or kill dozens of workers with a single catastrophe, which is likely why they get so much attention. Some of the most common causes of fatality are cave-ins, floods, gas explosions, chemical spills and electrocution. Safety standards are slow to address the slew of tragedies within mining professions—though thanks to the excessive air pollution caused by mining, public opinion is caving in on the industry fast.
Logging
Apparently Monty Python was wrong when they sang “I’m a lumberjack and I’m OK”. The song is all humor and satire, of course, but there’s nothing funny about the injury rate in the logging industry. To add insult to injury, loggers aren’t even very well paid, averaging about $17.41 per hour. Lumberjacks are more than just a fashion archetype co-opted by misguided hipsters; they are at-risk professionals that deserve more protection and compensation than they receive.
Law
For most lawyers, the bar exam is the least of their worries. Not only does their line of work occasionally put them at risk of bodily harm, it is a job that requires a huge mental output. Just a few things that take a toll on their health: long hours, minimal days off, skyrocketing stress levels, lingering student debt, a competitive job market, pressure from client cases and impossible expectations. Not all hazardous jobs are predicated on physical risk, and the burn-out and psychological stressors in the law industry are worth taking to court.
Public Transportation
Braving road conditions, rush hour traffic and abusive passengers is enough to make being a public bus driver an incredibly difficult profession. Although physical safety is always a concern on the road, what is even more troubling is that transit workers reportedly have the highest rate of depression out of high-stress industries, according to researchers at the Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epistemology journal. Next time you get on or off the bus, think about flashing a smile instead of complaining about running late.
The Military
The military is a dangerous profession and was reported as the most stressful job in a 2017 study—most people know that when they enlist. That being said, they expect that the danger comes from the “enemy”, but enlisted military personnel are also subjected to sexual assault, substance abuse, domestic violence, child abuse and physical and mental anguish. It should be disconcerting that our brave men and women in uniform have to protect themselves on two fronts: on the battlefield and amidst their own ranks.
Construction
It may seem obvious that construction workers are exposed to a high risk of potential injury on the job. The most recent census in 2015 recorded the highest number of accidental fatalities since 2008, with 924 cases throughout the year. Falls, dangerous machinery, heavy material, structural collapses, exposed electrical wires and power tools are just some of the reasons that this industry sucks. At its worst, the construction industry can also be dangerous for passers-by, traffic and other civilians.
The Takeaway
No job is worth the health, happiness or safety of its workers. Dangerous jobs suck. Do you deal daily with workplace hazards or know someone who does? Speak out. WorkplaceInjury.Sucks and should be prevented at all costs. Join the conversation with your own .SUCKS domain today.
Photos: Shutterstock / Evgeny Dudarev, Shutterstock / Jan Faukner, Shutterstock / Africa Studio, Shutterstock / Dmitry Kalinovsky
