Unlike many surveys, this is one where not being ranked No. 1 is a good thing.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics recently released its latest census of fatal occupational injuries, including the list of Top 10 most dangerous jobs according to fatality rate.
While nearly a quarter of all fatal work injuries in 2004 occurred among workers who drive or move material around for a living – which includes everything from truck drivers to forklift operators – truck driving itself ranked as the ninth most dangerous job.
It should be noted, however, that the truck driving category includes both truck drivers and driver-sales workers – including pizza delivery drivers, vending machine fillers, etc.
In 2003, those were ranked as separate categories, and truck driving came in at No. 10 on the list while driver-sales workers came in at No. 5.
Overall, transportation and material moving occupations accounted for 1,490 work related fatalities in 2004, up from 1,393 in 2003.
There were 5,703 job-related fatalities in 2004, up from 5,575 in 2003. Of those, 1,374 were highway accidents on the job. That’s up from 1,353 in 2004.
Truck drivers had 904 fatalities in 2004, which equates to a fatality rate of 27.6 deaths per 100,000 workers. There were 808 truck driver fatalities reported in 2003.
Logging was the most dangerous occupation. Though there were only 85 total fatalities, there are fewer loggers than truckers, so the statistical death rate was much higher at 92.4 deaths per 100,000 workers.
The Top 10 most dangerous by fatality rate jobs are:
- Logging workers, 92.4 per 100,000
- Aircraft pilots, 92.4 per 100,000
- Fishers and fishing workers, 86.4 per 100,000
- Structural iron and steel workers, 47 per 100,000
- Refuse and recyclable material collectors, 43.2 per 100,000
- Farmers and ranchers, 37.5 per 100,000
- Roofers, 34.9 per 100,000
- Electrical power line installers/repairers, 30 per 100,000
- Driver/sales workers and truck drivers, 27.6 per 100,000
- Taxi drivers and chauffeurs, 24.2 per 100,000
