Every year, thousands of people across New York are injured or sickened as a result of their jobs. While the unique hazard of COVID-19 has made many jobs more dangerous, the fact is that some of the most dangerous jobs have been that way for a very long time. Here are seven of the most dangerous professions in New York, based on the rate of on-the-job illness and injury:
- Construction workers
- There is no single profession that exposes its workers to more varied yet constant sources of harm than construction. Every day, construction workers face potential danger from falling from high areas, having objects fall on them, being electrocuted, being exposed to dangerous chemicals, or even getting caught in cave-ins. It does not help that many construction contractors and construction site owners do not take appropriate precautions to prevent these injuries, putting them at a high risk of harm.
- Healthcare workers
- Doctors, nurses, lab technicians, and orderlies are all at the front line against fighting illness, and unfortunately, that puts them at high risk of getting sick as well. This problem has only become more severe during the coronavirus outbreak, where many medical professionals working to fight the disease also caught it. In addition, healthcare workers often suffer from exhaustion due to long hours and high stress, putting them at a higher risk of accidental injury.
- Mass transit workers
- Taxi drivers, bus drivers, subway workers, and others responsible for mass transit are also at high risk for on-the-job injuries. Taxi drivers and bus drivers must deal with long work hours and occasionally hostile customers, putting them at risk of both accidental and intentional injury. Subway and train workers, on the other hand, are often at risk of being injured, either by getting caught between the car and the platform, or by making contact with the electrified third rail.
- Police officers
- Being a police officer is an inherently dangerous profession, due to how often they are called into violent situations. Whenever they are brought in to deal with a robbery, assault, or other crime, there is a risk that they will be injured trying to bring a suspect in. Aside from that, though, they also face long hours and high stress on the job, which puts them at a higher risk of car accidents and other accidental injuries.
- Sanitation workers
- Sanitation workers do the hard work of ensuring our streets are clean, but that is not an easy job, or a safe one. It requires a lot of physical labor, which can result in muscle strain or exhaustion, and they are at constant risk of being injured by the heavy machinery they operate daily. In addition, sanitation workers are at constant risk of being hit by cars while they go about the business of picking up trash.
- Firefighters
- It is probably not a surprise that a job that requires charging into burning buildings is pretty dangerous. Not only is there the risk of burns, but smoke inhalation is also a constant threat. Moreover, it carries the same risk of other physically demanding and high-stress jobs, putting firefighters at a higher risk of accidental injury.
- Electricians
- Electrocution is the fourth highest cause of on-the-job injury in the United States, and electricians share the distinction with construction workers of being one of the primary victims of that type of injury. Even with protective equipment, loose wires, bad insulation, or unknowingly live power lines pose a constant threat. In addition, electricians face risks from going into people’s homes, where aggressive pets and angry customers can result in them gettin hurt.
If you have been involved in an accident on the job, it is important to speak with an attorney to be informed of your legal rights. The personal injury lawyers at Zlotolow & Associates can bring more than two decades of experience to your case. We have helped thousands of clients recover through settlements and courtroom verdicts. To schedule a consultation, you can call us toll-free at (886) 800-0092, or you can visit our contact page.
