Most Dangerous Jobs in the United States According to OSHA
July 4, 2025 | Sagi Shaked | Workplace Injuries
There is no job in which employees don’t face some risk of workplace accidents. Even people with desk jobs can face back and neck pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and tendonitis.
According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly three out of every 100 workers faced an occupational injury or illness in 2023. While the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires employers to take steps to keep employees safe, some jobs make that more difficult.
OSHA uses fatal work injury data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to determine which jobs are the most dangerous. According to those charts, the following occupations have the highest rates of civilians involved in deadly workplace accidents (incidence rates are calculated per 100,000 full-time equivalent employees).
1. Loggers
With an incidence rate of 98.9, logging has been one of the deadliest jobs in America for many years. The role involves walking on unstable terrain in isolated environments and adverse weather conditions, dodging massive falling trees, and operating heavy machinery that workers can easily get sucked into.
2. Fishers and Hunters
Fishermen and hunters are another group tasked with working in unstable environments and adverse weather conditions. It takes only a few wrong moves for fishermen to be in danger of drowning at sea, while hunters must navigate gunfire and dangerous prey to get the job done. This has led to a staggering fatal injury incidence rate of 86.9.
3. Roofers
It’s easy to see how roofing jobs put employees in danger. Workers are required to climb ladders and move around on elevated surfaces, often with no scaffolding. Additionally, they must carry materials and equipment as they navigate angles. This can easily lead to slips and falls, resulting in a 51.8 fatal injury rate.
4. Garbage and Recyclable Material Collectors
Multiple hazards contribute to this job’s 41.4 fatal injury incidence rate. There’s the potential of coming in contact with sharp objects and infectious materials. Then, workers must get those materials into a powerful compactor, which can easily crush them. Employees also face the possibility of being involved in car accidents while working along busy roads.
5. Aircraft Workers
Aircraft engineers work with large machinery and high-voltage systems capable of producing fatal injuries. Engineers must often work at great heights and in confined spaces, making it difficult to move around to escape injury. Though pilots don’t maintain aircraft, they still face the danger of plane crashes. This results in a fatal injury rate of 31.3.
6. Construction Helpers
Helpers and assistants in the construction trades face a fatal injury incident rate of 27.4. They’re constantly exposed to electrical wiring, dangerous chemicals, falling debris, and elevated worksites on uneven surfaces. Avoiding construction accidents can be difficult, especially when workers are expected to continue working in poor weather conditions.
Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers Will Fight for Your Rights After a Workplace Injury
Dangerous jobs can negatively affect everyone. Deadly jobs in businesses that neglect safety protocols can lead to catastrophic injuries, with lifelong consequences for employees and increased penalties and workers’ compensation costs for employers.
If you’ve been hurt on the job because of your employer’s negligence, you should know that you have rights. Our Aventura personal injury attorneys at Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers can advocate for you by conducting a full, unbiased investigation that may help you build a solid case for pursuing compensation.
Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers
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