Hazardous Occupations
The top five most hazardous occupations in the United States are, in order from most dangerous to least, fishermen and related workers, logging workers, flight engineers and pilots, structural iron and steel workers, and agricultural workers. In the city of Chicago, you won’t run into many professional fishermen or logging workers. However, in the greater Chicagoland area, there are numerous farmers, aircraft pilots, and construction professionals, including iron workers.
When most people think about dangerous jobs, they immediately think of our protective service professionals, fire department personnel and police officers. These occupations are among the top ten nationwide, coming in at number ten and number seven respectively. That is why it is so important to understand your rights, and the best way to do that is to confer with a knowledgeable workers’ comp lawyer at Chicago. Nevertheless, in Illinois, truck drivers and transport workers (including pilots), farmers, construction workers, and even sales-related occupations experience more workplace injuries and fatalities than do police and firemen.
Types of Injuries
There is a broad range of industries in the Chicagoland area, including many manufacturing jobs which are inherently more dangerous than those performed in an office environment. The construction and manufacturing industries tend to be dominated by men, which may explain why 92 percent of workplace deaths in Illinois are men, even though they only make up slightly more than half of the total workforce.
The cause of injury or death varies by industry, with manufacturing and agriculture workers experiencing the most injuries due to transportation accidents. Conversely, falls are the leading cause of death in the construction sector. Assaults and violent acts can be blamed for the most injuries and deaths in the retail trade industry, which includes hospitality workers .
Because truck drivers and delivery personnel spend a great deal of time in moving vehicles, they are at an increased risk of being involved in an accident. However, they place themselves in greater danger when they leave their vehicle to deliver packages or goods – especially in high-traffic areas or on narrow side streets.
When You Become Injured
Despite all the statistics telling us which jobs are the most dangerous and which ones are the safest, the truth is, you or someone you care about can be injured while performing almost any type of work-related task. If you do become injured, you may incur exorbitant medical bills, need to take time off from work, and may even become permanently disabled.
At Shea Law Group, we have handled thousands of personal injury cases over the years, and hundreds involving workers’ compensation claims. Give us a call today at (877)-365-0040 to book your free, no-risk consultation with an experienced Chicago workers’ comp attorney who can help protect your rights and your financial future.
