All forms of employment involve a degree of risk, but some jobs are more dangerous than others. Anyone can slip and fall while doing their job or develop a repetitive strain injury from performing the same job for years.
However, some people have significantly higher risk levels than others of developing major medical conditions or sustaining significant injuries at work. People often focus on fatality statistics when determining what jobs are the most dangerous. Overall, injury statistics can provide a more accurate look into job safety. There are usually dozens of worker injuries reported for every single recorded employee fatality.
After reviewing injury data, certain professions stand out as far more dangerous than others. What Ohio workers suffer the greatest risks of incurring injuries on the job?
The most dangerous careers may surprise some
Jobs with a high degree of risk don’t necessarily have to involve heavy equipment or chemical exposure. Many people may feel surprised to learn that some of the most dangerous jobs in terms of injury are nowhere to be seen on the list of most dangerous jobs when looking at reported workplace fatalities.
According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics looking at 2023 injury reports, working in nursing and residential care is the single most dangerous profession. There were a staggering 8.5 injuries reported for every 100 full-time workers in 2023.
Educational work is the second-most dangerous job in Ohio. There were 8.4 incidents resulting in injury per 100 full-time employees in the elementary and secondary education sectors. The third most dangerous job involves forging and stamping in the industrial sector. There were 5.6 injuries recorded for every 100 full-time workers.
There were many other professions that also reported an elevated number of workplace injuries. These careers included:
- wood product manufacturing
- animal slaughter and processing
- foundry work
- motor vehicle/trailer manufacturing
- social assistance
- warehousing and storage
- law enforcement
- public administration
Employees in any of these sectors may be at elevated risk of getting hurt on the job. They may require medical care and time away from their jobs to fully recover.
Workers hurt on the job may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. Applying for workers’ compensation can help people pay for medical care and recover lost wages. Regardless of the job someone performs, they may be eligible for benefits when an injury forces them to take a leave of absence and results in medical expenses.