Workplace Fatalities in the U.S. Over Time

The rate of workers who die on the job has steadily decreased over time. However, the vast majority of dangerous jobs are still performed by men.
Death rate = deaths per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers
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+18
Level ∞
Nov 14, 2019
The gender disparity really is crazy. I wouldn't be surprised if 99% or more of dangerous jobs are performed by men. The fatality rate for women (0.6) is actually less than the overall fatality rate for every single listed occupation, even financial services (1.0).
+15
Level ∞
Nov 14, 2019
Most dangerous jobs:

  • Fishers: 99.8

  • Loggers: 84.3

  • Pilots: 48.6

  • Roofers: 45.2

  • Garbage collection: 35.0

  • Steelworkers: 33.4

  • Truck drivers and traveling salespeople: 26.8

  • Farmers and ranchers: 24.0

  • Groundskeepers: 21.0

  • Electric line workers: 18.7

+1
Level 75
Nov 15, 2019
I think I am most surprised by the presence of groundskeepers on this list. Chainsaw accidents, I guess? You wouldn't think there are too many weed-whacker deaths...
+7
Level ∞
Nov 15, 2019
Falls are a common cause of death in many industries.
+2
Level 65
Aug 19, 2021
Groundskeepers probably include those people who trim branches off of palm trees in California.
+2
Level 44
Jun 8, 2021
I am surprised that firshermans is the most dangerous job
+1
Level 88
Jul 27, 2022
I thought that was common knowledge.
+17
Level ∞
Nov 14, 2019
Every time I see someone up in a tree holding a chainsaw I think to myself how glad I am to have a desk job.
+13
Level 82
Nov 15, 2019
Yet another stark illustration of female privilege in the United States.
+23
Level ∞
Nov 15, 2019
Both genders have privileges obviously.
+18
Level 82
Nov 15, 2019
They do, but in the United States, male privilege is grossly overstated, and often just flat out made up, and female privilege is not even acknowledged, even though females are enormously more privileged than males in the country. Also, often, the things held up as examples of male privilege are really examples of the opposite, such as the fact that men are expected to work longer hours, and make more money, in order to be attractive enough to secure a mate or support a family. Just compare suicide rates, or rates of homelessness, or match rate on dating apps. It's not even close.
+15
Level 88
Dec 9, 2019
@Kalbahamut: All those things you mentioned relate to pride and vanity and can easily be counteracted by not caring as much about how other people perceive you. I work with women, I can comfortably walk home from work late at night without having to really worry about anything bad happening to me. The women I work with have to be driven to their cars and there's no chance of them walking all the way home, due to the risk of them being sexually assaulted. But yeh the random people who make up 'society' expect you to earn more money. Cry me a river.
+1
Level 22
Dec 23, 2020
@ECon211 well said.
+2
Level 82
May 6, 2022
@ECon211 appropriate response would be censored. Use your imagination if you are able.
+10
Level 74
Nov 15, 2019
Sexism is always a double edged sword, it's not Team A vs Team B.
+13
Level 82
Nov 15, 2019
Agree wholeheartedly, except that when Team B shows up intent on slaughtering or diminishing Team A (particularly when Team A isn't even aware that they're being placed on a team) and encounters no resistance that can be a problem. All tribalism is evil. Whether it's Nazis demonizing Jews, Protestants demonizing Catholics, "Whites" demonizing "Blacks," citizens demonizing foreigners, Belgians demonizing Americans, or women demonizing men. All different flavors of the same evil counterproductive BS.
+1
Level 22
Dec 23, 2020
So what do you advocate for? Based on your comments definitely seems like you'd like to give men more rights- isn't that the same thing?
+3
Level 82
May 6, 2022
I only ever advocate for total equality. My enemies are both overt bigots and the ignorant but well-intentioned. Often, especially in the most liberal and equitable societies, more harm is done by the latter than the former.
+4
Level 58
May 7, 2021
A nation divided will not stand... why do you think the media is always yelling about race and gender.
+3
Level 88
Jul 27, 2022
A person divided really can't stand.
+2
Level 59
Mar 8, 2024
might depend which way
+2
Level 58
May 7, 2021
Why can't everyone just be friends :)
+3
Level 44
Jun 8, 2021
I want to have friends
+2
Level 69
Oct 28, 2021
I assume it's because people are always finding a way to divide each other.
+1
Level 68
Dec 25, 2022
You'll never see this being spoken about on the news.

By the way did you know that one in four homeless people are women?