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The UK’s most perilous professions
142 worker deaths were reported in the UK in the year 2014/15. Falls from height accounted for nearly 3 in 10 fatal injuries to workers. From the report published by HSE it transpires that paragliding instructors, mountain rangers and skyscraper window cleaners are not the most dangerous jobs in the UK.
Builder
It’s not all tea, biscuits and afternoon radio sing-alongs for builders. In one year (2014-15) 35 construction workers suffered fatal injuries. 45% of these were caused by a fall from height; the rest involved being hit by a vehicle, or being struck by a moving object. Builders work in hazardous environments all day long, making reflective jackets and hard hats of paramount importance.
Farmer
Being a farmer is a tough job (despite the joys of riding a combine harvester through the magnificence of Mother Nature). 60% of illnesses reported by farmers were musculoskeletal disorders. The silver lining for these hands on business folk is that they reported no work-related illnesses caused by stress, depression or anxiety. Farmers also have a greater chance of finding treasure during their regular working day. A Roman helmet, called the Crosby Garrett Helmet, was found on a farm Cumbria in may 2010. It sold later for a whopping 35 million dollars.
Mechanic
From handicraft to high tech, the reparation of motor vehicles and motorcycles makes the list. 16 people were fatally injured in 2014-15. These fatalities were due to being struck by an object, contact with machinery, falling from a height and being trapped by something collapsing.
Waste collector
Waste management is a dirty job, and a dangerous one too. 5 waste collectors died in a work related incident in 2014-15, a figure that is broadly the average for the last 5 years, which is 7. Contrary to popular thought, bacteria is accountable for a minority of the ailments reported in this sector Instead, slips, trips and being hit by moving vehicles were the predominant cause of injury.
Miner
With the decline of deep coal mining (the UK has three deep pit coalmines left) this profession doesn’t rate as highly as others. Mining is a notoriously dangerous profession; the worst mining disaster in UK history took place in 1914 in Senghenydd, Glamorgan, when 493 men and boys were killed.
Published date: 31st May 2016
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