When you think of a dangerous job, you generally think about police officers and first responders such as firefighters. This is not necessarily true in Minnesota.
Here are the four most dangerous jobs in Minnesota.
1. Farming
Farming deaths account for more than one-quarter of all the at-work deaths in Minnesota. When you think about it, it makes sense. You combine transport and sharp instruments, possibly with large animals thrown into the mix. Since much of Minnesota’s industry is farm-based, it follows that the farming industry ranks high on this list.
2. Transportation
Between over-the-road trucking, local trucking and commercial drivers, the transportation industry accounts for around 12 percent of workplace fatalities in Minnesota. This is below the national average but still very high. Thousands of car accidents happen every day many of these involve semis and commercial vehicles. Driving has always been dangerous, but when you add in the frequency of commercial driving, a fatal accident becomes more likely.
3. Construction
With high-rise, infrastructure, residential and business construction going on almost continuously, it is little wonder that construction ranks high. You combine heavy equipment, transportation, possibly dangerous materials and sharp tools into one occupation, and you have a recipe for injuries. Construction accounts for around eleven percent of all workplace fatalities.
4. Waste disposal
Although most of the deaths in waste disposal are vehicle-related, the incidents are still relatively high. There are also some hidden dangers in this industry. Some of these hidden dangers are the disposal of toxins, exposure to the elements and nondriving traffic-related deaths.
Regardless of your occupation, there are dangers that you might not expect. It is best to follow safety regulations, even if you are not in one of these high-risk careers.