Dangerous jobs what makes people choose them

Worked to Death: 27 Most Dangerous Jobs in The World

Commonly, when we think of dangerous jobs, the one’s that come to mind are the ones that many call “heroes”: firefighters, soldiers, and police officers. In truth, these women and men are fairly far down on the list when it comes to tough professions that kill the people who work them. The folks who are truly putting their lives on the line often aren’t given medals and recognition. Aren’t honored by thanks for their service. They’re exploited by the companies for which they work, given difficult lives with limited pensions, and perish unsung in the line of duty, without fanfare. They work a tough job for a meagre wage, and are killed in obscurity.

To recognize those who make the ultimate sacrifice, here’s the 27 world’s most dangerous professions.

Loggers and Lumberjacks

Often the people who work in the logging industry have extended shifts out among the trees, making for long hours and exhaustion. Couple that with climbing, falling timber, and saws all around, and you’ve got a deadly mixture that takes out a high percentage of loggers each year.

Deep Sea Fishers

Shows like “Deadliest Catch” helped to capture the harrowing lifestyle these people lead. Fighting against the storms of the sea with naught but a fishing trawler is a hazardous profession that takes away the brave souls who provide our crab leg buffets.

Flight Engineers and Small Aircraft Pilots

We think of pilots as being the captains who fly commercial airliners, but most of them are bush pilots in small planes that hop from dangerous airports on a daily basis. Crashes go with that territory, as does being killed by mechanical failure, or local warlords in the more dangerous corners of the globe.

Miners

More safety requirements and regulations have cut down the dangers that miners face, but it’s still a job where you’re digging deep beneath the surface where suffocation, deadly gas explosions, mechanical malfunctions, and cave-ins are just a few of the risks.

Roofers

Those shingles on your house could easily have cost someone their life. Falling hazards are a given when working atop buildings, but the rigors of the job also mean that heat stroke claims more than a few people every year.

Taxi Drivers, Chauffeurs, and Personal Transport Operators

Car accidents are a major cause of death around the world, being beaten only by such major marauders as AIDS, respiratory ailments, cancer, and heart disease. Naturally the people who spend their time working in cars are therefore more likely to be fatally wounded in the line of duty.

Sanitation and Recycling Workers

Trash people deal with the absolute worst that humanity has to offer: Our refuse. Harmful chemicals, dangerous landfills, and machinery often cause their demise, as does the fact that they too are out on the roads day after day.

Landmine Removal Specialists

Point of fact, most soldiers have safe jobs where they work behind the scenes, operating at desks, doing maintenance, cooking food, and general day-to-day stuff that anyone deals with. Only those in specialized fields tend to really be at risk, and that includes the people looking to make the world safer by taking land mines out of the equation.

Farmers and Ranchers

The massive amount of equipment that is used in modern farming makes working the land a dangerous job. Add in the relatively low education of most ranchers and farmers, and you have an accident prone population working in unstable conditions, often as part of a factory farming or factory ranching money mill that prizes profit over human life.

Metalworkers

Even though they haven’t attained sentience yet, ordinary machines are still risky business. They don’t need to be sent back through time by Skynet, they just need to run cutting, folding, and altering metal to take lives and cause crippling injuries.

Commercial Drivers and Truckers

Though typically better trained than most cab drivers, and protected by much more steel and safety precautions, truckers are also out on the roadway with every incompetent driver allowed to spin a wheel.

Slaughterhouse Workers

Animals are the most exploited creature in a slaughterhouse, but the workers aren’t given much more consideration. Stuck in dire conditions, forced to churn out death to feed an ever-growing human population, people in a slaughterhouse commonly become victims of their own murderous devices.

Electrical Power Line Installers/Technicians

Electricity is a harsh mistress, as anyone who has to deal with the poles and transformers can tell you. Hooking up high voltage wires is a game of Russian roulette, all so we can enjoy watching endless seasons of The Bachelor and microwave pizza rolls.

Search and Rescue Personnel

The Coast Guard is just one of the many organizations devoted to saving people from both the accidents that befall them, and their own stupidity. Sadly, lifeguards, avalanche rescue teams, and many first responders give their lives in the hope of saving those around them.

Mechanics

Driving a car isn’t the only danger when it comes to conveyances. Spending time working under and around them is an excellent way to lose a limb or a life.

Bodyguards

High-profile individuals who need bodyguards often need them for a reason. While there’s a few choice gigs protecting pop stars or being part of a huge group like The Secret Service, many bodyguards are actually cut down keeping their clients safe.

Astronauts/Cosmonauts

Space is a killer. All that nothing can snuff out life without a first thought. Though we’ve been going to the stars for decades, it’s still a new science with many failures that cost in mortality.

Police Officers

Police officers are far more likely to kill an unarmed civilian than they are to be in much danger themselves thanks to the exhaustive protection they are given. Often they die as the result of driving accidents, similar to truckers and cab drivers, though they’re given the luxury of highly reinforced vehicles which are not offered in the private sector.

Groundskeepers and Maintenance Staff

Maintaining machines that operate behind the scenes or just cleaning in the dangerous industrial complexes around the world can kill. That janitor is taking his or her life in their hands every day.

Electricians

More death by modern technology. They might not deal with the massive power surrounding electrical line installers and repairpersons, but an outlet can be just as deadly.

Couriers

Imagine riding a bike around the streets of New York with nothing between you and the world of bad drivers. That’s what many messengers and deliverypeople face, often leaving them bloodied and broken by the side of the road.

Firefighters

Groups like the Hotshots who fight wildfires are truly in danger, but the majority of firefighting personnel faces only burnt chili and the occasional domestic blaze from a knocked-over candle. Rushing into infernos is fairly rare, which is why volunteers are so often enough to handle basic firefighting tasks.

Construction Laborers

Building high-rises with powerful equipment, and digging deep to lay foundations are as hazardous a career as anyone in uniform faces. Though, they might be able to stay safer if they kept their eyes on the job and knocked off the catcalling.

Stunt People

To be fair, if you’re going to be knowingly setting yourself on fire or jumping out of buildings, you get what you get.

Street Cleaners

In the modernized world, there are safe vehicles used to clean the streets. Such is not the case everywhere. A person with a broom merely trying to get broken glass off the sidewalk is playing hopscotch with The Reaper.

Carpenters

Though not as risky as construction, a life around saws and half-built structures isn’t intended for longevity.

Mountain Guides

Sherpas and those who take the “adventure” travelers up and down the peaks of the world commonly perish of exposure, typically in an effort to get their charges to safety.

What about Army Engineer Divers… an overlooked and under appreciated branch of the Army Corps of Engineers. They are responsible for incredibly dangerous underwater operations such as welding and blowing up targets. The danger of electrocution as well as drowning is very high.

Helpful information. Thanks.

You forgot doctors, they’re exposed to hepatitis, aids, violent patients, being around flammable oxygen, long hours leading to exhaustion, etc. it’s worse for nurses…

25 Most Dangerous Jobs In The World

Posted by Jason, Updated on May 1, 2018

Have you ever wondered what the most dangerous and deadliest jobs in the world are? Every job has its own risks. From working at high altitudes to facing serious health issues from various chemicals, it’s probably a smart idea to count what the job will cost you rather than only looking at the paycheck. Some jobs could cost you your life, and it might not be the best way to go out. So if you like to live life on the dangerous side all while earning your paycheck, take a look at these 25 Most Dangerous Jobs In The World!

Street Sweeper

If you’ve ever been to Rwanda, you’ll know why street sweepers are on the most dangerous jobs list. Many women work all hours of the night in busy traffic and less than friendly neighborhoods.

Mountain Guides

Between ice, long falls, jagged rocks, wind, low air pressure, and a whole slew of other dangerous sounding conditions, climbing mountains is not known for its safety. In one 2009 report, 11 guides had died on the job.

Carpenters

It’s a historically old job, and it’s also more dangerous than you may think. A broken hip falling from the second floor, a crushed finger, or a dislocated collarbone after slipping from a ladder are a few of the numerous ways you can get injured on this job.

Stuntmen

Stuntmen make the Hollywood action stars look good, and they put their lives on the line to do so. Between driving cars over cliffs and jumping out of high rises, these daring performers stare death in the face every day.

Courier Carriers

With Amazon, Uber Eats, and other services, convenient delivery has become a more desirable service. Whether it’s pizza or newspaper delivery, this is a dangerous job in most countries. These workers are often the victims of armed robbery and other violent crimes. So, tip them well and be nice.

Alligator Wrestlers & Lion Tamers

Alligator wrestlers, lion tamers, and basically anybody who deals with dangerous animals on a daily basis knows they’re walking pretty close to death’s jaws, especially when they stick their heads in the animals’ mouths.

E-Waste Recyclers

Imagine mountains of broken computer parts that need to be sorted, some with chemicals oozing out and mixing into the rainwater. Recyclers have to deal with that every day, and in some parts of the world like Guiyu, China, working with e-waste is their entire life.

Utility Lineman & Power Workers

Working with electricity is bad enough, but working with electricity high above the ground is even worse. One wrong decision, and they’ll meet a grisly death by electric shock and crash landing. The linemen required to hang out of a helicopter to complete the job get bonus danger points.

Farmers & Ranchers

Spending long hours dealing with large animals, tractors, and other intensive conditions, farmers don’t just sit on their porches all day. Their work can actually be quite dangerous.

Firefighters

We probably didn’t have to tell you firefighters have dangerous jobs. From rushing into burning buildings to digging ditches in the middle of the Australian Outback, firefighters hop into the fray and save lives by putting their own in harms ways. If that weren’t crazy enough, of the 1 million firefighters in the United States, 70% of them are unpaid volunteers.

Roofers

Police Officers

Police officers have to answer potentially deadly calls and address highly stressful situations on a daily basis. Unfortunately, they are not the most popular public servants in many parts of the world. Yes, corruption is real, but many police officers really do put their lives on the line for others.

Astronauts

Since the beginning of the Russian and American space programs, about 430 astronauts have gone to space. With 34 deaths, that is a 7.5% mortality rate, a rate significantly higher than many other professions on this list. Also, the Apollo Space Program astronauts suffered cardiovascular health problems due to overexposure to radiation.

Bodyguards & Armored Car Drivers

When your literal job description is to take a bullet for someone else, you definitely have a dangerous job. Of course, depending on what part of the world we are talking about and who or what is actually being guarded, the levels of risk can vary. Sadly, in some cases, guards have been killed while only three weeks on the job.

Slaughterhouse Worker

Often times heavily exploited, the rate of injury is over three times that of other manufacturing and processing jobs. These injuries are often the result of the demand for speed at the assembly line, where workers are many times required to slaughter up to 50 cattle per hour.

Mechanics

Between fumes, chemicals, and dangerous tools, mechanics working on everything from mini-coopers to fighter jets are exposed to their fair share of hazardous situations.

Metalcrafters

Besides dealing with the obvious things like heat and metal, these workers typically experience negative health effects in the long-term due to exposure and inhalation of various chemicals.

Search and Rescue

Whether it’s the Coast Guard facing high seas or a mountain rescue team facing sub-zero temperatures at night, it’s not hard to see why this job would make the list. While they are highly trained, these brave men and women risk it all to save lives.

Sanitation Workers

Dealing with all sorts of unspeakable waste has its own challenges. In many places, it’s a well-paid position for a reason. The potential exposure to all sorts of hazardous materials raises the danger level a few notches.

Land Mine Remover

Although in some parts of the world this is the military’s job, there are many formerly war-torn regions completely covered in land mines. With governments that could care less, there is a job opening in the private market, and it’s not a fun one.

Personal Transport Drivers

Although busses and trains have their own dangers, driving rickshaws, tuk tuks, and taxis is in a whole different ball park. Besides the obvious dangers of the road, the persistent danger of robbery or violence is ever-present. Even in the United States, taxi drivers have one of the higher on-the-job mortality rates.

Miners

Few jobs destroy your health like mining. Besides the long-term danger of black lungs, the constant risk of cave-ins, gas explosions, and health problems from the chemicals and radon inhaled make it a deadly job.

Bush Pilots

Everybody knows that pilots have a dangerous job. Planes crash all the time, right? Wrong. At least, not the planes you’re probably thinking about. Large airlines are a very safe mode of transportation. If you were talking about bush pilots though, that’s another story. Facing extremely hostile weather and terrain, their job is anything but safe.

Deep Sea Fishermen

Here’s a classic. It actually used to be the most dangerous job on most lists, especially Alaskan crab fisherman. Between high seas, long nights, freezing temperatures, and lots of moving parts, it certainly earns the title.

Lumberjack

Along with deep sea fishing, the logging industry is a long time source of workplace danger. Big trees, sharp saws, and hard hours are not a good mix for logging workers.

The 20 Most Dangerous Jobs in the World

Content Manager and Career Expert

While a lot of us are safely tucked away behind a desk job, there are a lot of people who put their lives on the line on a daily basis.

If you’re wondering which dangerous careers are worth the risk, then keep reading!

Here we take a look at the 20 most dangerous jobs in the world according to research conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2019.

20. Automotive mechanic

Fatal injuries: 60

As an automotive mechanic, you’ll need to have plenty of patience, as well as knowledge of different types of vehicles. That said, it’s a job that comes with certain health risks; mechanics are at risk of burns from hot oil, battery acid, coolant, hydraulic fluid and other dangerous liquids.

19. Security guard

Fatal injuries: 63

Security guards either work for the government, an individual or an organisation to protect assets, belongings or persons. They are often faced with precarious situations like robberies, attacks and abusive behaviour, putting them in a constantly risky position which requires them to always be on high alert.

18. Military personnel

Fatal injuries: 65

Average salary: Varies

It comes as no surprise that military personnel are included in this list. Indeed, this is an occupation that places you in dangerous situations on a daily basis. Besides those who work on the field fighting wars, any military member is at some form of risk and must always be on guard.

Browse military jobs

17. Electrician

Fatal injuries: 68

Electricians install and maintain wiring systems in homes, buildings and roads. It’s a trades job that is in high demand and certain job stability. That said, it’s also a job whose danger can vary depending on the environment that you’re working in. Electricians are often at risk of falling since they mostly work on ladders and are often exposed to toxic materials and potential electrical burns.

16. Livestock farmworker

Fatal injuries: 73

A livestock farmworker works with animals and performs plenty of duties such as cleaning and feeding the animals, herding the animals during shearing, cleaning their stables, and ensuring the animals get their daily exercise. It’s a physically challenging job that requires lots of manual labour. But besides the laborious duties, livestock farmworkers are at risk of being harmed by one of the animals or the heavy-duty equipment used on the farm.

15. Commercial pilot

Fatal injuries: 77

Commercial airline pilots are responsible for the safety of the aircraft, passengers and cargo. They must safely fly from and to different locations during all types of weather conditions, which can be quite challenging, especially if something goes wrong during a flight.

Browse pilot jobs

16. Maintenance worker

Fatal injuries: 78

Maintenance workers fix and maintain mechanical equipment, machines, building and railways. Tasks can include painting, plumbing, floor repair, electrical repair or air conditioning maintenance. Maintenance workers tend to work with tricky machinery and sharp tools and be exposed to chemicals, all of which can put them in harm’s way on a daily basis.

15. Delivery driver

Fatal injuries: 79

Delivery drivers are responsible for transporting goods from sorting locations to customers or businesses. It’s a tiresome job that involved a lot of physical labour; driving, carrying parcels from the van to clients and vice versa. Delivery drivers can often be victims of assault and robbery, which makes this job a dangerous one.

14. Store manager

Fatal injuries: 81

A store manager is responsible for monitoring the operations of a shop, including hiring and firing of staff, training, budgets, creating business strategies and overseeing customer relations. While it’s a fairly safe role, fatalities may occur in areas where there are many robberies and crimes.

11. Route sales driver

Fatal injuries: 83

A route sales driver is essentially a sales role in which a person delivers goods to homes and businesses. For example, you may work for a skincare brand delivering goods and products to estheticians; while doing so, you’ll also need to try and upsell and new items that have launched and convince them to sell to their customers. However, like any other job involving travelling long distances, there’s an increased risk of road fatalities.

10. Police officer

Fatal injuries: 86

As a police officer, you may be required to patrol high-crime area, arrest people who break the law and respond to emergencies. Usurpingly, the role of a police officer is tough and places you in numerous dangerous scenarios every day.

9. Crops farm worker

Fatal injuries: 87

A crops farmworker plants and maintains crops; they are responsible for planting seeds, watching the produce grow and harvesting them once they are ready. While it can be a curative role, it’s also physically draining for most. Agriculture is considered to be among the most hazardous industries, and injuries are often caused by transportation incidents, particularly tractor overturns.

8. Arborist

Fatal injuries: 97

An arborist, also known as a tree surgeon, cultivates, manages and studies trees, vines, shrubs and other woody plants. Essentially, they ensure that trees are healthy and not harmful to people’s properties. This occupation comes with its risks; climbing and pruning trees from big heights whilst managing sharp tools in tough weather conditions can often lead to fatal injuries.

Browse arborist jobs

7. Warehouse worker

Fatal injuries: 102

Warehouse workers perform an array of duties, including stock taking, processing, unboxing and organising, picking and filling orders, packing and shipping orders, and general maintenance of the warehouse and product. While you might think that it’s a simple job, warehouse workers are at risk of forklift accidents, loading dock and fall injuries, as well as general overexertion injuries.

6. Roofer

Fatal injuries: 111

Being a roofer is an extremely challenging job; your days are spent installing and fixing roofs by using various materials, including shingles, asphalt, and metal. Colder months can bring additional challenges that could lead to fatal falls and injuries. While the salary tends to be rewarding, you must have the stamina to do a laborious job day in and day out.

Browse roofer jobs

5. Greenskeeper

Fatal injuries: 124

Greenskeepers are tasked with maintaining golf courses. They are responsible for the upkeep of the turf and soil which golfers play on. The fatality rate here may be surprising, but greenskeepers are at risk of injuries from large equipment or gardening tools, as well as overexertion.

4. Construction supervisor

Fatal injuries: 136

A construction supervisor oversees the construction activities on a worksite, organising and planning the project, hiring staff, monitoring budgets, and efficiently allocating resources and materials. While they must enforce safety rules for their staff and ensure all safety protocols are followed, they also place themselves in danger of accidents that can happen on-site, such as falling scaffoldings, forklift accidents and collapsing buildings.

3. Farm manager

Fatal injuries: 238

Farm managers, also known as agricultural farmers, are in charge of day-to-day farm duties, typically managing livestock, produce, equipment and crops. Besides the manual work, they must also take care of administrative duties, including paperwork and invoicing. That said, the laborious side of the job places them in great danger of being harmed by heavy equipment or animals on the farm.

2. Construction worker

Fatal injuries: 293

Construction workers have a long list of duties, including erecting scaffolding, loading and unloading building materials, removing debris and assisting with mechanical equipment. The work is physically demanding, and some sites may be extremely dangerous. Much like the dangers faced by construction managers, construction workers are often prone to falls, electrocution and broken bones, among other common injuries.

1. Truck driver

Fatal injuries: 843

Truck drivers spend long hours on the road steering a heavy vehicle. It’s often lonely and dangerous since you can end up feeling sleepy or losing control of the wheel during a long journey. Besides these factors, they must drive in harsh weather conditions, including rain, snow or even extreme heat, often leading to serious accidents, making this the most dangerous job in the world.

While some of these roles don’t seem dangerous at first thought, data has proven that they can be potentially fatal. Due to several factors, including risky environments, sharp machinery and challenging weather conditions, these are some of the most dangerous jobs in the world.

So, before you embark on any of these career paths, make sure that you’re up for the challenge.

Did any of the jobs on our list surprise you? What other jobs do you consider dangerous? Let us know in the comments section below.

This article is an updated version of an earlier article originally published on 3 November 2017.

Опасная работа

Разработка урока английского языка в 5 классе с использованием элементов технологии критического мышления и ИКТ по теме

«Why do People Choose Dangerous Jobs? »

Цели:

Социокультурный аспект-развитие умения ориентироваться в реалиях страны изучаемого языка, дать информацию о самых популярных профессиях в стране изучаемого языка (США).

Развивающий аспект-развитие внимания, памяти, догадки, критического мышления.

Воспитательный аспект-воспитание уважительного отношения к людям опасных профессий.

Учебный аспект-формирование лексических навыков говорения, развитие навыков читать с полным пониманием прочитанного, развитие умения излагать свои мысли на основе прочитанного.

Оснащение урока: учебник М.З. Биболетовой Enjoy English5-6кл., аудиозапись стихотворения, презентация «WHY DO PEOPLE CHOOSE DANGEROUS JOBS?».

Ход урока:

1.Организационный момент. Фонетическая зарядка..

Teacher : Hello! Glad to see you. How are you? There are a lot of different occupations. What are they? What about you? Let’s listen and read the poem «What are you going to be?» (упр.22 с.47).

2. Введение в тему. Беседа по теме: «Профессии».

Teacher :What are the most popular jobs in Russia? What are the most popular jobs in the USA? (слайд№1)

Teacher : You have read a text at home. What is it about? Is it a dangerous job? Why? Who needs bodyguards? What other dangerous jobs do you know? (слайды№3-10)

Построение кластера. Заполнение идет по ходу урока.

II стадия – осмысление.

3.Активизация лексики по теме. Решение кроссворда. Чтение по теме с полным пониманием (с опорой на наглядность-слайды). Беседа по теме: «Опасные профессии».

Teacher : Now let’s solve the puzzle. When you do it you’ll read the name of one of the most dangerous jobs. (слайды№11-27)

Why do people choose dangerous jobs? Are these jobs important? What do people do? (слайды№28-36)

Say what characteristics are necessary for the following jobs.

Strong, brave, intelligent

III стадия – рефлексия.

4.Написание короткого эссе:

Would you like to choose a dangerous job? Why? Why not?

5.Итоги урока. Домашнее задание: прочитать текст об еще одной опасной профессии-ветеринаре (упр.27 с.49)

Просмотр содержимого документа
«конспект урока английского языка Опасная работа 5кл»

Разработка урока английского языка в 5 классе с использованием элементов технологии критического мышления и ИКТ по теме

« Why do People Choose Dangerous Jobs? »

Социокультурный аспект-развитие умения ориентироваться в реалиях страны изучаемого языка, дать информацию о самых популярных профессиях в стране изучаемого языка (США).

Развивающий аспект-развитие внимания, памяти, догадки, критического мышления.

Воспитательный аспект-воспитание уважительного отношения к людям опасных профессий.

Учебный аспект-формирование лексических навыков говорения, развитие навыков читать с полным пониманием прочитанного, развитие умения излагать свои мысли на основе прочитанного.

2. Введение в тему. Беседа по теме: «Профессии».

Teacher : What are the most popular jobs in Russia? What are the most popular jobs in the USA? ( слайд №1)

Teacher : You have read a text at home. What is it about? Is it a dangerous job? Why? Who needs bodyguards? What other dangerous jobs do you know? (слайды№3-10)

Построение кластера. Заполнение идет по ходу урока.

3.Активизация лексики по теме. Решение кроссворда. Чтение по теме с полным пониманием (с опорой на наглядность-слайды). Беседа по теме: «Опасные профессии».

Teacher : Now let’s solve the puzzle. When you do it you’ll read the name of one of the most dangerous jobs. ( слайды №11-27)

Why do people choose dangerous jobs? Are these jobs important? What do people do? ( слайды №28-36)

Say what characteristics are necessary for the following jobs.

The Most Dangerous Jobs

What’s the most dangerous part of your job? Is it your morning commute? J-walking to lunch? Avoiding paper cuts in the office? Hot coffee? For most people, their job isn’t very dangerous. Safety is the main focus of any office. And in all honesty, how much danger can there really be in a cubicle?

The world’s focus on safety is suffocating. We all need a bit of risk and a sense of danger in our lives. It makes us feel alive and allows us to appreciate things more. The passion for life, the adrenaline rush, and the acceptance of risk make people choose dangerous jobs. Plus it’s not nearly as boring an existence when danger always keeps you on your toes.

Every single day newspapers and news channels report on the day’s events. Work related deaths make headlines. Trapped miners, wounded soldiers, fallen window washers, heat stroked roofers, crushed loggers, shot policemen, burnt firemen, assaulted armored car drivers, lost fishermen, regurgitated lion tamers, dismembered stuntmen, accident-prone NASCAR pit crews, hit highway flaggers, drowned deep sea divers, or missing oil workers have all been in the news just recently. It’s always a tragedy, but for these people it’s also their daily existence – their job.

All of these jobs tempt fate. Maybe it’s the stuntman filming a high speed car chase, the civilian contractor working as a nurse in an African war zone, the airplane repo man legally stealing planes from drug dealers, the long haul trucker speeding along the highways, the high rise window washer dangling outside skyscrapers, the astronaut exploring the world beyond, bodyguards protecting celebrities from crazed paparazzi, the smokejumper diving into raging forest fires, or the bomb technician defusing an explosive device in Time Square. These dangerous careers exist and people do them every single day.

Every dangerous job fills a niche – pilots for transportation, scuba divers and astronauts for exploration, animal trainers for entertainment, or firemen and police officers for protection and emergency response.

What makes a job dangerous? A dangerous job can be defined as a job that exposes a person to risks that can cause harm, damage, or injury. When picking a job, you need to know the risks – falling trees, wild animals, heavy machinery, distracted drivers, wild fires, detrimental weather. Every dangerous job has the potential for injury or loss.

The most obvious way to measure danger is the fatality frequency. This is calculated by the number of deaths divided by the number of professionals in the field. The order changes each year, but fishermen, pilots, loggers, structural metal workers, roofers, construction workers, and farmers always make the top ten. Some of the other dangerous jobs that don’t make the list are lion tamers, deep-sea divers, bounty hunters, underground miners, or that guy that sticks swords and fire down his throat.

It takes a brave, courageous, determined individual to choose a dangerous career. When the pros and cons are weighed, dangerous jobs often win. It may be because people don’t want to sit in an office, eat donuts, and get old. Certain people love the pure adrenaline rush of dodging bullets. Some like the excitement of never knowing what will come next. Others like going places that no man has gone before. People pick danger-filled careers because it’s what they want to do. Maybe the danger makes them happy, or maybe it’s the reward.

Dangerous jobs are a great example of risk versus reward – the riskier the job, the greater the reward. The reward can be passion or pay. People may take on risk because they love what they do – stuntmen, pit crew, or policemen. Others may assume more risk because of the ridiculously high pay – mercenaries, fishermen, or civilian contractors. As long as you know and understand the risks of any dangerous job, it’s up to you to decide if risking it all is worth it. Maybe it is.

Picking a risky job can definitely lead to an adventurous career. If you’re done with the mundane and want to try your luck staring danger in the eyeballs, try to find jobs that have the word “danger” in the job description. After that…good luck.