Dangerous Jobs

One of the most common places to get injured is while you are doing your job, accidents at work are a pain for everyone involved but which job is most likely to leave you in a bad way?

One of the UKs most popular lines of work is in the construction industry. Though when you see the figures as far as death and injury is concerned, you would be amazed at why more people don’t settle for a cushy desk job where their biggest risk is being burned by a cup of coffee.

In the year 2006/07 there was about 80 fatal accidents to construction workers, which is the equivalent of 3.7 workers per 100,000. Construction workers account for 30 per cent of deaths in the UK while at work.

Those most at risk of injury in this profession are those who climb – so steeple jacks and scaffolders  have the highest fatality rates among construction workers. They have accounted for 23 of the 77 fatalities in 2006/07 time period, with 3 of these 23 being cause by electric shocks.

What are the other risks of working on the construction industry so?

Well there are many more, equipment is generally powerful and also loud. Though there have been numerous laws and rules introduced in recent times to make sure people wear protection from sound; for many people who have worked in construction for longer, the damage is already done.

Loud drills and jack hammers have caused many to lose their hearing or to develop hearing related issues such as tinnitus from their work.

The construction industry claims its fair share of lives each year, though many others are severely and painfully injured by issues in construction. Of the 274,000 people each year who suffer injuries at work, the construction industry makes up a large part of this.

Working with powerful tools can mean there is a lot of risk and an increased chance of severe injury. These tools can be misused or used by those not trained to use them and this can lead to plenty of hospital and casualty admissions as well as many days lost in work.

There is also a lot of shocking asbestos related cancer deaths in the industry. This is caused by years and years of exposure to the poisonous material without any protection. Construction workers who have spent their lives drilling holes into surfaces will surely have come across this mineral which is common in a number of construction materials. Almost 6,000 people in the UK die from cancer related asbestos exposure every year and many of these were or are construction workers.

Construction work also has its indirect health issues. Many people in construction don’t live as healthy of life as they should and many suffer heart related problems because of this. The incidence of premature heart disease among those in the industry is high and is caused by diet and a lack of activity.

So, though a very commonly practiced job, construction work is far from good for your health.