When faced with this question, many people say the construction industry is the most dangerous in the country. This guess is not far off – construction is on the list of the most dangerous jobs almost every year.
However, over the last few years, the job involving the most fatal work injuries has been logging.
Study finds logging is the most dangerous job
In Maryland, there are roughly 1,300 workers in the logging and mining industry. Even so, it is an important industry. It provides many of the materials necessary for construction, manufacturing and even making paper products.
Yet logging work is also the most dangerous job of 2020, with the highest rate of fatal injuries at 97.6.
Unfortunately, this is not new information. Logging – like construction – is often on the list of the most dangerous jobs. It was also number one on the list in 2015, and the high rate of fatality in this industry has been a concern since the 1980s.
Regardless of how many workers are in this field, all workers must be aware of the risk involved in their line of work.
Why is this work so dangerous?
The logging industry involves a significant amount of risks. The most common causes of a serious or fatal injury in the logging industry include:
- Cuts from contact with metal tools;
- Injuries from falling objects;
- Injuries after falling from great heights; and
- Injuries after getting caught between equipment or objects.
Working at great heights, lifting heavy objects and operating heavy machinery all carry a high risk of injury – and they are all common tasks logging workers complete in lumberyards. With a compounded risk for a fatal injury, workers must ensure they comply with safety standards and prioritize safety each day on the job. Even though there is an inherent risk with this profession, the Worker’s Compensation statute still covers such workers. Additionally, a compensable claim need not require an employer acted negligently; rather, the accident only arose out of and was in the course of the injured worker’s employment.
