Machinery Operators Rank High Among America’s ‘Deadliest Jobs’

May 28th, 2015 by Casey Flores

In an age of OSHA standards and on-site injuries, “safety first” remains a priority. A new ranking, however, is shedding light on what jobs may be the least safe in the nation.

In an interactive graphic titled “The Deadliest Jobs in America,” Bloomberg ranked 51 jobs according to their deadliness. The rankings were based on fatalities per 100,000 employees in that field.

The 21st deadliest job, according to the report, is industrial machinery workers, with a fatality rate of 11.81 per 100,000.

“Machinery operation is an inherently a dangerous process without proper training and safety procedures, which is why the industry needs to constantly assess risk, evaluate training and take the steps necessary to protect their employees,” says Window and Door Manufacturers Association (WDMA) president and CEO Michael O’ Brien.

The report also ranks the most common cause of death for each occupation, including industrial machinery workers:

  • Contact with equipment;
  • Falls, trips and slips;
  • Harmful environment; and
  • Transportation incidents

Despite the high ranking on the list, O’Brien remains confident that door and window companies take safety seriously.

“WDMA members are active in promoting a safe and healthful workplace for their employees,” he says. “Given how important a resource they are to the success of their companies, our members are constantly striving for ways to improve safety while also improving productivity.”

The association is also working to educate manufacturers on new safety measures.

“The issue has become so important that we’re featuring several safety and risk management sessions at our upcoming Technical and Manufacturing Conference on June-16-18 so they can share industry best practices,” says O’Brien.

According to a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics official, job categories that have less than 15 deaths per year, such as glaziers, are not ranked—though window installers may fall into the category of construction or carpenters, which have fatality rates of 18.76 and 5.93 per 100,000 respectively.

And while such numbers may sound high, they are a fraction of those for the deadliest job in America. According to the methodology, that title is held by “Fishers,” with a fatality rate of 131.52 per 100,000.

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