According to a recent analysis, farming, forestry, and fishing and hunting are the most dangerous jobs in America.
The study conducted by the AFL-CIO, based on 2022 labor data, revealed that these professions have the highest rate of employee fatalities, with 18.6 deaths per 100,000 workers. Following closely behind are jobs in mines, quarries, and oil extraction (16.6 deaths per 100,000 workers), transportation and warehousing (14.1), and construction (9.6).
Overall, the analysis shows that nearly 5,500 workers lost their lives on the job in the U.S. in 2022, marking an increase from the previous year's 5,190 deaths.
One of the reasons for the rise in fatalities, according to AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler, is the fear among employees of potential retaliation if they report unsafe working conditions. This fear leads many workers to operate in hazardous environments. Additionally, incidents such as employee drug overdoses at work, deadly violence against co-workers, and suicides have also contributed to the spike in workplace deaths, as reported by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Working in agriculture has always been a risky job for many individuals. Farmers and farmhands are constantly exposed to harmful dust that can damage their lungs, and animal droppings may contain mold or bacteria, as shown in federal health data. Additionally, the risk of falls from ladders, farm machinery, and grain bins adds to the dangers they face.
On the other hand, miners often find themselves working in confined underground spaces where toxic or explosive gases like hydrogen sulfide or methane can be released, increasing the risk of accidents and collapses.
It comes as no surprise that states with a high number of agricultural and extraction industry workers have the highest fatality rates. Wyoming leads the list with 12.7 deaths for every 100,000 workers, according to the AFL-CIO. Following closely are North Dakota (9.8 deaths); Mississippi (6.9); New Mexico and West Virginia (6.8); and Louisiana (6.4).
An analysis by the AFL-CIO also revealed that workers of color experience higher fatality rates compared to other employees. In 2022, the death rate for Latino workers was 4.6 for every 100,000 workers, surpassing the overall rate of 3.7. Similarly, the fatality rate for Black employees stood at 4.2 for every 100,000 workers, marking its highest level in nearly 15 years, according to the union.
"The recent tragedy of the bridge collapse in Baltimore resulted in the deaths of six Latino immigrant laborers who were working on the bridge at the time of the incident," noted AFL-CIO researchers. "This event highlights the dangerous conditions immigrant workers face daily in the United States and the toll it takes on their families and communities when workplaces are not safe."
