January 4, 1999 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)
Most dangerous occupation of 1997?
Timber cutting
After being second most dangerous from 1992 to
1996, logging was the most dangerous occupation in 1997. "Timber cutters"
suffered over 128 deaths per 100,000 workers, a fatality rate more than 27 times greater
than the average for all occupations.
![High risk occupations, 1997](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20120925094409im_/http://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/images/1999/jan/wk1/art01.gif)
[Chart data—TXT]
Fallen trees are the leading cause of worker deaths in the logging
industry. From 1992 to 1997, more than 70 percent of the 772 fatal injuries to loggers
resulted directly from contact with trees and logs.
Logging occupations are physically demanding, involving lifting, climbing, and other
strenuous activities in remote locations that are frequently isolated from readily
available medical services. Because the work is performed outdoors, adverse weather
conditions and irregular terrain also hamper working conditions.
Data on fatal occupational injuries are available from the BLS Safety and Health Statistics program. For additional information, see "Logging is Perilous
Work" (PDF 58K),
Compensation
and Working Conditions, Winter 1998.
Of interest
Spotlight on Statistics: National Hispanic Heritage Month
In this Spotlight, we take a look at the Hispanic labor force—including labor force participation, employment and unemployment, educational attainment, geographic location, country of birth, earnings, consumer expenditures, time use, workplace injuries, and employment projections.
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Read more »