If there's one thing that longshoremen have something in common with police officers and firefighters, it's that they all work long, hard hours. While each of these careers is physically demanding, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data shows that law enforcement officers and firefighters suffer more catastrophic injuries or die on the job than longshoremen do.
How dangerous is longshore work compared to firefighting, police?
Port of New Orleans sued over damage to oil tanker
Those who work on boats on the nation's rivers and seas have some of the most dangerous -- and important -- jobs in the country. Fishing crews help feed millions of Americans, while offshore oil workers keep fuel flowing to homes and cars. While many of the immediate hazards are apparent with machinery and cables, environmental problems also affect maritime workers.
The risks of injury or death that maritime workers face are high
Individuals who work in the maritime fields of shipping, transportation, commercial fishing, marine construction or in offshore gas and oil industry are trained to always put safety first. They're taught to do this for a reason. These individuals are at an increased risk of becoming ill, injured or killed by bloodborne pathogens, high voltage, hazardous chemicals, heavy machinery, slips and falls and drowning.
The 4 most dangerous aspects of working as an oil rig worker
While onshore oil rig workers don't work at sea, they put their lives on the line for their job just like offshore employees do. In fact, data published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows that those who work on oil rigs have a higher risk of nonfatal injuries than those who are employed in many other professions.
