Top 10 Worst Jobs for Your Health

Do you find yourself going to the doctor more often? When you get home from work, do you feel tense or depressed for no apparent reason? Well, this could all be linked to your job. Stress and job dissatisfaction can take their toll on your physical and mental health.

Every career, whether blue-collar or white-collar, comes with its own set of health risks. Some stem from inherently dangerous working conditions. But others are not so obvious, yet they chip away at your health.

This is our list of the top ten worst jobs for your health based on health metrics, risk, stress and employee satisfaction. If your job is on the list and you see that it is affecting your health, it may be time to make a change. While it’s true that no job is perfect, there are certainly better options out there.

Construction Work

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Even the best-trained construction workers are at risk of falling, getting electrocuted or becoming trapped between surfaces. There’s also a chance they’ll be exposed to harmful chemicals. While protective gear can help with this, it doesn’t eliminate the risk, and figures show that construction workers are much more likely to develop lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis.

Fatal work injuries are becoming less common in construction and extraction occupations due to improved health and safety regulations.

Construction companies have a legal obligation to protect their employees, and if they fail to do so, their employees can sue them for compensation. If you want to learn more about this, you can visit websites like PersonalInjuryClaimsUK. But even with these changes, construction work is still one of the most dangerous occupations.

Mining

Mining is a global industry which means miners can also work in areas where temperatures can drop below -50°C or rise above 50°C. Needless to say, working in such extreme conditions can be very dangerous.

Moreover, the possibility of miners dying because of explosions, cave-ins, or equipment accidents is always present.

Miners are also exposed to harmful fumes and dust. This increases their risk of developing respiratory conditions such as pneumoconiosis and silicosis that can result in disability and even death.

Pest Control

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There are many things about being a pest control worker that are not exactly fun. It’s not very well paid, you often have to crawl into tight spaces, and you’re dealing with pests – this means rats, termites and so on.

Plus, you have to use pesticides which can be quite dangerous if not handled properly. Some are flammable, so they can cause fires and severe burns.

One of the most dangerous materials pest control professionals uses is methyl bromide. Over time, methyl bromide can damage the lungs, nervous system and kidneys. Contact with the eyes and skin might result in serious burns and rashes.

Farming, Fishing and Forestry

Jobs in these sectors are usually popular among people who enjoy the outdoors, aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty and don’t mind a few scrapes. But working outdoors and handling livestock or marine life comes with some significant risks. It’s not just a few scrapes. Even well-trained workers can suffer serious injuries.

Farmers, ranchers, fishers and logging workers have some of the highest rates of fatal injuries, although we have seen a decline in the past decade.

Elevator Installers and Repairers

Installing and repairing an elevator are challenging tasks that require working with wires and electricity. Workers in this sector may be exposed to electric shocks, burns, and the risk of fatal injuries.

And we also need to mention that the working conditions are inherently difficult, which also has a negative impact on health long term.

Transportation

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There are several reasons why working in the transportation industry might have a negative impact on a person’s physical and emotional well-being.

First of all, operating trucks or buses is inherently dangerous. But we also need to consider the exposure to chemicals and fumes. Truck drivers who unload goods at loading docks are at risk of developing respiratory disorders such as COPD, while airline pilots are exposed to noise from plane engines for prolonged periods and are therefore at risk of hearing loss.

Then there’s the mental strain of being accountable for your passengers’ safety.

Flight Attendants

There’s the obvious risk of the plane crashing but also exposure to cosmic radiation and ozone, contaminants, disease and infections.

While performing their work duties, flight attendants can hit themselves against various objects on the plane and suffer cuts, burns and other injuries. They might also suffer from hypoxia and motion sickness.

Service and Retail

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Working in low-wage jobs like service and retail can be very physically stressful and emotionally unrewarding. On top of that, because employers often see this type of workers as easily replaceable, they often offer them below-average working conditions and employment terms. As a result, they are less likely to have access to good healthcare services.

Healthcare Shift Workers

Ironically, the very people who are supposed to keep the rest of us healthy often can’t do the same for themselves. Shift healthcare workers, like nurses and ER doctors, face risks such as sleep disorders, stress, and increased chances of infection, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

A study published in the Journal of Nursing Administration in 2012 showed that more than half of nurses were obese, and this was linked to the long working hours that led to unhealthy lifestyles and poor diet.

Radiologists

Because radiologists use x-rays on patients to diagnose broken bones or disorders in their bodies, they are exposed to far more radiation than the average person. As a result, they are particularly susceptible to cancer, but they are also at risk of infectious disease like most other healthcare workers.

A difficult issue arises for female radiologists who want to start a family. There’s an obvious risk of radiation putting the developing fetus in danger.

Musculoskeletal issues, ranging from mild backache to severe neuromuscular symptoms, are another challenging condition that has seen a significant increase in recent years. “Computer syndrome” is now the common name for this group of symptoms. Poor posture and sitting for long periods are contributing factors to these symptoms.

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