Commercial Fishing still the most dangerous job

The U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics has released their National Census Fatal Occupational Injuries in 2006.  “Farming, Fishing and Forestry worker fatalities decreased 11 percent in 2006, but when considering fish and related fishing workers such as captains and mates, fatalities proved slightly higher then last year. ”  Tom Van Riper on Forbes.com explains it well…

The most dangerous place to work in America? Try a commercial fishing boat. After that, it’s the nation’s highways and byways — truckers and traveling salesmen, farmers and ranchers. Dangerous places, dangerous lives.

Fishing excursions off the coasts of Alaska, Massachusetts and other coastal states take a greater percentage of lives than any other profession, according to the latest workplace fatality numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Sinking ships, or workers taking a spill on the deck or falling overboard, led to fishers claiming the most perilous spot on the bureau’s list of dangerous occupations, ahead of loggers, aircraft pilots and steel workers.  

Listed below are the top 3 most dangerous lines of work and their statistics.  Make the jump here to read up on all top 10.

Fishers and related workers

Total Fatalities: 48

Rate per 100,000 workers: 118.4

Logging Workers

Total Fatalities: 80

Rate per 100,000 workers: 92.9

Aircraft Pilots

Total Fatalities: 81

Rate per 100,000 workers: 66.9