Most High Risk Jobs in Portland

While accidents happen in virtually every type of workplace, some occupations are far more dangerous than others.

The jobs with the highest risk of injury include emergency providers like law enforcement and firefighters, construction workers, maintenance repair workers, transportation and shipping workers, and manufacturing workers, according to the National Safety Council.

People in Portland and throughout Oregon who work in these dangerous industries are more susceptible to accidents like falls, overexertion, and traffic crashes, which can result in severe injuries or even death.

If you have been injured on the job in Oregon, you are likely entitled to receive workers’ compensation benefits. Portland workers’ compensation attorney Jodie Ann Phillips Polich has been serving the needs of injured workers for over a quarter-century.

The Law Offices of Jodie Anne Phillips Polich, P.C., can advise you on how to best handle a workers’ comp claim from beginning to end. We can help you file the initial workers’ comp claim, fight your claim if it was denied, review your benefits and advocate for adjustments if they are too low, and negotiate settlements.

Schedule a free and confidential consultation with us today by calling us or contacting us online.

High-Risk Occupations for Workers’ Comp Injuries

Some of the most high-risk occupations for workers’ compensation injuries in Oregon and throughout the U.S. include:

Groundskeepers

A physically demanding job that’s performed outdoors in all weather conditions, groundkeepers can get injured through a variety of accidents, including slips, trips, falls, and harmful contact with equipment.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there were 15.9 fatalities for every 100,000 people working as groundskeepers in one recent year. Groundskeepers use dangerous equipment, and many work at dangerous heights. The most common cause of death among groundskeepers is falls, slips, and trips.

General Maintenance Workers

General maintenance workers and repairers do a variety of tasks, such as repairing mechanical equipment and working on plumbing, electrical, and air-conditioning systems. Maintenance workers and repairers may work in cramped, uncomfortable positions, putting them at a higher risk of suffering falls, cuts, and electrical shocks.

General maintenance workers suffered 23,200 nonfatal injuries per 100,000 workers in one recent year, according to the BLS. There were 87 fatalities, with slips, trips, and falls, making up one-third of all fatal injuries.

Iron and Steel Workers

Iron and steel workers often perform at great heights as they install and repair iron and steel on buildings and bridges. Because of this, a fall, slip, or trip can be very dangerous or even deadly. Although only about 1% of total injuries suffered by iron and steel workers are fatal, the number of injuries sustained while working makes it among the most dangerous jobs in Oregon and the U.S. In one recent year, there were 1,280 nonfatal injuries and 14 fatalities.

Correctional Workers

Correctional officers are in danger because they are working around convicted criminals on a regular basis. Correctional officers have a range of duties. Some officers may have to guard inmates in jails, prisons, or rehabs, while other officers may be responsible for maintaining peace in courtrooms and transporting prisoners to and from court hearings.

A study found that for every 10,000 corrections officers in the United States, there were 254 workplace assaults and violent injuries reported in one year. That rate is 36 times greater than the rate for all U.S. workers. Three out of every 100 correctional officers are treated each year for non-fatal injuries.

Carpenters

Carpenters are at risk of injury because of their use of tools, lifting heavy items, and working in dangerous positions and places. No matter how skilled and experienced a carpenter is, there is always the chance of an accident. According to a study, about 15% of carpenters report some type of injury each year.

Roofers

When a roofer slips, trips, or falls, it can result in serious injury in ways that would not happen to a worker working on level ground. Roofers may slip from roofs, ladders, or scaffolds, causing them to fall from great heights.

Roofers are also in danger of heat-related illnesses from working outside during the hot summer months. In one recent year, the rate of fatal injuries for roofers was 45.2 per 100,000 workers. There were 91 fatal injuries and 2,810 nonfatal injuries. Falls, slips, and trips were the most common cause of death and injury.

Logging Workers

Logging workers harvest forests to provide the raw material for goods such as paper, cardboard, and industrial products. The logging industry is one of the most dangerous of all.

Logging is extremely physically demanding. Loggers work mostly outdoors and typically in remote areas, which may not be anywhere near a hospital. The most common accident is when a logger is struck by an object, such as a falling branch, or they are hurt by dangerous machinery like chainsaws. The rate of fatal injuries in a recent year was 109.3 per 100,000 workers.

Fishers and Fishing Workers

Fishers and fishing workers are responsible for catching fish and other marine life. Fishers use equipment to find fish, navigate boats, maintain engines and fishing gear, and catch and sort fish.

Fishing workers nearly always work on a body of water, so they are exposed to hazardous elements, including storms, fog, and wind. The most common cause of death for fishers is drowning. Other factors contributing to fatal accidents include weather conditions, transportation incidents, and failing or defective machinery. There were 41 deaths in a single recent year – a rate of 74.2 per 100,000 workers.

Contact Law Offices of Jodie Anne Phillips Polich, P.C.

If you or a loved one have suffered an injury in any occupation, an experienced Portland workers’ compensation lawyer can help you secure the benefits you need. Because the workers’ compensation laws in Oregon are extremely complex, you will want the help of a skilled and knowledgeable lawyer.

The Law Offices of Jodie Anne Phillips Polich, P.C. helps injured workers from a wide variety of industries in Portland secure workers’ compensation benefits after being injured on the job. Attorney Jodie Anne Phillips Polich has spent her career fighting for the rights of injured workers and their families in Oregon.

Contact our Portland workers’ compensation firm today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with our skilled and compassionate attorney.