ATLANTA – A new study examined fatal occupational injuries in the state of Georgia to reveal the most dangerous jobs.
Release:
- Transportation and material moving occupations claim the top spot as the most dangerous, with almost 200 fatal accidents since 2020
- Construction and extraction occupations are in second place
- Data from the BLS on fatal injuries between 2020 and 2022 was examined
A new study has revealed the most dangerous work occupations in Georgia.
Hansford McDaniel Workers’ Compensation Attorneys examined fatal occupational injuries in the state of Georgia, as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics, from 2020 to 2022. A ranking was then created to show which of these occupations had the highest number of fatal injuries.
Transportation and material-moving occupations are first, with 186 fatal injuries recorded between 2020 and 2022. Examples of jobs that fall under this category are airline pilots, taxi drivers, and ship engineers.
As of May 2023, it is estimated that 543,550 people are employed in this occupation in Georgia and the average salary is $46,310 a year.
Construction and extraction occupations are second, with 109 fatal injuries across the period examined. Carpenters, plumbers, and electricians are all part of this group.
This occupation saw its highest number of fatal injuries in 2021 at 38, and its lowest in 2020 at 35. 141,180 Georgians are estimated to be a part of this group, earning an annual average of $52,480.
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations are third, with 57 fatal injuries. This occupation includes janitors, housekeepers, pest control workers and landscaping workers.
Georgia has a location quotient of 0.79 for this occupational group, the lowest in the US, suggesting there are proportionally fewer jobs in this field compared to the rest of the country.
In fourth place are installation, maintenance, and repair occupations, with 43 fatal injuries in total. Jobs that fall into this group include electrical repairers, bus and truck mechanics, and air conditioning installers.
Between 2021 and 2022, these occupations saw a 23% increase in fatal injuries, rising from 13 to 16.
Protective service occupations are joint fifth with sales and related occupations, both having 32 fatal injuries recorded between 2020 and 2022.
Protective service jobs include police and sheriff’s patrol officers, private detectives, and lifeguards. The BLS estimates that 113,030 Georgians are in this group, earning an average of $49,140 a year.
Sales and related occupations include travel agents, real estate brokers, and retail salespersons. An estimated 457,810 citizens of Georgia make up this occupation, with an average annual salary of $50,380.
Production occupations are sixth, with 30 fatal injuries across the three years examined. This is one of the largest occupational groups, including butchers, bakers, and dressmakers.
Salaries in Georgia for these jobs are part of the lowest pay range in the US, with employees earning an estimated $43,860 a year. This is 30% less than the highest, which is Wyoming, where annual salaries are estimated at $63,060.
Seventh are management occupations, with a total of 27 fatal injuries. Fundraising managers, education administrators, and chief executives are all part of this occupational group.
These occupations are the highest paying on this list, with employees in Georgia estimated to earn an average of $134,550 annually.
Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations are eighth, with 12 fatal injuries between 2020 and 2022. Examples of jobs in these occupations are farmworkers and laborers, animal breeders, and forest and conservation workers.
The highest number of fatal injuries was recorded in 2020 at 9, but 2022 saw none.
In ninth place are food preparation and serving related occupations, with 7 total fatal injuries across the period examined. Cooks, servers, and bartenders all fall within this occupational group.
415,250 Georgians are estimated to be employed in this occupation, earning an average of $29,580 a year.
Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations are tenth, with 5 fatal injuries from 2020 to 2022. This group includes dentists, midwives, and surgeons.
An estimated 284,090 Georgia citizens are part of this group, earning an average annual salary of $98,350.
| Rank | Occupation | Total fatal injuries 2020-2022 |
| 1 | Transportation and material moving occupations | 186 |
| 2 | Construction and extraction occupations | 109 |
| 3 | Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations | 57 |
| 4 | Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations | 43 |
| 5 | Protective service occupations & Sales and related occupations | 32 |
| 6 | Production occupations | 30 |
| 7 | Management occupations | 27 |
| 8 | Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations | 12 |
| 9 | Food preparation and serving related occupations | 7 |
| 10 | Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations | 5 |
Wes McDaniel from Hansford McDaniel Workers’ Compensation Attorneys commented on the findings:
“Safety in the workplace is vital, and employees should feel confident that they can carry out their jobs without harm.
“It is saddening to see the amount of people who have been seriously injured or even lost their lives due to their occupation, and it is important to remember that these are individuals, not just numbers.
“This data aims to show Georgians which roles need to be approached with care and to encourage employers of these occupations to reevaluate safety standards.”
