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The Deadliest Jobs in America
| 23 Feb 2009 | 03:01 PM ET
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Dangerous Jobs
Your job may seem boring, but, hey, at least it isn't dangerous. As a whole, work fatalities dropped to 5,488 in 2007 from 5,840 in the previous year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Take a look at the ten deadliest jobs in America, ranked by fatality rate (the number of deaths per 100,000 workers).

10. Police & Sheriff’s Patrol Officers
Photo: Scott Davidson
Fatality rate: 21.4 Total deaths: 143 Though danger comes with the territory, law enforcement is safer than you might think.

9. Refuse & Recyclable Material Collectors
Photo: Dan DeLuca
Fatality rate: 22.8 Total deaths: 18 Despite more intensive safety measures that have helped to lower the fatality rate since 2006, garbage collectors are still exposed to harmful chemicals and dangerous machinery.

8. Driver/Sales Workers & Truck Drivers
Photo: Thomas
Fatality rate: 26.2 Total deaths: 908 Truck drivers travel long distances for many hours, increasing the likelihood of highway accidents.

7. Electrical Power-Line Installers & Repairers
Photo: Carol Cotter
Fatality rate: 29.1 Total deaths: 30 Dangers include falls from tall electrical towers and electrocution from high-voltage power lines.

6. Roofers
Photo: Stefan Jansson
Fatality rate: 29.4 Total deaths: 79 Falls from ladders, scaffolds and roofs are the main cause.

5. Farmers & Ranchers
Photo: AP
Fatality rate: 38.4 Total deaths: 285 Farming may sound tame, but working with heavy machinery and harmful chemicals makes this job risky.

4. Structural Iron & Steel Workers
Photo: Greg Younger
Fatality rate: 45.5 Total deaths: 40 Despite using safety harnesses and scaffolding when working at great heights, steel workers are still at risk to deadly falls.

3. Aircraft Pilots & Flight Engineers
Photo: Axel Buhrmann
Fatality rate: 66.7 Total deaths: 82 Especially at risk are test pilots who fly new or experimental planes, crop-duster pilots that may be exposed to harmful chemicals and those who operate rescue helicopters.

2. Logging Workers
Photo: AP
Fatality rate: 86.4 Total deaths: 76 Responsible for cutting and hauling trees, logging workers can suffer fatal harm from falling branches and heavy machinery. Bad weather is also a contributing factor.

1. Fishers & Related Fishing Workers
Photo: Armando Estudante
Fatality rate: 111.8 Total deaths: 38 This group is at risk of getting entangled in nets and other gear or getting swept over board. Another problem: Injured workers are far from medical attention. »Replay Slideshow»Best Jobs in America»Worst Jobs in America»Special Report: Your Job, Your Life

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