America’s Surprisingly Unhealthy Jobs
2 Comments Published by clay March 26th, 2008 in Consumer Tips, Education.Unhealthy Jobs So what is healthy then? How about not working?
The following eight professions are among the highest in terms of injuries and illnesses, listed in descending order based on the number of incidents reported to BLS (in parentheses). Construction Worker (125,120) Office/Administrative Staff (83,320) Sales Staff (76,210) Nursing Aides, Orderlies, and Attendants (49,480) Janitors and Housekeepers (46,540) Registered Nurses (20,500) Waiters (9,520) Computer Specialists (2,720)
“Falls and problems from repeated hammering are the biggest problems,” says Garrett Brown, an industrial hygienist at the California Occupational and Health Administration.
The biggest risk is repetitive strain injuries from typing, as well as illnesses from inhaling toxic printing inks and other substances.
These jobs may seem innocent, but Brown says salespeople fall from ladders while gathering merchandise, strain themselves carrying it to customers, get repetitive strain from typing reports, and even suffer injuries from malfunctioning displays.
These workers can be exposed to everything from toxic chemicals in hospitals and nursing homes to strains from lifting heavy patients.
The heavy carts many housekeepers push can injure their backs and potent cleaning supplies can cause illnesses, says Brown.
Lifting heavy patients, getting hit by gurneys, or attacked by family members can cause injuries.
“Those heavy trays don’t carry themselves,” says Dr. Davis Liu, author of “Stay Healthy, Live Longer, Spend Wisely: Making Intelligent Choices in America’s Healthcare System.” He continues, “Everything is supersized, and waiters are carrying 5- to 10-pound trays repeatedly, sometimes up on a shoulder with one hand.”
What jobs are HOTT and which are NOT. Most jobs are not due to the fact most people don’t enjoy their job. They are just trying to earn a little cash on the side and trust me minimum wage is not going to cut it. Most minimum jobs there is not much to do like an example is one lets take macys. Many people think oh macys is expensive so there employeers must get paid well…think again. I am lucky to be getting paid a little above most emplyeers. Due to the fact that I have been working there for roughly two years now. Most new employees come and go due to the fact macys doesn’t pay good! The reason the new comers get paid horrable is because there is not much to do. You really just have to do alot of talking and getting the costumers to strick up a conversation to try and open up a new account.
It all depends in what area of the store you work in. Like an example is jewlery you have to bend over alot to open counters. Which may cause back pain. Sales floor your duty is to pick the clothes off the ground and hang them on hangers. Which may also cause back pains. End of discoussion most jobs are NOT HOTT!
Okay, the statistics directed towards the idea that construction workers are in an unsafe work environment didn’t surprise me. at all. however, construction workers attend trade schools, are equipped with protective gear, and there are various unions to support all different types of construction(ers?). what other means can we take to ensure greater safety? i’m not a construction worker, and i don’t pretend to know first hand the dangers and trials of the job, so i guess my input on further aid is limited.
HOWEVER..
registered nurses are at greater risk than the yahoo website cared to address. my mom is a registered nurse and worked for LAC-USC “county” hospital in the ICU for ten years. within that decade, the cartilage between S4 and S5 slipped out due to heavy lifting of patients and she was subject to dangerous back surgery where they cut another bone in half and placed it between the spinal columns. she has two metal rods holding up her back (both of which are broken) and she is 30% disabled and cannot lift more than 30 pounds. she’s in constant pain, and she sued county for disability. she’s not the first RN there to be disabled because of her job; not the first RN to sue county.
what can we do?
i don’t believe there IS a solution. every job, even stay-at-home ones put you at some sort of risk; mental, physical, biological. using your best judgment and following the safety precautions set by management is the best advice the government can give. how many lawsuits are at the fault of the worker rather than the company? safety may be a notion given to the workers as a guideline for the company rather than those who work for it. i.e if i’m not safe, then you’re gunna pay. reports such as this one hurt more than they help, in my opinion.