There are jobs that naturally have higher health risk than others. Business Insider ranks the unhealthiest jobs in America according to data gathered from the Occupational Information Network (OIN).
Business Insider analyzed data from OIN, a US Department of Labor database full of detailed information on occupation to come up with the list. The new site took O*NET measures of six health risks in each of the 974 occupations in the database.
They considered exposures to contaminants, diseases and infections, hazardous conditions, radiation and risk of minor burns, cuts, bites and stings. They also considered the time spent on sitting as studies find that prolong inactivity shortens life. O*NET scores these factors on a scale of 0-100 with higher indicating increased health risk.
So here's the list of the unhealthiest jobs ranked by Business Insider:
Dentists, Dental Surgeons, and Dental Assistants
Top three health risks:
1. Exposure to contaminants: 84
2. Exposure to disease and infections: 75
3. Time spent sitting: 67Flight Attendants
Flight Attendants
Top three health risks:
1. Exposure to contaminants: 88
2. Exposure to disease and infections: 77
3. Exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings: 69
Anesthesiologists, nurse anesthetists, and anesthesiologist assistants*
Top three health risks:
1. Exposure to disease and infections: 94
2. Exposure to contaminants: 80
3. Exposure to radiation: 74
Veterinarians and veterinary assistants and technicians*
Top three health risks:
1. Exposure to disease and infections: 81
2. Exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings: 75
3. Exposure to contaminants: 74
Podiatrists (Diagnose and treat diseases and deformities of the human foot)
Top three health risks:
1. Exposure to disease and infections: 87
2. Exposure to radiation: 69
3. Exposure to contaminants: 67
Immigration and customs inspectors
Top three health risks:
1. Exposure to contaminants: 78
2. Exposure to disease and infections: 63
3. Exposure to radiation: 62
Histotechnologists and histologic technicians
Top three health risks:
1. Exposure to hazardous conditions: 88
2. Exposure to contaminants: 76
3. Exposure to disease and infections: 75
Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
Top three health risks:
1. Exposure to contaminants: 97
2. Exposure to hazardous conditions: 80
3. Exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings: 74
Stationary engineers and boiler operators
Top three health risks:
1. Exposure to contaminants: 99
2. Exposure to hazardous conditions: 89
3. Exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings: 84
Surgical and medical assistants, technologists, and technicians*
Top three health risks:
1. Exposure to disease and infections: 88
2. Exposure to contaminants: 80
3. Exposure to hazardous conditions: 69
To see the full list, visit the Business Insider website. You may want to take this into consideration before planning your career.
