Workplace Safety Guide
Missouri

Truck and delivery drivers

These sorts of drivers are responsible for transporting cargo for long distances. In fact, the risk of this job is so high that the National Highway Safety Administration imposes rules that limit how long a truck driver may operate a truck before he or she is legally required to stop for a break. It is most scary when these large trucks get into accidents with cars that are a fraction of their size. Again, the responsibility of this sort of workplace injury falls heavily on the employer, who is expected to regulate the driver’s hours.

Construction workers

Those who work in construction zones are in hazardous territory. This is because the risk of a heavy object striking or falling on them is high. Whether it is a construction worker building a skyscraper or a home, this occupation commonly sees workplace injuries. Further, construction workers in especially unique environments, such as highway building zones, face the risk of getting injured not only by moving or stationary machinery but also by other things in their way, such as passing cars.

Roofers

Homebuilders, due to the lack of safeguards present when working on top of a house, face the risk of falling from a significant height. Roofers may also sustain injuries by losing their balance on an insecure ladder.

Electrical workers or linemen

These types of occupations face injury risks mostly associated with getting shocked or electrocuted by electric lines they are working on.

Civil workers

This line of workers, including police officers and firefighters, risk their lives every day on the job. In fact, it is the responsibility of public sector workers to physically put themselves in front of danger to protect individuals and families. Because of this, they are highly susceptible to being shot, stabbed, or getting stuck in a violent fire when trying to save someone inside of a house. Unfortunately, other than crime reduction efforts in the community and fire safety education, experts have not found many tactics an employer could use to reduce the likelihood of injury in this occupation.

Loggers

Logging and other forestry work are considered extremely dangerous. A variety of factors, including using heavy equipment and chainsaws, the ability of trees to fall down or roll down a hill, and transporting wood, make loggers very prone to injuries. Because of the possibility of getting pinned down or struck by heavy trees, severe injuries to the back, neck, or brain can occur. While the self risks of logging are inherently high, proper oversight, working in teams rather than alone, and making sure wood is properly secured can reduce the chances of workplace injury.

Steel and ironworkers

This type of worker is responsible for assembling and installing large steel and iron structures. Sharp equipment is typically used to cut into these materials, which creates a high risk for injuries, including amputations, broken bones, and burns. However, mechanisms are available to lower the chances of injury, such as having fall protection or fall arrest equipment, securing toxic chemicals or sharp ends when not in use, and making sure electrical units are reliable.

Farmers and agriculture workers

Though this type of worker is not often discussed for injury risks on the job, farmers and agriculture workers nonetheless face injuries. Equipment such as tractors and pesticide sprayers can often lead to injuries. Also, pesticide use over a sufficient enough of time can lead to cancer, pulmonary disease, and difficulty breathing. For example, expert doctors and researchers have found links between Paraquat exposure and Parkinson’s disease.

Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers

Laborers are responsible for all sorts of job tasks. For example, they may be moving furniture for a family relocating to Florida or delivering stoves to a commercial kitchen. On the other hand, freight and stock movers typically use equipment to unload or load stuff rather than their bodies. For example, they may be using a machine to load pieces of wood onto a shelf at a home improvement store or stocking bags of rice into the bottom shelf of a grocery store.

Factory workers

These employees work in a factory setting where they often perform the same function repeatedly. Because of this, single incident injuries are uncommon. Factory workers include those who manufacture clothes or cars. A unique challenge of being a factory worker is dealing with heat elements. Discomfort from sweating may decrease productivity and hurt performance and concentration, thus increasing the chances of injury. Also, there should be regular inspection of factory belts and machinery.

Miners

Similar to many of the occupations discussed above, miners work with heavy equipment. Additionally, they encounter adverse heat conditions due to being underground and operating equipment that generates heat. Specific injuries that miners are susceptible to on the job include roof collapse, burn injuries, and lung congestion.

Refuse and recyclable material collectors

This sort of worker often rides on the back of a trash or recycle collection truck. This poses two dangers: First, the collectors rely on their ability to hold on to the truck and the safe driving of the truck operator. And second, the collectors are trusting that the drivers around them are not going to hit them.

Highway maintenance workers

These workers include those who oversee the building and safe administration of highways. The proximity to high-speed vehicles driving by poses a significant risk to them on the job.

Airplane and helicopter pilots

Pilots are operators of large vehicles that transport people through the air. This is a high-stress job due to the burden of safely transporting numerous people, having to potentially implement terrorist protocols, and limited landing ground in an emergency. In addition, pilots face injuries such as wrongful death, bodily damage due to smaller impact crashes, and even injuries due to passenger confrontation.

Oil workers

A unique type of occupation due to extended periods of time working away from home. Oil workers are typically stationed at a workplace and work long hours. As a result, pumping oil, particularly in water zones such as the ocean, raises the risk of injuries. For example, disastrous oil spills have occurred in the ocean, causing workers to drown or suffer from severe burn injuries.