As 2009 comes to a close, the most dangerous jobs list has arrived from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). You may find yourself rethinking your career choice after reading this, especially since you are not only putting your life at risk. The jobs on the list aren’t the highest paying jobs. Plus, many of them don’t offer you the greatest benefits if you are hurt or killed on the job. You may want to reconsider your career from a cost-benefit analysis perspective.

Without any further ado, here is the list of the 10 most dangerous jobs for 2009:

10. Cops/Law Enforcement

Cops risk their lives every day. Being a policeman is even more dangerous today than it has been in the past. Our policemen have to deal with gangs, mafia, criminals, and other individuals that break our laws. The job can be especially dangerous when there is a territorial dispute between two street gangs. Law Enforcement is a dangerous profession, but, luckily, individuals still choose it and keep us safe in the process.

9. Truck Drivers

Being a truck driver is one of the most dangerous jobs in America and it’s held by thousands of Americans. Truck drivers have really tight time constraints for pick-ups and deliveries that they have to meet. This means that they travel fast, sometimes getting little sleep, and they must deal with traffic and weather which can put them really far behind. They are even limited on the breaks that they take. They spend their days on the highways carrying heavy loads, trying to make it to the next stop on time. Naturally, this puts them at risk of accidents from fatigue and other factors.

8. Electrical Repairs

Electrical workers are always trying to fix power lines. This means that they work day or night, rain or shine. The combination of water and high voltage power lines mean a higher likelihood that things will go wrong. They face the constant risk of falling and electrocution. Electricians always have to be on guard, making sure that they only touch certain wires and avoid other wires.

7. Roofing

Roofers’ safety is mainly in jeopardy because they act like tough guys and don’t harness themselves in. They spend a lot of time putting shingles on and repairing roofs in all sorts of conditions whether it’s rain or snow. In these circumstances, roofers have a very high chance of falling.

6. Farmers and Ranchers

Not only do farmers have to deal with animals, but also with machines and Mother Nature. They are the reason that the rest of us are able to survive. Farmers must always be aware so they aren’t kicked in the head by an animal or have some piece of machinery injure them. Not long ago, a wildfire killed some farmers were killed in a wildfire while they were trying to gather their cattle. These are just some of the reasons why farming and ranching are so difficult and ultimately dangerous.

5. Pilots

Pilots are not only responsible for themselves but also for the passengers that they carry and whatever they hit in the event of a crash. They fly public airlines, corporate jets, private planes, crop dusters, and more. They not only have to deal with the aspect of flying a plane, but also Mother Nature and faulty parts. Which were factors for the Air France flight that went down off the coast of Brazil.

4. Iron and Steel Workers

These workers have to mold, set, and handle metal construction materials. They build bridges and skyscrapers and have a job that requires them to spend a lot of their time above the ground. If they fall they are in serious trouble. Plus they have to be exceptionally careful because if beams fall on them they can be killed or paralyzed, which may result in them never returning to work.

3. Military

For obvious reasons, military personnel have a very risky job. Soldiers are thrown into conflict equipped with guns, tanks, grenades, bombs, and lots of other weapons in order to try and stop a conflict or take something over. There are always people out to get them so they have to protect themselves and quell opposition. Either way, when you have men and women fully armed, there are bound to be casualties and fatalities.

2. Logging

Unless you have seen "American Loggers" on TV, you may not have realized how dangerous it really is. They work at high altitudes, sometimes on the sides of mountains, removing trees. If they aren’t harnessed in properly or paying attention to their surroundings, they may not survive to see nightfall. Logging is a science. If the tree goes down a different way than you expected, you may never be cutting wood again. Once the tree is down though, the danger isn’t over. The men need to always be sober because, even if they have already cut down the trees, they still have to get the trees off the mountain.

1. Fishing

Being a professional fisherman may seem like something that would be relaxing but the TV show "Deadliest Catch" proves otherwise. This is the most deadly profession of 2009. These men go out for weeks at a time and have to face Mother Nature and the ocean. In 2008, the Labor Department reported 50 deaths out of 39,000. This boils down to 128.9 per 100,000 full-time workers dying. Rough seas, unpredictable weather, and isolation during emergencies make this job very dangerous.

While these jobs may be dangerous, they are also very rewarding. They offer individuals an exciting job that isn’t routine. They have to always be aware of their surroundings and stay alert. Otherwise, their life may be on the line. These jobs are also very physical and allow workers the ability to get outside and see and do different things. While these jobs are rewarding, individuals would be wise to consider other options.

As far as non-traditional career paths go, circus careers may be king. I mean, it’s not exactly something you tell your future father-in-law the first time you meet him, is it? It doesn’t really scream business card material. And yet there is some attraction in our minds, some senseless fantasy about sneaking out of your house and running away to become a juggler or an elephant trainer. (I actually have a great-grandfather who ran away with a Chinese circus, so maybe it’s just me…)

Along this train of thought, I began to wonder how one enters a career path with the circus. How does one qualify themselves to be the Bearded Woman or a knife-swallower? Inquiring minds want to know, so I went digging… but didn’t find much.

So now I’m reaching out to you internet researchers for help.

Tight rope – Also known as funambulism, this art requires one to walk dozens of feet above the ground on a length of wire only a half-inch wide. I found some information on the metrics on this art but nothing on how to become one. Can anyone help me out with this? 

Fire-eating – Cool stuff. There is actually a Sideshow School at Coney Island, NY, where you can learn fire-eating. They also offer programs in snake charming, sword swallowing, and burlesque (if you’re, uh, into that kinda thing). The Spice Group in the UK (possibly an offshoot of the Spice Girls?) is rumored to also have a decent fire-eating training program. Couldn’t find anything about them online. Help me out…

Clown – I have a deep-seated fear of clowns. Poltergeist started it. It put the nail in the coffin. But anyway, for those who are interested in becoming a clown (go figure), it looks like there are clown schools out the wazoo. Just google ‘clown school’…

Lion-taming – I turns out you can start down this path at a traditional 4-year college. A good start is a bachelor’s degree in Biology, Zoology, or Psychology (Who knew?). The degree is followed by some rigorous on-the-job training. So trainees must be in top physical and mental shape. This is kind of the traditional path for anyone who wants to work with animals in show business.

The Dog-faced Man – This is a joke, of course. When it comes to this career, either you’ve got it or you don’t. I suppose some high doses of testosterone would improve your chances. Just realize, such a choice will have serious implications for your personal life. There’s a reason why those guys are called freaks.

So, can you help me out, internet researchers?
 

Usually, in every list of ten so-called "recession-proof" jobs, there is about three or four that appear again and again while the others come and go. The reason why they appear year after year is that they are jobs people just can’t do without.

So, instead of putting out yet another tired reiteration of a "recession-proof" job list, I’m going to give you a list of jobs people will always need. Keep in mind, these jobs will probably not make as much in a downturn such as ours- let’s face it, the yachts and McMansions are gonna have to go. Anyone who tells you different is selling something. But your odds of having employment will be best in these careers. In other words, if things got as bad as they could get, these jobs would be the last to go. Considering our circumstances, that’s some decent insurance:

1. Doctor – even in the least developed countries, doctors are in high demand. If you’ve ever lived in a third world country, you’ve probably noticed that the town doctor is the busiest and most popular man in town. The bottom line is, as long as there are human bodies to heal, we will need doctors. Areas of specialization like dermatology, physical therapy, chiropractics, acupuncture, and plastic surgery may take a hit. But basic medicine will always be in demand. In fact, as recession-induced stress takes its toll on the health of the American public, doctors may find themselves more in demand than ever.

2. Nurse – See number 1. Every doctor needs a nurse. Put two and two together.

3. Dentist – Don’t expect spikes in cosmetic dentistry, but basic dental work will always be in demand (unless humans unexpectedly evolve a new way to chew food). I mean, anyone who has ever had a toothache knows that you just can’t function. So, even on the rainiest days, expect people to be willing to pay for dental emergencies.

4. Food Production – No, I don’t mean working at Wolfgang Pucks. I mean farming. People will always need food. People who know how to grow food will always be in demand. At the very least, you’d always know how to provide food for your own household.

5. Handyman – People may learn to live without their cars and SUVs. They may learn to do without designer handbags. But they will never go without basic shelter and tools. As long as humans need shelter, they will need someone to build and repair those structures. As long as they need their tools to do stuff, they will someone to build and repair those tools.

One hopes that IT and Sales jobs will always be around. However, if you’re looking for sure bets in these uncertain times, look to jobs that people will always need. Good luck out there!