Dentists, flight attendants, podiatrists and immigration inspectors have been awarded the dubious honour of professions that carry the highest health risks.
Embalmers, critical care nurses, pilots and recycling collectors don’t fare too well either according to the analysis of 974 occupations using data from the Occupational Information Network form the US Department of Labor.
The top 27 professions found to be most damaging to a person’s health were ranked by Business Insider UK using O*NET measures of six health risks in the database, including exposure to hazardous conditions and radiation, risk or minor burns, cuts, bites, stings, and time spent sitting.
The professions scored between 0 and 100. The higher the score, the greater the health risk.
Number 24 (tie)
Radiologists (unhealthiness score of 52.8)
Top three health risks:
1. Exposure to radiation: 87
2. Exposure to disease and infections: 85
3. Time spent sitting: 74
Metal-refining furnace operators and tenders
Top three health risks:
1. Exposure to contaminants: 100
2. Risk of minor burns, cuts, bites, and stings: 96
3. Exposure to hazardous conditions: 94
Embalmers
Top three health risks:
1. Exposure to disease and infections: 83
2. Exposure to contaminants: 83
3. Exposure to hazardous conditions: 75
Elevator installers and repairers
Top three health risks:
1. Exposure to hazardous conditions: 98
2. Exposure to contaminants: 82
3. Risk of minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings: 61
Number 23
Nuclear medicine technologists (unhealthiness score: 53.0)
Top three health risks:
1. Exposure to radiation: 100
2. Exposure to disease and infections: 93
3. Exposure to contaminants: 44
Number 22
Refrigeration mechanics and installers (unhealthiness score: 53.3)
Three biggest health risks:
1. Exposure to hazardous conditions: 93
2. Exposure to contaminants: 91
3. Risk of minor burns, cuts, bites, and stings: 71
Number 21
Critical care nurses ( unhealthiness score: 53.5)
Top three health risks:
1. Exposure to disease and infections: 99
2. Exposure to contaminants: 65
3. Exposure to radiation: 61
Number 19 (tie)
Service unit operators om oil, gas, and mining (unhealthiness score: 53.7)
Top three health risks:
1. Exposure to contaminants: 94
2. Exposure to hazardous conditions: 89
3. Risk of minor burns, cuts, stings, and bites: 77
Number 19 (tie)
Chemical plant and system operators (unhealthiness score: 53.7)
Top three health risks:
1. Exposure to hazardous conditions: 99
2. Exposure to contaminants: 96
3. Risk of minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings: 71
Number 17 (tie)
Emergency medical technicians and paramedics (unhealthiness score: 54.0)
Top three health risks:
1. Exposure to disease and infections: 89
2. Exposure to contaminants: 73
3. Risk of minor burns, cuts, bites, and stings: 53
Number 17 (tie)
Continuous mining-machine operators (unhealthiness score: 54.0)
Three biggest health risks:
1. Exposure to contaminants: 100
2. Exposure to hazardous conditions: 98
3. Risk of minor burns, cuts, bites, and stings: 64
Number 16
Refractory materials repairers (unhealthiness score: 54.8)
Top three health risks:
1. Exposure to contaminants: 100
2. Exposure to hazardous conditions: 85
3. Risk of minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings: 85
Number 15
Refuse and recyclable material collectors (unhealthiness score: 55.0)
Top three health risks:
1. Exposure to contaminants: 97
2. Time spent sitting: 69
3. Exposure to disease and infections: 63
Number 14
Nuclear equipment operation technicians (unhealthiness score: 55.2)
Top three health risks:
1. Exposure to radiation: 89
2. Exposure to hazardous conditions: 77
3. Exposure to contaminants: 65
Number 12 (tie)
Medical equipment preparers (unhealthiness score: 55.7)
Top three health risks:
1. Exposure to contaminants: 94
2. Exposure to disease and infections: 92
3. Exposure to hazardous conditions: 64
Number 12 (tie)
Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers (unhealthiness score: 55.7)
Top three health risks:
1. Time spent sitting: 93
2. Exposure to radiation: 73
3. Exposure to contaminants: 68
Number 11
Derrick operators in oil and gas (unhealthiness score: 56.0)
Top three health risks:
1. Exposure to contaminants: 100
2. Exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings: 93
3. Exposure to hazardous conditions: 91
Number 10
Surgical and medical assistants, technologists, and technicians (unhealthiness score: 57.3)
Top three health risks:
1. Exposure to disease and infections: 88
2. Exposure to contaminants: 80
3. Exposure to hazardous conditions: 69
Number 9
Stationary engineers and boiler operators (unhealthiness score: 57.7)
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
Number 8
Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators (unhealthiness score: 58.2)
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
Number 7
Histotechnologists and histologic technicians (unhealthiness score: 59.0)
Top three health risks:
1. Exposure to hazardous conditions: 88
2. Exposure to contaminants: 76
3. Exposure to disease and infections: 75
Number 6
Immigration and customs inspectors (unhealthiness score: 59.3)
Top three health risks:
1. Exposure to contaminants: 78
2. Exposure to disease and infections: 63
3. Exposure to radiation: 62
Number 5
Podiatrists (unhealthiness score: 60.2)
Top three health risks:
1. Exposure to disease and infections: 87
2. Exposure to radiation: 69
3. Exposure to contaminants: 67
Number 4
Veterinarians and veterinary assistants and technicians (unhealthiness score: 60.3)
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
Number 3
Anaesthesiologists, nurse anaesthetists, and anaesthesiologist assistants (unhealthiness score: 62.3)
Top three health risks:
1. Exposure to disease and infections: 94
2. Exposure to contaminants: 80
3. Exposure to radiation: 74
Number 2
Flight attendants (unhealthiness score: 62.3)
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
Number 1
Dentists, dental surgeons, and dental assistants (unhealthiness score: 65.4)
Top three health risks:
1. Exposure to contaminants: 84
2. Exposure to disease and infections: 75
3. Time spent sitting: 67