The three biggest economic activities in Texas are cotton, ranching, and oil; however, in addition to those, the Texas economy relies on more varied industry verticals, including information technology, aerospace, biomedical research, and manufacturing, among others. Oil and gas remains the largest industry, with a total economic output of $111.6 billion. In addition to our economic success, recent population growth due to people relocating to Texas from all over the country has led to increased job growth. Texas is outpacing the rest of the country in recovering economically from the pandemic as the fastest-growing state in the country. As our already very large and heavily populated state only continues to grow and thrive, the workforce within needs to expand to support it. As more workers enter our local workforce, it’s important for them to know which are the most dangerous jobs in Texas.
the creation of so many new jobs across a wide variety of industries has come an increase in workplace risks. Some jobs, however, are known to be more hazardous than others. While many jobs are considered dangerous by nature, that does not mean employees should be exposed to unnecessary risks. Employers should focus even harder on creating and implementing strict safety procedures as well as training and retraining their teams on how to carry them out.
What Are the Most Dangerous Jobs in Texas?
Texas has the most work-related fatalities of any other state. As such, those employing workers in these dangerous jobs need to focus on protecting them. Some of the most dangerous jobs in Texas include:
- Waste Collection: One of the more surprising occupations that suffer from high rates of workplace death is trash collection. Waste and recycling collectors in Texas week are at a high risk of death because they spend so much time in large vehicles on the road and because of the hazardous materials they come in contact with. In addition, sanitation workers utilize heavy machinery that can cause serious injuries and death.
- Trucking: No Texas occupation has a higher number of occupational fatalities than the trucking industry. Annually, about 900 Texan truckers die while working due to several factors, including being overworked, the dangers of unsafe roads, and inadequate vehicle maintenance.
- Roofing: Roofers work with bulky and heavy materials and equipment on the job, which are hard to carry up a ladder. Working high off the ground, roofers are at a significant risk of falling, leading to severe and fatal injuries. In addition to falls, roofers are also at risk for electrocution, toxic exposure, and more.
- Oilfield Work: The dangerous, heavy equipment utilized in oil and gas drilling poses a significant risk to Texans working in the energy industry. Falls and being struck by machinery are two of the major hazards that routinely cause oilfield workplace injuries and deaths.
- Construction: The highly physical nature of construction work results in many workplace deaths – particularly for structural iron and steel workers. One cause that’s not commonly thought of is that in an exceedingly hot location like Texas, many outdoor workers are at a high risk of heatstroke.
- Aviation: Pilots and flight engineers have Texas’ third highest per capita on-the-job death rate. Airplane and helicopter crashes can be caused by a wide range of factors, including equipment malfunction, weather conditions, inadequate training, and flawed maintenance.
Texas Does Not Require Workers Compensation Insurance
Texas is the only state in the country that does not require employers to carry or subscribe to workers’ compensation insurance. This distinction means different things for a potential personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit depending on the circumstances of each case. Some employers may subscribe to private policies that cover work-related injuries and others may prefer to remain non-subscribers, operating their businesses without coverage. Since workers’ comp can serve as a bar to potential lawsuits, the lack of it leaves room for workers to sue their employer directly if they are hurt on the job. And, even if your employer subscribes, there are often multiple companies working on one jobsite which means another potentially responsible party may not be immune from a lawsuit. Only an experienced workplace injury lawyer can investigate the circumstances of your situation and advise you regarding the best possible course of action so that you can recover maximum compensation.
Houston Workplace Injury Lawyers
Working hard in Texas should not mean putting your life at risk. If you or someone you know has been injured on the job, you have legal rights. Even if you have received workers’ compensation payments, there may be another party responsible for your injuries that you can collect from. Since consultations with our team of experienced personal injury lawyers are free, it’s worth reaching out to learn more about your situation and legal rights. Contact us online today or call us at (281) 944-4354. We offer services in both English and Spanish.