These Are the Surprising Unhealthiest Jobs in the Country
We don’t mean to be downers, but there are a lot of occupational hazards to be wary of out there. Sitting too long can shorten your lifespan, being in certain job levels can make you put on weight and apparently working with too many men can induce stress. But even when you take all of that into consideration, odds are you’re in a pretty safe career… unless you have an unhealthy job. Business Insider compiled a list of the unhealthiest jobs in country, and let’s just say the risk factors for these jobs are a little more extreme. Here are the top five:
1. Dentists, dental surgeons and dental assistants
2. Flight attendants
3. Anesthesiologists, nurse anesthetists and anesthesiologist assistants
4. Veterinarians and veterinary assistants and technicians
5. Podiatrists
Uh… Teeth, puppies and feet? Yup, no ice road truckers or deadly fishing boats on this list. That’s because this list is about health risks rather than your peril. The data comes from the Occupational Information Network, a US Department of Labor database with detailed info on careers, including risk factors. Business Insider looked at six health categories across 974 occupations: exposure to contaminants; exposure to disease and infection; exposure to hazardous conditions; exposure to radiation; risk of minor burns, cuts, bites and stings; and time spent sitting.
So when you think about what a dentist is doing — sitting for hours while hovering close to someone’s gingivitis or halitosis — you start to see what the problem is. Same goes for flight attendants, who face a Contagion-like scenario every day. Vets are dealing with all sorts of bites and scratches from sick pets and wild animals. And podiatrists… well, you’re supposed to wear flip flops in shared showers for a reason!
Check out the rest of the top 27 jobs that are most damaging to your health over at Business Insider, like pilots, nuclear technicians and critical care nurses. And if you’re not on the list, count yourself and your workplace lucky!
Are you in any of these careers? Have you ever experienced health hazards like these? Tell us your story in the comments.
(Photos via Sean Gallup, Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
