We always seem to hear that EMS, police, and fire fighters have the most dangerous jobs in America.

While we read stories about the deaths in all three fields, they not only aren’t the most dangerous jobs, the aren’t even in the top 10.

In reverse order here are the most dangerous jobs in America.

10. Construction worker.

Power tools, heights, heavy equipment moving around. That makes sense.

9.  Electrical and power line workers.

High voltage, heights, confined spaces. What could possibly go wrong here.

8.  Farmers, ranchers, agricultural workers.

Big heavy equipment that is designed to cut, chop, grind, or rip stuff out of the ground.

7.  Truck drivers.

Considering how people in small cars drive, this is not a surprise.

6.  Mining machine operators.

Big, heavy equipment designed to cut through rock and dirt. Working underground as well, so stuff can cave in on you.

5. Trash and garbage collection.

No wonder sanitation workers are the highest paid municipal workers in New York City. Again, equipment designed to crush things. Things including people who don’t pay attention.

4. Roofers.

Gravity, need I say more?

3. Aircraft pilots.

Heavy, complex machines designed to cheat the law of gravity. Not big in numbers, but very high in percentage of injuries and fatalities.

2. Commercial fishing.

The sea is a harsh mistress. One that does her level best to kill you every time you get near to it. As I used to tell some of my whiny co workers, “If you think EMS is hard, go to work on a commercial fishing vessel for a week or so.”

A good friend of mine grew up in a fishing family. He went into the army as soon as he could. He figured he was likely to get shot than to fall over board or have something heavy fall on him. Or end of as dinner for a school of fish.

1. Logging.

High speed sharp tools cutting down very heavy objects. Oh, and gravity, always gravity.

In raw numbers no doubt more officers, EMS personnel, and fire fighters get hurt or killed, but the percentages tell a different story.

Whatever you do for work, be careful out there. EMS has plenty of business without you adding to it.