HappyLifestyleJournal
You would think that being a stuntman is dangerous, but some of America’s most unhealthy jobs are those that require working in cubicles, restaurants and hospitals, among others.
These professions have regular occurrences of injuries and illnesses due to exposure to contaminants and infections, hazardous conditions, radiation, risk of minor burns, cuts and stings. What can also be very damaging for your health is spending a lot of time sitting, as inactivity has been found to shorten your life span.
These jobs are among the unhealthiest ones in America, and they are listed from the least unhealthy to the worst, but all of them can significantly damage your health.
1. Nuclear medicine technologists (53/100)
On a scale from 0 to 100, the score of unhealthiness of this job is 53.0. Nuclear medicine technologists prepare radioactive isotopes used for diagnostic procedures.
People who perform this job are exposed to extremely high levels of radiation (100 on a scale 0-100), to disease and infections (93) and to contaminants (44). If a nuclear medicine technologist doesn’t have a good and solid immune system, it can be very difficult for him/her to preserve good health.
2. Critical care nurses (53.5/100)
The overall unhealthiness score for this job, on a scale from 0 to 100, is 53.5. This means it is slightly unhealthier than the previously mentioned job. What critical care nurses do is provide advanced nursing care for those in critical condition, and they are constantly exposed to infections, which leads to a 99% risk of being infected. These nurses are also frequently exposed to contaminants (65 on a scale from 0 to 100) and radiation (61 on a scale from 0 to 100).
3. Chemical plant and system operators (53.7/100)
Chemical plant and system operators operate chemical processes, and according to O*NET, on a scale 0-100, the unhealthiness score is 53.7. These workers are constantly exposed to dangerous conditions (99/100), contaminants (96/100) and are always at risk of stings, bites, and cuts (71/100).
4. Emergency medical technicians and paramedics (54/100)
Paramedics and emergency medical technicians’ job is to assess injuries, provide medical care to those who need it urgently and transport injured or sick people to the nearest hospital. These workers are frequently exposed to infections (89/100), contaminants (73/100) and are at risk of minor burns, cuts, stings and bites (53/100). It is not easy being a paramedic. This job is also emotionally and mentally demanding besides being a risky for your health.
5. Refuse and recyclable material collectors (55/100)
Refuse and recyclable material collectors collect reusable materials and put them into a truck in order to transport them where they can be recycled. These workers are constantly exposed to contaminants (97/100) and they spend a lot of time sitting (69/100) which is very unhealthy for the body. Dealing with filth and damaged goods, these workers are also often exposed to disease and infections (63/100).
6. Nuclear equipment operation technicians (56/100)
These workers perform a job with an unhealthiness score of 56 on the scale of 0-100. Their job is to use the equipment that is supposed to control, release or use nuclear energy for production activities.
Nuclear equipment operation technicians are regularly exposed to radiation (89/100), and work in hazardous conditions (77/100) which can be dangerous for physical as well as mental health, due to constant stress. These technicians are also often exposed to contaminants (65), which doesn’t make the situation any better.
7. Airline pilots, copilots and flight engineers (62.3/100)
Airline pilots, copilots and flight engineers spend most of their working hours sitting, which is very unhealthy, so when it comes to time spent sitting, the level of unhealthiness of this job is 93/100. These workers in the airline industry are also exposed to radiation in high levels (73/100) and contaminants (68/100).
Although this is a highly appreciated profession, it can cause several health problems.
8. Podiatrists (60.2/100)
Podiatrists are people who diagnose and provide treatment to people whose foot is deformed or diseased. These workers are frequently exposed to disease and infections (87/100), radiation (69/10) and contaminants (67/10). As any doctor, podiatrists also work long hours, so they have to deal with exhaustion and a weakened immune system.
9. Veterinarians and veterinary assistants and technicians (60.3/100)
Their job is to treat injuries and diseases in animals, perform tests which will lead to a proper diagnosis, and help with treatment and perform surgeries on animals that need such intervention.
Veterinarians, their assistants and technicians are frequently exposed to infections (81/100), minor burns, cuts, bites and stings (75) and contaminants (74), so this profession is considered to be among the unhealthiest ones. Working with cute animals is great, but not so much when they carry deadly infections.
