What are the Riskiest Trade Jobs in the UK?

Risky jobs are necessary to ensure civilisation can continue to thrive and work towards a better future. Dangerous work is needed to find and improve current processes, whether working with hazardous chemicals or operating around heavy machinery. Injuries, illnesses and long-term damage can occur in a wide range of unsafe working environments, and today we want to explore which occupations are more dangerous than others. 

Risks in the trade and construction industry are always apparent, and to work on-site, you must acknowledge the health and safety practices that you have to adhere to. Let's find out what the UK's most risky jobs are and what common accidents happen. 

Why are risky jobs needed, and what are some of the facts?

So what even makes a job 'high risk'? Various factors determine a job's danger. To get a basic idea, jobs that put your health and well-being at stake daily are deemed risky. If your primary job functions could result in a fall from height, illness caused due to toxins in the air, poisonings, electrocution, back pain, joint pain, arthritis and more. Then your work is in the hazardous category. 

Some of the most important facts about risks that you should know include:

• Those aged 60-64 are twice as likely to suffer a fatal injury at work, while those over 65 are more than four times more likely. 
• In 2021/22, 94% (116) of all workplace fatalities were male workers. 
• In 2022 and 2021, the most common death on a work site was due to a fall from height, which was closely followed by being hit by a moving vehicle. 
• In 2021/22, 25% of all workplace fatal injuries occurred in the construction industry, more than in any other sector. 
• The most common accident was due to slips, trips and falls, as 33% of all non-fatal accidents in 2020/21 show. 

But risky jobs pay more, right?

The average UK salary in 2022 was estimated to be £24,600 by the HMRC. With that said, depending on your outlook, dangerous professions could be deemed to be underpaying people considering the risk they are taking every day to work. 

Some of the most dangerous jobs and their average salaries in the UK include:

• Electrician - £36,000 per year
• Builders - £32,000 per year
• Paramedic - £37,000 per year
• Firefighter - £27,000 per year
• Painter and Decorator - £25,000 per year
• HGV Driver - £33,000 per year

The most dangerous industries to work in

Trade Industry

Working in the trades poses various hazards. Using dangerous materials and advanced machinery could cause accidental damage, which your insurance will cover when taken to court or if compensation is sought. 

Construction Industry

When looking into where the most dangerous jobs are, the construction industry comes out as a clear winner. Working around large materials, various delivery trucks, heavy machinery, and varying obstacles and heights can prove tough to avoid accidents and injuries. 

Even with the many risk assessments and health and safety training, one wrong slip and you could be out of work for some time. Remember to always stay alert and keep an eye out for any potential risks that may develop. 

Engineering Industry

For budding engineers, this field of work is highly risky, too, considering the varying types of work undertaken. Although it is a great career, jobs like Chemical Engineers, Civil Engineers, Mechanical Engineers and more all pose significant hazards to you and others around you. 

From working at heights to tight spaces and using dangerous gases and explosive materials, you best keep your wits about yourself when working as an engineer. 

What constitutes a dangerous profession, and how do I stay safe?

As a trade business owner, your first thought should always be how to keep your site safe and sound. Hazards run rife in the trades, and diminishing these risks is of the utmost importance. Below are several instances of risk within the trades industry and how specific health and safety techniques can ensure you stay in line with regulations:

• Working at height
• Injury from lifting and moving objects
• Electrocution
• Injury from power tools and machinery
• Illnesses from poisons/ airborne substances and chemicals
• Hearing loss
• Stress, anxiety and depression

You can read about the most common risks in the trades by reading our comprehensive blog post here. 

When working in a high-risk profession, whether trade-related or otherwise, you should never cut corners on your work, putting your safety and those around you in danger. Times are more demanding, and we all are pushed to the limit with deadlines, but when using unsafe equipment, working at height and more, it's not worth the gamble. The best ways to ensure you are safe on-site and protect third parties is to:

• Use the correct tools and equipment for the job and operate them properly.
• Always report unsafe working conditions and take evidence via photos or witnesses.
• Always ensure that you wear the correct safety gear.
• Keep a clear route around you, and don't leave things that can be slipped or tripped over easily. 
• Take regular breaks, have plenty of healthy food and stay hydrated.
• Remember your body's health when lifting, sitting and moving around on-site - this will help maintain your posture and avoid future aches and pains.
• Always have the correct level of insurance, and make sure to review and update it regularly. 

Why risky jobs need the right insurance

For tradespeople or self-employed professionals, you understand better than anyone the risks associated with your work, from injuring yourself to damaging a customer's home, being taken to court or having your tools stolen. Rhino Trade Insurance provides excellent protection when times get ugly. 

This article shows that the trade industry is one of the riskiest professions to work in, with various hazards on different sites. Having the right degree of insurance for your business will cover you for almost every twist and turn your face throughout your career. 

Our cover options can create a complete policy that includes Public Liability, Employers' Liability, Tool Cover, Legal Protection, Personal Accident Insurance, Contractors' All Risks Insurance and many more. 

Insurance doesn't just protect you and those around you from risks; it also covers you financially. Once you have built trust with your customers, you want to ensure their confidence isn't taken lightly, so having the right insurance puts your mind at ease and theirs, too, that any problems arising will be covered financially. 

Why choose Rhino Trade Insurance?

We provide cost-effective trade insurance policies that can be paid for via interest-free monthly payments. Whatever your demands are, our five-star rated team can handle them and create a policy that fulfils your needs.

Contact our Rhino Trade Insurance today at 0116 243 7904 or visit our website, where we have everything you need in one place. Get a quote in an instant here.