10 Occupations With Disturbingly High Body Counts

5. Garbage Collectors

Collecting garbage and recyclables may not be the most glamorous occupation, but it plays a major role in keeping neighborhoods safe and sanitary.

Unfortunately, it's also a very risky job. In fact, according to Quartz, as recently as 2015, garbage collectors were more likely to be killed on the job than police officers in the US. That same year, there was an average of 33 deaths per 100,000 workers who identified as refuse or recyclable material collectors.

The majority of the deaths associated with the profession are the result of workers being struck by oncoming traffic. Often times, vehicles don't see the sanitation workers jumping on or off their trucks.

Other fatal incidents involve collisions with the garbage truck itself. The fact that these vehicles are constantly (sometimes abruptly) stopping to pick up trash makes them prime candidates for potentially deadly automobile accidents.