10 Occupations With Disturbingly High Body Counts

7. Miners

In this Wednesday, May 7, 2014 photo, an Iranian coal miner with his face smeared black from coal poses for a photograph at a mine near the city of Zirab 212 kilometers (132 miles) northeast of the capital Tehran, on a mountain in Mazandaran province, Ira
Ebrahim Noroozi/AP

One thing that the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans all had in common is that they mined. Mining is an accident prone occupation, and while safety measures have come a long way, it's still extremely dangerous.

China is currently the world's biggest producer of both gold and coal, which means there are a lot of people mining there. This also means the nation is home to a significant number of mining-related fatalities on an annual basis. According to The Guardian, in 2017, 375 Chinese coal miners lost their lives in a single calendar year.

Of all the dangerous occupations in the world, few face as many potentially deadly hazards as miners.

Cave-ins and explosions are perhaps the most obvious causes of death. Those who swing a pickaxe for a living must also worry about toxic fumes, chemical leaks, long falls, and fatigue.

To say, these men and women perform under less than ideal working conditions would be a massive understatement.

 
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From 1999-2003 Jacques performed on the Florida independent pro wrestling circuit. He also has an amateur wrestling background and currently holds a certification in Krav Maga. Jacques graduated from the University of Central Florida in 2003, with a bachelor's degree in Political Science. He currently resides in Chicago, Illinois. Follow him on twitter @goodeals79.