Industrial machinist
Industrial machinists can be easily crushed by large equipment.
Median wages: $39,600
One of the biggest hazards of working with industrial machinery is handling the heavy weights. Machines can buck or shift, easily crushing a fragile human being.
Machinery in use in unforgiving. Loose clothing or long hair can be caught by chains or gears and mangle workers before the equipment can be brought to a stop.
Fortunately, better safety equipment and more comprehensive training has made working with machinery safer, according to David Merrifield, a Missouri-based safety consultant.
"There are better standards for safety and training," he says. "A well-trained operator can avoid accidents and make the accidents that do happen less severe."
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Last updated August 20 2010: 9:38 AM ET
