Let’s put things into perspective. While I agree crab fishing is rough and potentially dangerous; I have say it is no where near the most dangerous job in the world.
As an active duty Airborne Infantry Soldier, deployed to on his third tour in Iraq, my job is so dangerous that crab fishing is a laughable comparison; it is quite possibly the second most dangerous job in the world. The first has to be, without a doubt, the bomb disposal techs that I see blow to pieces on a weekly basis disarming IEDs and mines. We work longer hours, face more danger, make a heck of allot less pay than fishermen, and unlike allot of fishermen we pay our taxes.
I grew up in Ballard Washington and graduated from Ballard High School, my mom was the bartender at the Lock Spot for a number years back in the 70’s. I’ve worked as a welder all over Seattle and Alaska on many, many boats; so I know allot of these dudes.
I challenge the Discovery Channel to film an “After the Catch” during the “off-Season” when a significant portion of these guys (not all, but many) are hanging around the numerous bars in Ballard (especially the ones I won’t name on NW 24th between Market ST and NW 65th, down on Ballard Ave, or any bar on NW 15th from Fisherman’s Wharf all the way up Holman Road) bumming spare change for money to buy drugs with.
I also challenge anyone from the show “Deadliest Catch” to come on over to my neck of the world and see what REAL danger is like.
DANGEROUS JOBS??? I can relate to this show from personal experience, as being a Great Lakes Commercial Fisherman for 17 years, with one trip out to the Grand Banks off of New Foundland. THAT was "Deadliest Catch" to the T.. I was injured along with another crew man who broke his back, when he got trapped bewteen the aft post side ventalation stack and a full bag of Flounder (Dabs). I fell on both elbows on the hard steel deck and than got whacked in the head by the snatch hook that let loose from is tie-off. I had a very servere sinus infection, and was beat to a pulp. I forced the unruly Captain to take us off the boat(at knife point) Not a wise thing to do, a mutiny at sea, Then the Canadians got wind of this incident and took over and ordered the boat, Theresa Marie III to Trepasse inlet New Foundland, Where Roscoe and I were handed over to the Canadian authorities for psycho/medical treatment. No charges were ever brought up for the attempted mutiny. Roscoe had 7 broken vertebrae, and I had nerve damage to both arms that left me semi paralized for about a year..along with the most severe sinus infection I ever had, which took away 40% of my hearing. Upon arrival back to maine I was I Veterans Hospital care for 3 months, and then went back to Michigan where I fished the Great Lakes for another 7 years. Many a tale to tell with those fishing trips...Later capt. J Sparrow MMYC Menominee. Mich.
I USED TO BE A SALMON FISHERMAN IN ALASKA AND I HAVE A LITTLE IDEA OF WHAT THEY GO THROUGH AND THE FIRST FEW YEARS I ACTUALLY LOST MY ARM BECAUSE OF THE NET WE USED. SO MY RESPECT AND ADMIRATION GOES OUT TO ALL THOSE THAT DO THE HARD LABOR BECAUSE THOSE POTS ARE NASTY AND DEADLY
Want dangerous,, try working on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier during flight operations. If that isn't tough enough for ya, How about being a fireman, 100 firefighters die every year in the line of duty.
Millguy, you want to put it in perspective, then do the math, number of men and women in uniform versus the number of men and women commercial fishing. That is the basis of the claim of deadliest job.
Are we talking about Dangerious jobs in regards to (or something else):
Length of time under dangerious conditions
degree of danger at any given time
degree of danger over a period of time
A specific percentage of dangerous potentials
Dangerous potentials that can effect Experienced the same or near the same as a Newbie?
Or are there other or additional factors?
Of course, those that have gotten injured or seen death in a particular job would likely deem it the most dangerous job from a point of view prospective.
Personally, I would think the consideration of the number of injured and killed divided by the total persons in that job within the same time period. Should give you the percentage. The job with the highest percentage would then (IMHO) would be the most dangerous overall.
i've worked with tigers and have been a firefighter for 9 years..my life is filled with dangerous job stories. i love it when i hear the phrase "when everyone is running out of a burning building..we are the crazy ones running in". i am lucky and thankful everyday for the training and experience that has kept me alive.
Originally posted by sikartiger: i've worked with tigers and have been a firefighter for 9 years..my life is filled with dangerous job stories. i love it when i hear the phrase "when everyone is running out of a burning building..we are the crazy ones running in". i am lucky and thankful everyday for the training and experience that has kept me alive.
My Son and Daughter both worked at a private zoo. They worked part time while going to college. My son had been working there a long time. He was use to petting animals through the cage (Carefully). However, another worker walked to the other side of the cage getting ready to move the tigers to a holding area. Tigers do not like people on both sides of the cage at the same time. They feel treaten. So, he pulled my son's arm into the cage and nearly bit it off. My son needed surgery and a long healing period. He refused to state that it was done by a Tiger because he did not want neither the tiger or zoo owners getting punished. Both son and tiger are doing fine. My daugher although getting her share of minor bites and scratches) was sorry that she did not get the scars he did. It seems that zoologist like to bear badges of wounds in their profession! We have four zoologist in the family including neace and her husband!
I guess I took them too often to the Zoos when they were growing up!
Originally posted by sikartiger: i've worked with tigers and have been a firefighter for 9 years..my life is filled with dangerous job stories. i love it when i hear the phrase "when everyone is running out of a burning building..we are the crazy ones running in". i am lucky and thankful everyday for the training and experience that has kept me alive.
My Son and Daughter both worked at a private zoo. They worked part time while going to college. My son had been working there a long time. He was use to petting animals through the cage (Carefully). However, another worker walked to the other side of the cage getting ready to move the tigers to a holding area. Tigers do not like people on both sides of the cage at the same time. They feel treaten. So, he pulled my son's arm into the cage and nearly bit it off. My son needed surgery and a long healing period. He refused to state that it was done by a Tiger because he did not want neither the tiger or zoo owners getting punished. Both son and tiger are doing fine. My daugher although getting her share of minor bites and scratches) was sorry that she did not get the scars he did. It seems that zoologist like to bear badges of wounds in their profession! We have four zoologist in the family including neace and her husband!
I guess I took them too often to the Zoos when they were growing up!
I used to work on a scallop boat out of Barnegat inlet (NJ), we made runs up north...to put it bluntly, nothing is more fierce than the North Atlantic during a storm..nothing..
According to MSN Money, logging is the most dangerous job, then fishing jobs. Law enforcement didn't even make the list of the top 10 most dangerous jobs on the MSN list. However, a Forbes article, says law enforcement did make the list in 2007, but don't say what spot. Forbes also says fishing is the tops the list of the most dangerous jobs
These are the most deadly, I wonder what the statistics would be for more dangerous as in injury that results in medical care that could not be resolved with 1 trip to ER or doctor.
I also wonder if it was broken down to which fishing area, how the results would vary. Seems like the north atlantic has a lot of dangerous weather also.
