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Lion tamers -

Can a lion ever really be tamed? These guys thinks so and are willing to risk life and limb to try it. But every year reports emerge of lion handlers and so-called lion tamers being mauled or even killed in the name of entertainment.

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High voltage electricians - Working near electricity is about as dangerous as a working environment can get. But handling high-voltage cables at great heights calls for a considerable degree of technical know-how. One slip up and the results can be, er, truly shocking.

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Mechanics - Working with heavy-duty tools, handling components, the risk of breathing in dangerous fumes, and the risk of chemical spills all add up to working in a very hazardous working environment.

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Electrical recycling workers - Working in sprawling plants recycling electrical components is a thankless task. In countries like China, where people are found working in the open, rainwater can mix with leaking chemicals to produce noxious cocktails that are dangerous to health.

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Roofers - It's work which often involves balancing on exposed beams, at a considerable height above the ground.

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Loggers - Using an array of sharp and mean-looking tools just adds another element of danger to an already perilous job. Factor in long hours in often inclement weather and it's no wonder chopping down trees can seriously damage your health.

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Mountain guides - This one takes guts. Not only are you having to deal with extreme and unpredictable weather and environmental conditions, you're taking other people's lives in your hands.

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Pilots - Piloting a large commercial airliner is far safer than being at the controls of a light airplane. A smaller aircraft is more prone to the effects of wind speed, turbulence, and bad weather.

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Carpenters - Crushed or severed fingers, cuts, bruises, grazes, and breathing in a fine mist of sawdust all day are commonplace in this trade.

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Stuntmen - The bigger the star the greater the risk, at least for the brave men and women who double up as big-screen action heroes to bring off spectacular stunts and set pieces. The risks are huge, but so are the rewards.

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Street sweepers - Who would have thought this job could be so dangerous? Well, it depends on the road you're sweeping and where it's located. In Kiva, Rwanda, women are put to work on dimly lit streets with heavy traffic in pretty unfriendly neighborhoods.

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Police - Inherently dangerous, a police officer's life is put on the line every time they go out on patrol.

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Astronauts - Since the USA and the former USSR began the space race 60-odd years ago, 34 individuals have lost their lives in exploring space, a mortality rate 7.5% higher than many other professions listed in this gallery.

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Bodyguards - The more high-profile the potential target, the greater the chances of a worst-case scenario in this difficult and uncompromising profession.

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Slaughterhouse workers - The number of injuries recorded in a slaughterhouse environment is three times higher than in more conventional factory work spaces.

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Sanitation workers -

Sometime ridiculed and spoken down to, the fact is we'd all miss the services of a sanitation worker if they ever decided to stop work. And think of the hazardous waste they're exposed to on a daily basis!

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Miners - For many, just the thought of spending hours hundreds of feet underground in a confined space would be enough to put them off working as miner.

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Truck drivers - Truck drivers are on the road day-in and day-out. That means being at the mercy of the thousands of road accidents that occur every day.

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Minesweepers - Easily one of the most dangerous professions in the world. Unfortunately there's plenty of work out there for these highly trained military personnel to contend with.

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Food delivery drivers - This depends on which part of the world you're operating in. Some countries have a woeful record where pizza delivery personnel have become victims of assault, armed robbery, and even murder.

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Firemen - The work these unsung heroes undertake in the name of safety is truly commendable. One day they might be rescuing a kitten from a tree, the next they'll be running into a blazing building to save those trapped in dangerous and inaccessible places.

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Steel workers - Molten steel, incredibly high temperatures, and clouds of noxious gases and harmful pollutants. A steelworker's life ain't a pretty one.

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Rescue workers - No matter what environment they work in, be it on land or at sea, the very fact that someone deliberately follows in the footsteps of an individual who has come to grief in order to offer assistance speaks volumes about the bravery and tenacity of rescue team members.

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Deep sea fishers - Dealing with mountainous seas, icy temperatures, long sleepless nights, and living and working on a boat that never stops pitching and rolling is not for the fainthearted.

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Farmers - Working very long hours in all weather on a daily basis with heavy-duty machinery and surrounded, perhaps, by large animals, makes working on a farm no easy walk in the park.

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Taxi drivers - Remember all those weirdos climbing into the back of Robert De Niro's cab? Yes, taxi, Uber and even tuk-tuk drivers need to look over their shoulders on occasion, especially as armed robbery is a real risk.

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Groundskeepers/gardeners - Gardeners and groundskeepers are always exposed to the natural elements, as well as sharp tools and instruments.

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Construction workers and their supervisors - If working in construction is dangerous, then being a supervisor is perilous. Many fatalities are recorded in this field every year.

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Surgeons - Surgeons are constantly exposed to diseases, infections, and contaminants. Not to mention the dangerous tools you need to perform surgery.

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Medical professionals -

Face it, working as a medical worker can be pretty grueling stuff. You can be frequently exposed to the aforementioned diseases and infections.

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