[Strategerist]

Structural ironworker was in the top three for decades and the fact it is not anywhere on this list suggests it was overlooked. Or, it may be the small number of bridge and tall building projects during the sample period.

My vague impression is that those jobs have gotten much safer due to increased use of safety harnesses, etc.

Was watching a documentary on the construction of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge in the 1950s, and nobody had any sort of safety harness at all.

[frog in a pot]

My vague impression is that those jobs have gotten much safer due to increased use of safety harnesses, etc.

You may be quite correct. Even a few decades ago the basic ironworking tool belt had heavy metal rings that would allow a worker to carry a safety line and "snap in" around the iron when working off the ground. However, when moving around on open iron or working in a flat area, snapping in was very inconvenient and simply not practised. Today, it may be a strongly enforced safety requirement.