20 Dangerous Jobs from the 1970s That Are Gone for Good

Back in the 1970s, certain jobs weren’t just physically demanding—they were downright dangerous. Before automation, digital tech, and modern safety laws, American workers regularly put their lives on the line to earn a paycheck. Whether it was hauling radioactive materials, working with molten metal, or hanging off a smokestack, these jobs pushed people to their limits.

Many of these roles don’t exist anymore – not because they weren’t important, but because the risks far outweighed the rewards. New laws, improved machines, and smarter systems made these occupations obsolete, but their stories still show how far we’ve come in protecting workers.

Let’s take a journey back and explore 20 incredibly dangerous jobs from the 1970s that are gone for good.

1. Asbestos Miner

Asbestos was once used in everything from insulation to brake pads. It didn’t burn, it didn’t rot, and it seemed like a miracle material. But mining and handling it came with deadly consequences. Workers inhaled microscopic fibers that stuck in their lungs for life. Years later, they’d develop mesothelioma or asbestosis—slow, painful killers. It took decades for governments to ban or restrict its use. Thankfully, mining asbestos is a thing of the past in most places.

2. Smoke Stack Cleaner

High above the ground, chimney cleaners scaled massive industrial smokestacks to scrape away soot and gunk. There were no harnesses, no guard rails – just grit, a brush, and hope. One slip meant a fatal fall. On top of that, breathing in toxic fumes for hours each day caused long-term lung damage. Today, robots and automated scrubbers do the dirty work while keeping humans safely on the ground.

3. Ship Breaker

Dismantling massive steel ships sounds rough – and it was. Workers torched through hulls made of rust and asbestos, often with no protective gear. The job was heavy, hot, and toxic. Accidents were common, injuries were expected, and long-term exposure to chemicals like lead made things worse. Nowadays, ship recycling is done with stricter safety controls or even robotic cutters.

4. Chainsaw Logger

Logging is still dangerous today, but back in the ‘70s, it was brutal. Without modern chainsaws or safety gear, loggers faced constant threats – falling trees, chainsaw kickbacks, and slipping on muddy hillsides. Many died in the woods, far from help. As logging machinery advanced, manual chainsaw logging faded out, making the work faster and far safer.

5. Steel Mill Hot Roller

This job involved shaping red-hot steel using massive rollers that reached over 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit. One wrong move and your hand, or worse, could be crushed or burned. The intense heat and physical demand made it one of the harshest industrial jobs out there. Automation and robotics later stepped in, cutting both injuries and labor down significantly.

6. Coal Shoveler

Imagine shoveling tons of coal in dark, tight boiler rooms, breathing in black dust with every breath. Coal shoveling powered industries and homes, but it wrecked bodies. Respiratory illnesses, back injuries, and heat exhaustion were common. Machines like conveyor belts eventually replaced human shoveling, protecting workers from the worst of it.

7. Linotype Operator

Before digital printing, newspaper and book layouts were set using molten lead. Linotype operators typed lines into machines that cast entire metal “slugs” of text. These machines were temperamental and dangerous – accidents involving hot metal were common. The rise of computers and phototypesetting made the job obsolete, but it was once vital to every printing press.

8. Railroad Switchman

Switchmen stood in the path of moving trains, manually guiding cars onto different tracks and coupling them together. It was a high-stress, fast-paced job that often left workers with crushed limbs – or worse. With today’s automated switching and signaling systems, the need for human switchmen has all but disappeared.

9. Telegraph Operator

Even in the 1970s, a few telegraph operators were still using Morse code to send messages across great distances. But handling high-voltage equipment and interpreting rapid-fire signals under pressure made it a stressful and risky task. As phones and internet communication took over, the job faded out, ending a long chapter in communication history.

10. Elevator Installer

Installing elevators in tall buildings used to mean dangling above open shafts, hauling heavy steel parts, and working with high-voltage power lines – often without modern safety gear. Falls and electrical shocks were frequent. Over time, improved harnesses, better training, and stricter construction codes made the job far safer – and eventually more specialized.

11. Longline Fisherman

Catching fish like tuna and swordfish on longlines stretching for miles sounds exciting, but the reality was harsh. Fishermen endured stormy seas, hours of pulling in tangled lines, and the constant threat of being pulled overboard. Injuries were common, and rescue was often impossible. More efficient and safer methods have since replaced this deadly fishing practice.

12. Elevator Operator

In big city buildings, elevator operators were once essential. They didn’t just press buttons – they managed speed, timing, and door controls using hand levers. Poor timing could result in people getting caught or injured. Automation made elevators smarter and safer, and by the 1980s, operators were mostly gone.

13. Gas Station Attendant

Full-service gas stations were a luxury in the 1970s. Attendants pumped fuel, checked oil, and cleaned windows. But working near open gas fumes with no fire protection came with major risks – explosions weren’t unheard of. The oil crisis and the move toward self-service sealed the fate of this once-common job.

14. Switchboard Operator

Before smartphones, there was the switchboard. Operators physically connected phone calls using wires and jacks. In emergencies, they were the front line for getting help. But with all that equipment came risk – electric shocks, fires, and long shifts juggling dozens of calls. Automated dialing slowly made this job unnecessary.

15. Ice Cutter

Before refrigeration, workers sawed massive blocks of ice from frozen lakes and rivers. They worked in freezing temperatures, on slippery surfaces, often with horses and tools that could easily break through the ice. Falling in meant death. Modern refrigeration made natural ice harvesting a thing of the past.

16. Radioactive Material Transporter

In the early days of nuclear medicine and power, someone had to physically move radioactive materials. These workers drove trucks, trains, and planes loaded with dangerous cargo, without today’s strict packaging or containment. The health risks were staggering. Today, the job still exists in highly controlled settings, but most of the manual, risky work is gone.

17. Factory Line Worker (Manual Assembly)

Assembly lines in the 1970s relied on speed, precision, and the willingness to work alongside dangerous machinery. Workers used sharp tools, lifted heavy parts, and worked with chemicals, often with little to no protection. Repetitive strain injuries, cuts, and amputations were common. Robots now do most of this work, cutting down injuries and boosting efficiency.

18. Film Projectionist

Running a movie theater back in the day wasn’t just pressing play. Projectionists had to load large film reels, monitor them for hours, and switch them mid-show – all while working near flammable nitrate film. Fires in projection booths were a serious risk. Digital projection has since taken over, eliminating both the danger and the job.

19. Chemical Plant Operator

Working in a chemical plant meant exposure to benzene, lead, and other toxins daily. Without proper gear, workers suffered burns, lung damage, and even cancer. Back then, the rules were loose, and protective equipment was minimal. Today’s stricter regulations and automation mean fewer people face those same dangers.

20. Timber Rafting Worker

Floating massive rafts of logs down rivers might sound peaceful, but it wasn’t. These rafts were huge and unstable, and navigating them was risky. Drowning was common, and collisions could be deadly. Trucks and trains replaced river routes, making timber transport faster and much safer.

A Thank You to the Risk-Takers

These jobs may be gone, but they left a lasting impact. The people who did them helped build the world we live in. They laid train tracks, constructed skyscrapers, and kept cities running – often at great personal cost. We might not remember their names, but their legacy is built into the very structures we use every day.

And as we move forward with automation and AI, it’s worth asking: What dangerous job today might be gone tomorrow?