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What It’s Like to Work the Toughest Jobs in Boulder

What It’s Like to Work the Toughest Jobs in Boulder - AboutBoulder.com

You might be complaining about your desk job being monotonous and boring. Your back might hurt a bit after a day’s work and you need to keep reminding yourself to stretch your legs every now and then. But the fact is, you’re sitting in a warm office day after day, and not everyone has that.

Some jobs push you to the limit and, in Boulder, many people take them head-on. Some climb scaffolding to build new structures, others clear heavy snow long before you wake up, then there are those that keep the city clean in scorching heat or freezing cold. You can bet nobody’s complaining about being bored here.

But are you curious to see what it really takes to do this type of work? What’s it like to be under the sun, pouring concrete for hours? How do people clear massive trees after a storm? Is it really that cool to operate dangerous machinery?

These jobs aren’t just tough, they’re also risky, so let’s see what these workers face daily.

The Hardest Jobs in Boulder

In Boulder, people love spending time outside, the community is very active, and its infrastructure is growing like crazy. But behind all these, there are people who make it possible, and they have some of the hardest jobs out there.

1. Construction Workers

There’s always construction in Boulder. New buildings, roads, and renovations keep construction crews busy all year. They lift heavy materials, climb scaffolding, and operate powerful machinery. This is a job that needs strength, endurance, and of course, paying attention to safety.

Construction is nonstop physical work so, to call it tough would be an understatement. There’s hours of bending, lifting, and hauling materials in all kinds of weather. In the summer, the heat is brutal, and in the winter, the ice makes everything harder and more dangerous. Did you know that construction is one of the most dangerous industries in Colorado and falls cause almost 40% of all job-related deaths?

2. Outdoor Maintenance Workers

It takes a lot of effort to keep the parks, roads, and public spaces in Boulder in good condition. Outdoor maintenance workers are responsible for landscaping, trimming, and removing snow. They’re the reason the city looks neat and clean, and that roads and sidewalks stay safe.

The job is tough and it never stops. Weather is one of the biggest issues because heat in the summer can lead to exhaustion and dehydration. On the other hand, ice in the winter makes work risky because of slipping and falls. On top of that, the workers use chainsaws, lawnmowers, and plows, which are dangerous if they’re not handled properly.

What It’s Like to Work the Toughest Jobs in Boulder - AboutBoulder

Safety Measures and Equipment

Accidents happen all the time, but they happen less frequently with safety measures and equipment in place.

Let’s see what keeps the workers safe.

1. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

PPE is essential to stay safe on the job. Hard hats protect from objects that fall down and prevent head injuries. Safety goggles and face shields protect against dust, debris, and chemicals. Without them, even a tiny accident can cause permanent loss of vision.

If the environment is extremely noisy, earplugs and earmuffs will prevent long-term damage to the hearing because loud machines can do that. Workers also wear gloves that are suited specifically to what they’re doing, as well as strong boots with steel toes. You’ll see a lot of workers personalizing their gear with worker decals for identification purposes or just for funsies.

Look at PPE as the first line of defense against injuries. It can mean a difference between a normal workday and a trip to the emergency room or worse.

2. Safety Training and Protocols

Protective gear won’t be as effective as it should be without safety procedures. Training is absolutely essential because the workers need to be able to recognize hazards, handle tools correctly, and follow emergency procedures. One of the most important safety measures by far is fall protection, especially for those working in construction. Guardrails, safety nets, and personal harness systems help prevent falls from high places.

These safety systems aren’t just ‘useful to have’. They’re required by law because, as we previously mentioned, falls are one of the leading causes of workplace deaths.

There are also regular safety drills that prepare workers for fires, equipment malfunctions, and medical incidents.

Conclusion

A desk job doesn’t seem so bad anymore, right? Who cares if Karen left her fishy sandwich in the fridge and it stunk up the entire kitchen, at least you don’t have to pour concrete at 100 degrees. And that pile of paperwork now looks more like a blessing than a headache, does it?

The jobs we mentioned in the article don’t get a lot of attention, but they’re incredibly important. Without these workers, society and the infrastructure people use daily would collapse.

John Mali Director of Media Relations

Director of Media Relations at AboutBoulder.com

john@aboutboulder.com

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