Deadliest Job In The World

Deadliest Job In The World

This welder, holding a tool with the power of a live electrical line, faces the deadliest job in the world—underwater welding, where a simple mistake could mean instant death. Despite the risks, this role is indispensable for maintaining infrastructure like bridges, preventing oil leaks, and ensuring the seaworthiness of ships. In Indonesia, it's among the highest-paying jobs, with welders earning up to $15,000 per week due to high demand. The government invests in training divers for this critical work, yet safety gear remains minimal. The question lingers: does the high pay adequately compensate for the risks? As Suhendra prepares for a lengthy assignment, the emotional toll of leaving his family behind weighs heavily on him, reflecting the personal sacrifices made in pursuit of this perilous profession.

Suhendra, a father of four, entrusts his 14-year-old son Yusuf with responsibility as he departs for another day's work in the Indian Ocean, near Cilegon's industrial zone. His task takes him beneath a pier still under construction, situated roughly a mile and a half offshore. His objective: to affix a crucial component known as a sacrificial anode to iron pillars. Crafted from reactive metals like zinc or aluminum, this white box will safeguard the pillars from corrosion, preserving the integrity of the entire structure. It's a job requiring precision and care, ensuring these vital supports remain robust over the next five years before replacement is due.

In this underwater operation, Suhendra's company is tasked with overseeing 471 out of the 900 pillars at the site. Accompanied by his mentee, 27-year-old Rangga Ahmad Maulana, they prepare for the dive with careful attention to their health. Diving can elevate blood pressure, prompting them to monitor their vitals closely despite the inherent risks. The crew readies the air compressor, crucial for supplying oxygen to Suhendra and Rangga through a single umbilical tube, which tethers them to the boat above. Today, equipped simply with caps and goggles, they descend into the depths beneath the pier, focused on their mission to secure and maintain each critical sacrificial anode.

With the anode lowered by rope, Suhendra and Rangga communicate primarily through hand signals as they locate the precise position on the pillar. After about 15 minutes of careful maneuvering, they secure the anode in place and commence welding—a critical phase fraught with danger. Underwater, the risk of a lethal electric shock is heightened: the welding rod is negatively charged, while the anode is positive, facilitating a circuit completion through the conductive seawater. The process demands significant electrical power to melt the rod and effectively fuse the box to the pillar. As they work, gas bubbles generated by the heat act as a protective barrier, containing the electric current. Any accidental contact between the welding gun's tip and their gear could prove fatal, underscoring the need for steady hands and unwavering focus amidst the challenging underwater environment.

Clad in just two sets of gloves and standard wetsuits, Suhendra and Rangga operate under minimal protection compared to their counterparts in the US, where divers use more comprehensive gear. Despite the risks, underwater welding remains an incredibly perilous occupation, with workers facing a mortality rate 40 times higher than the average worker. Rangga, having experienced electric shocks before, narrowly avoided unconsciousness—a testament to the constant danger they confront. Each anode attachment takes them approximately an hour and a half, requiring multiple ascents to the surface upon completion. At these depths, pressure is twice that of the surface, necessitating cautious ascent to prevent nitrogen bubble formation, which could obstruct blood flow to vital organs like the brain and heart.

Suhendra visits a decompression chamber every three months due to the demands of his diving job, which has already taken a toll on his colleague Rangga. They are working on a pier that will eventually facilitate the transportation of crude oil to a new $39 billion petrochemical plant designed to convert the oil into plastic. This plant is part of Indonesia's significant investment in the oil industry, which includes offering companies up to a 100% tax reduction for a decade to construct 22 new petrochemical plants by 2025.

Globally, the petrochemical industry is expanding rapidly. Projections indicate that by 2050, petrochemicals will contribute nearly half of the growth in global oil demand. The industry aims to maximize the value extracted from each barrel of oil by increasing plastic production capacity. This expansion is deliberate and strategic, driven by the oil and gas industry's plans to sustain and grow their revenue streams.

However, the expansion of petrochemical plants has not been without controversy, especially in the United States. These plants are significant sources of toxic pollution, releasing carcinogenic chemicals and contributing to environmental degradation. Human-rights organizations have labeled the areas surrounding these plants as "sacrifice zones" due to the severe pollution levels. Additionally, petrochemical plants contribute to water pollution through the release of nurdles, tiny plastic pellets that can spill into waterways during manufacturing and transport, posing a threat to wildlife.

Indonesia faces significant environmental challenges, being the fourth-most-polluted country in the world. The nation's landfills are overwhelmed, and nearly the entire population resides in areas where air pollution exceeds the World Health Organization's safe standards. The ongoing development of petrochemical infrastructure is likely to exacerbate these environmental issues, raising concerns about the long-term sustainability and health impacts on the population.

The environmental pollution in Indonesia is significantly shortening the average lifespan of its citizens by approximately one and a half years. Despite the country's introduction of laws aimed at capping greenhouse gas emissions, enforcement has been lax. Experts are concerned that the ongoing construction of petrochemical plants will exacerbate existing environmental problems.

Steven, an expert on the issue, points out that the plastics industry has effectively shifted the blame for the plastic crisis onto consumer behavior, particularly focusing on littering. However, he argues that this narrative is misleading and diverts attention from the industry's significant role in the problem.

The Indonesian government has promoted the petrochemical investments as a major economic boon, promising thousands of new jobs. In a country where 25 million people live below the poverty line, many citizens prioritize economic opportunities over environmental concerns. This sentiment is reflected in surveys indicating that economic prosperity is a higher priority for many Indonesians than environmental protection.

Currently, the construction of the petrochemical plant has employed 13,000 workers, and the project is still ongoing, with four more months needed to complete the remaining pillars. Once operational, the plant will provide employment for 1,000 workers. Suhendra, one of the workers involved in this massive construction effort, is eager to reunite with his children and is hopeful for his family's future. However, he is also concerned about the potential long-term pollution of the waters where he works, fearing that the environment might be too degraded for his son to follow in his footsteps.