A side hustle is a great way to add some extra money to your budget. However, it is very important that you choose the right one. If you don’t, it could cause you major problems. In fact, some side hustles can actually be dangerous. So make sure that you know exactly what you’re doing when you agree to a job. If you’re looking for a side hustle, here are four dangerous ones to avoid.
1. Agriculture
While picking fruit or assisting on a farm might not be so bad, some agricultural jobs can be extremely dangerous. Don’t take on any jobs that require heavy machinery or special training, even if you think you know what you’re doing. Logging is the most dangerous career path, with an average of 135.9 deaths for every 100,000 full-time workers. To be a logger or any similar job, you need years of training. Getting that training is not worthwhile for a side hustle. So make sure you avoid any untrained agriculture jobs to avoid the risk of death or serious injury.
2. Home Cooked Food
Baking cookies in your kitchen might seem like a great side hustle. If you’re a good cook, you could easily add money to your budget. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Selling consumable products requires licensing and inspections. The rules will vary depending on where you live, but most places are very strict with their standards and the average home kitchen won’t cut it. If something goes wrong, your customers could get very sick. The responsibility for this could fall onto you, resulting in legal trouble. If you’re found to be getting people hurt or sick on purpose, you could go to jail for assault. According to the California Penal Code Section 240, assault is an unlawful attempt to cause violent harm to another person. Even if you don’t intend to, accidental harm could also get you in trouble. So you should avoid this route altogether.
3. Medical Testing
With so many new medications and procedures coming out all the time, researchers are always in need of medical test subjects. Often, these pay well and could make a major impact on your budget. Or, at least they seem to. However, it is important to consider all the possible consequences of signing up for medical testing. You might be putting your body at risk by trying new drugs or putting yourself in dangerous situations for medical study. You might also be required to stay in the facility for weeks at a time, disrupting your normal life. For all of this risk, the pay often isn’t as good as it seems. So, if you’re tempted by calls for medical test subjects, look for something else instead.
4. Cleaning Pollution Sites
Cleaning up pollution seems like a great way to earn money while also helping the environment. And while it can be, it can also be very dangerous. Cleaning medical waste from water is very different from picking up litter on the highway. According to the EPA, concerns about the health hazards of medical waste grew in the 1980s, when it began washing up on shores. In order to clean this type of pollution, you need specialized gear and training. As with agriculture, it is not worth going through this training for a side hustle. Nor is it safe to do without it. So avoid these jobs altogether.
If your budget needs a little extra cash, a good side hustle can help you out. However, a bad side hustle can make things much worse. Before you decide which job to take, make sure it is safe. Keep these four dangerous jobs in mind and avoid them as you make your plans.