5 Of The Most Dangerous Jobs In The World | Big Business | Business Insider

The video script discusses the sulfur industry, which is a $13 billion global market, and the perilous working conditions of the miners who extract sulfur from an active volcano in East Java, Indonesia. These miners, known to carry up to 200 pounds of sulfur on their backs, earn a mere $17 a day, which is considered decent for the area. The sulfur, dubbed 'devil's gold,' is crucial for various products including sugar, matches, fireworks, and batteries. The Ijen volcano presents a deadly environment with extreme heat and toxic smoke, leading to a shortened life expectancy for miners. Freelance miners often lack proper gear, such as gas masks, and use improvised methods to protect themselves from the harmful sulfur powder. The process of sulfur production involves the condensation of superhot smoke in the cooler air outside the volcano, which then solidifies and turns yellow, signaling its readiness for extraction.

The script highlights the Agariyas, a community in India that has been producing salt for generations in the harsh conditions of the Little Rann of Kutch desert. They live and work in the desert for six months, carrying all their necessities, including food and water, to sustain themselves. The process of salt production involves digging for underground brine water, setting up solar panels for pumping, and constructing salt pans by hand. The work is physically demanding, and the desert environment poses health risks such as exposure to acidic subsoil brine and the intense sun, which can lead to blindness. Despite these challenges, the Agariyas continue their work, harvesting salt three times before leaving with over 1,000 tons, which is sold at a low market price, often below the poverty line.

The video script explores the harvesting of açaí berries in the Amazon rainforest, a fruit that has become a popular superfood in the US. The harvesters, often from small family farms, risk climbing 50-foot-high palm trees using only a single piece of rope called a peconha. Despite the fruit's popularity and high prices in the US, the farmers struggle to benefit due to the perishable nature of the fruit and the lack of processing machines. The script follows Lucas and his family, who harvested 53 baskets in 2021, earning a mere $950, which is significantly less than the $7 or more per pound that processed açaí can sell for in the US. The narrative also touches on the plight of indigenous communities, many of whom live in extreme poverty, despite the long history of açaí harvesting and consumption.

The script delves into the limestone mining industry in Egypt, where miners risk their lives to extract this valuable rock from quarries. Limestone is central to a vast industry, used in the production of cement, glass, plastic, and tiles, and is even a component of the Great Pyramids. The miners, who are freelancers, must purchase their own protective gear, often makeshift, and work with heavy, loud machines that slice the stone into blocks. The work is fraught with danger, from the risk of falls during transportation to the exposure to limestone dust, which can lead to silicosis. Despite the risks, the miners face low life expectancy and limited compensation, with some earning as little as $6 a day with a small additional stipend for food and tea.

The final paragraph of the script focuses on the dangerous occupation of harvesting swiftlet nests in the Philippines, a rare and valuable ingredient in bird's nest soup, a dish considered a delicacy and believed to have health benefits. The harvesters, known as busyadors, climb slippery limestone cliffs without much support, risking falls of up to 100 feet to reach the nests found in caves. Alvin Villarendo and his crew demonstrate their technique, using only their hands and feet in a method called kangang kangang, resembling a crab's movement. The nests are carefully removed and cleaned before being sold to the local city hall, which then sells them to private customers globally. The demand for these nests and the soup they are used in has increased in recent years, but the work remains perilous and the remote locations make emergencies particularly challenging.