When you compare life insurance, you may have to enter information into comparison engines such as your age and whether or not you smoke. But your occupation plays much less of a role in the cost of your life insurance than it used to. The reason is that health and safety improvements have reduced workplace mortality to acceptable levels for all but a handful of very dangerous occupations. It means that many more people are eligible for standard life insurance rates.

Today, pilots, construction workers, trained divers, and even miners can often get standard rates on life insurance, so the best life insurance may now cost far less than it did only five years ago for people in these professions. There are, however, a few very dangerous occupations that can get you declined when you apply for life insurance. For example, if your work takes to war zones (as a security guard, journalist, member of the armed forces, etc.), your occupation may be considered too high risk for standard life insurance policies. However, you could be offered a restricted life insurance policy that would cover your mortgage.

Commercial fishing is Britain’s most dangerous occupation, despite great improvements in safety records. The highest risk is on small or medium sized boats, with the main causes of fatalities being dangerous weather, poor conditions of the boat itself, and lack of lifesaving equipment on board. Other professionals that may be rejected for life insurance include circus performers, motor racing professionals, and national hunt jockeys.