IH/OEHS Exposure Profiles in Finance, Insurance and Real Estate

Chemical products are essential to the production of a myriad of manufactured products. More than 96% of all manufactured goods are directly touched by the chemicals industry. The industry greatly influences our safe water supply, food, shelter, clothing, health care, computer technology, transportation, and almost every other facet of modern life.

This section includes establishments operating primarily in the fields of finance, insurance, and real estate. Finance includes depository institutions, non-depository credit institutions, holding (but not predominantly operating) companies, other investment companies, brokers and dealers in securities and commodity contracts, and security and commodity exchanges. Insurance covers carriers of all types of insurance, and insurance agents and brokers. Real estate includes owners, lessors, lessees, buyers, sellers, agents, and developers. Establishments engaged in the construction of buildings for sale (operative builders) are classified in Construction, Industry 1531.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates there were 6.43M people employed in the Finance and Insurance, and Real Estate, Rental & Leasing Industry Sector in 2019. The most common occupations are financial managers, real estate brokers and sales agents, insurance sales agents, property, real estate, and community association managers, and customer service representatives. The industry employs an unusually high number of tellers, insurance sales agents, and new accounts clerks.

Note: The following table represents only the potential occupational health concerns related to the entire wholesale trade for both durable and nondurable goods industry based on a job task or work activity, and any related OSHA standards for regulatory compliance. The information presented does not indicate or suggest a relative risk of exposure based on the location within the table nor provides any exposure information. Health risks associated with fatigue, working long hours, stress living away from home, and other psychosocial disorders are not addressed.

The information provides guidance to understand the occupational health hazards from chemical substances, physical and biological agents, radiological, ergonomic, and environmental hazards from exposure to plants and animals. Potential occupational health exposures were contrived from the OSHA Integrated Management Information System database between 1984 and 2020.No information was available from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Health Hazard Evaluations (HHE).

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