Fear comes in many forms. For some, it’s spiders; it’s heights, and still, for others, it could be flying, public speaking, or even clowns. However, for one in eight people in the United States, it’s claustrophobia or the fear of enclosed places. Being confined can trigger intense panic, anxiety, chest pains, and difficulty breathing. For the remarkably high number of people who have this phobia, small, cramped, and confined places are normally well-avoided. Surprisingly, though, some people willingly put themselves in these situations on a daily basis in their chosen profession. These individuals don’t exhibit fear but rather embrace the confinement head-on and get the job done. These claustrophobic jobs demand a unique resilience as well as nerves of steel.

Dangerous and Claustrophobic Jobs

Miner

I’m sure this profession would be on everyone’s list as one the most claustrophobic jobs out there, and for good reason. Without even taking into consideration the very tight and enclosed workspace, a miner faces numerous dangers every day. 

They run the risk of injury involved in the heavy machinery used for extracting resources such as coal, metal ore, or hard rock. They also rely upon a dust control and ventilation system to help filter airborne particles that could cause respiratory issues. Gas build-up when deep underground could also occur, resulting in explosions and fires. 

Water leaks and unstable rocks could be potential hazards if not monitored regularly. Now, take all these dangers and up the ante that all this occurs within an ultra-compact, dark, and deep underground location. It’s not uncommon for miners to work over one thousand feet below the surface, with some precious metal miners going down even further to three thousand feet and beyond. 

The miners rely on supports to stabilize and essentially hold up the tons of material above them. If a cave-in occurs, their typically cramped workspace gets a whole lot tighter. Miners must be both physically and mentally tough to endure harsh and claustrophobic conditions day in and day out. 

Elevator Mechanic

Being an elevator mechanic, there will be times that you’ll work out in the open and other instances that you’ll be contorted into a confined space, and the latter may eliminate many people from choosing this job path. The inside of an elevator may bring fear to people who suffer from claustrophobia, but that ten-by-ten square space is nothing to an elevator mechanic. 

These workers often have to fix or perform routine maintenance within tight, confined spaces within elevator shafts and small electrical rooms that provide power to the elevator. These areas can be dimly lit and difficult to traverse, especially when bulky equipment and tools must accompany the mechanic and can reach uncomfortably high temperatures. Combine all these factors, and you have a profession that continuously taxes the worker’s mental and physical mettle. 

Cave Explorer

This may be another profession that immediately comes to mind when discussing claustrophobic jobs. Cave explorers perform many tasks while within a cave system. They may be surveying a cave’s physical topography, noting its angles, elevations, and distances in order to create a workable and detailed map. 

They may take photos or video of the interior to examine at a later time and record indications of wildlife within the cave or other biological activity that may be observed. Now, those tasks may not seem dangerous on their own. Still, it becomes much different when a cave explorer is harnessed to a rope over a deep cavern, wiggling through seemingly impassable crevices and contorting their body to advance a few feet through the rock formations. 

Squeezing through a tight space may be difficult for an explorer, but backtracking and reversing their movement can be a nightmare and, at times, deadly. Numerous news stories tell the tale of “stuck” cave explorers that cannot be reached by rescue workers. However, if they do get to them, they often can’t be extracted from their surrounding rock-like prison. If you’re claustrophobic, I would suggest passing on this profession.

Underwater Welder

A deep sea diver is a dangerous profession in itself. Being a welder also poses hazards on an everyday basis. Now, combine these two careers, and you’ll amp the danger and claustrophobic feeling up ten-fold. 

Disregarding the claustrophobic aspect for a moment, underwater divers face a plethora of dangers, including electric shock, as they use equipment that involves electric current, and water and electricity certainly don’t mix. Welders generate high temperatures while working, which can cause explosions if small pockets of oxygen come in contact with the high temperatures. 

Decompression sickness, drowning, hypothermia, and physical injury all are possible while deep underwater. Finally, an underwater welder faces claustrophobia, first while being inside the diving suit with its oversized helmet and accompanying gear and being so far below the surface of the water that they can’t just ascend without complications. A calm mind, a steady hand, and a rock-solid physical body are needed to take on this confining career. 

Confined Space Attendant

Ironically, even with its deceptive title, this final career is the least confining of the five. A confined space attendant’s duties include monitoring the confined space for potential hazards, communicating with the people entering and exiting such areas, and continuously checking conditions such as temperature, airflow, and communication lines with the person entering the confined space. 

So, why did this profession make the list? Simply put, if the person inside the tight and constructed area needs to be extracted, the attendant may be the first line of defense to make this happen. Yes, they will sound the alarm for others to help, but they may need to enter the tunnel or hole that’s being monitored. This is where the attendant must be claustrophobic-free, no matter the type of confined space. They must be able to enter without hesitation. 

Learn to Overcome Your Fear

If you suffer from any level of claustrophobia and think these professions are far out of your reach, think again. With professional help, some common sense logic, and continuous effort on your part, you can break free of the hold this phobia may have on you. With each step you take to conquer your fear, you’ll be much closer to taking on the tasks of any of the careers mentioned above. Before you know it, you’ll be at the top of your game, leaving your fear far behind.