He said drug prices were justified because "it's a very high-risk industry with a long time horizon" for developing products.

Certainly in high-risk industries, safety should be considered number one priority.

Paid sick leave can also reduce the risk of occupational injuries, especially in high-risk industries such as construction, manufacturing, agriculture and health care.

In addressing basic safety, it said, health care is at least a decade behind other high-risk industries.

It is by its nature a high-risk, high-investment industry.

Researchers have found that successful organizations in high-risk industries continually reinvent themselves.

Also, if you are in a high-risk industry such as food, toys or electrical goods, consider product liability insurance.

Ditto with drug companies, which are in a high-risk, high-reward industry only they seem to completely understand.

Dr. Anderson said that as many as 30 to 40 percent of workers in high-risk industries developed these injuries each year.

Mr. Atkinson argues that of the companies in five high-risk industries, only one-third are needed to meet demand for their services.