Burning Question: What's the most dangerous federal job that doesn't seem dangerous?

There are many dangerous federal jobs, from those you'd expect (FBI agent or Drug Enforcement Administration officer) to those you might not (National Park Service ranger--they have to deal with a lot more crime than you'd imagine).

But recent events provide another reminder that sometimes routine federal work can turn fatal.

Census Bureau Director Robert Groves announced Monday that over the past week, six census workers have been killed in traffic accidents as the agency cranked up house-to-house efforts to count Americans. Three of the deaths were in Texas, while the others were in California, South Carolina and Florida.

In the 2000 Census, 13 census workers were killed in traffic accidents, the Associated Press reported.

"We have hundreds of thousands of people disproportionately driving on the streets," Groves said. "So when you have 600,000 people, all sorts of bad things happen."

Census: 6 workers die in traffic accidents
(Associated Press)

Burning Question is a recurring feature that looks at key issues and compelling stories being explored at other publications and social media sites.