20 Ways Maritime Workers Get Injured At Sea

January 31st, 2012

A Dangerous Job

For most people, a case of lost footing means little more than a bruised behind and a blow to the ego. For maritime workers, however, a slip can be a much more serious matter. In the case of Joseph May, a slick deck caused him to step backwards, his foot landing between a vessel and the barge to which he was securing a line. His left ankle and foot were crushed. With an injury so severe, medical bills, lost wages and the possibility of not being physically able to take on the rigorous work of a seaman, he came to our firm for help. The team of maritime lawyers at Lamothe Lea Aertker has the experience and resources to obtain the maximum compensation for clients who have been injured at sea.

Working offshore is dangerous by its very nature. Whether you work on a passenger ship, transport barge, fishing vessel or oilrig, you face a myriad of hazards. It is the duty of the ship’s manufacturer, captain and management to ensure that proper safety equipment is in place and that workers are thoroughly trained to prevent injury.

20 Dangers Maritime Workers Face That Could Result in Injury

1. Loss of footing. Surfaces on any vessel may become slick due to exposure to ocean spray, rain, humidity or wet lines hauled aboard. When the ship is not properly equipped with non-slip surfacing that is maintained, these areas present a fall hazard that can and often do result in serious injury.
2. Nets, lines and rigging. Rope, when not properly handled, is extremely dangerous. Feet and limbs can become entangled causing a fall or worse.
3. Shifting cargo. When cargo is not properly secured, the movement of the ship can cause it to shift, creating the potential for a seaman to be struck or crushed.
4. Lack of adequate railing. All stairwells and even some walkways require railing in order to allow workers to safely navigate them in high seas.
5. Fall from height. Most vessels and offshore platforms have multiple stories. Improper railing, inadequate flooring or lack of safety measures such as improperly secured harnesses can result in a nasty fall.
6. Fires and explosions. Ships and offshore drilling platforms require some heavy machinery to function; when sparks ignite, especially when combined with the occasional gas leak, workers risk burn injuries from the resultant flames.
7. Chemical burns. Contact with harsh chemicals due to improper training, incorrect storage or spills can cause serious and painful burns.
8. Overexertion. Everyone has an idea of the limits of his or her own strength. Seamen are regularly asked to perform tasks that push those limits. When tasks go beyond the limits of physical endurance or strength, muscular and skeletal injuries can occur that may permanently damage a seaman’s ability to make a living.
9. Decompression illness (DCI). Commercial divers execute extremely technical dives at extreme depths. These dives must be planned and executed exactly in order to avoid DCI (or “the bends”). When equipment fails or planning goes awry, divers are put in serious danger.
10. Struck by a falling object. Cranes move large loads around barges, vessels and platforms. When cranes collapse or loads are improperly secured, workers on the deck below are in serious danger of being struck by the falling cargo.
11. Malfunctioning equipment. Be it large machinery such as engines, cranes or drills, or hand held power tools such as saws or blowtorches, every maritime company has an obligation to ensure equipment stays in good working condition and that all workers are trained on its proper use. When machinery malfunctions, injuries ranging from cuts or burns to amputations may result.
12. Improper supervision of loading and unloading. Longshoremen do much of the roll on/roll off operations, but seamen may assist in the process. High vehicular traffic and the coordination of the movement of large loads and containers create a number of dangers including being struck by a vehicle or load. These operations must be well supervised and coordinated in order to protect workers who are focused on a specific task.
13. Electrocution. Exposed wiring, improper insulation and wet surfaces can lead to electrocution ranging from mild to severe.
14. Radiation. Sealed and unsealed radioactive substances have a myriad of uses such as in cementing operations and density gauges. Exposure to an excessive amount of radiation can lead to radiation sickness, a serious condition requiring medical attention.
15. Scaffolding collapse. When incorrectly constructed, scaffolding may collapse, causing injury to those upon and around the scaffold. Either a fall from great height or being struck by falling objects can lead to injury or death.
16. Release of hydrocarbons. Hydrocarbon release can happen in liquid or gas form, both of which create explosion and fire hazards due to their flammable nature. Hydrocarbon inhalation can also cause pulmonary and neurological injury.
17. Vessel collision. The seas are a busy place and vessels will on occasion collide. This presents a danger to seamen whether through the force of the impact or resultant complications such as fires or chemical spills.
18. Getting caught in equipment. Winches are a good example of this potential hazard, as the winch drum can potentially snag body parts that get too close. Tasks that involve dangerous interaction with equipment or a lack of safety training, protocol and tools can lead to serious injury such as broken bones, soft tissue injuries or amputation.
19.  Improperly inspected enclosed spaces. Oxygen deficiency or flammable or toxic atmosphere can all occur in enclosed spaces aboard vessels. Before working in these areas, they must be inspected to ensure that the workers are not in danger.
20. Falling overboard. A fall overboard can cause serious injury or death. The impact of the water is sometimes enough to render a person unconscious, leading to drowning. Non-fatal complications could arise from the fall including concussion, broken bones, spinal injury and hypothermia, not to mention the accompanying mental anguish.

Compensation for Injuries

For Joseph May, some wet coal dust on the deck of a barge translated into physical and emotional trauma. A crushed ankle is not only painful but is accompanied by medical bills and could potentially end a lucrative career. Another seaman, William Wade, was dropped from a workbasket into the water while working as a welder. The fall resulted from a failed braking mechanism on a crane and left Mr. Wade with severe injuries in his lower back that required spinal surgery. Fortunately, laws such as the Jones Act exist to protect those working in the maritime industry. The experienced maritime attorneys of Lamothe Lea and Aertker, LLC represented Mr. May and Mr. Wade, and both clients were awarded substantial settlements.

Contact Us

If you or someone you know has been injured while working as a seaman or if you have lost a loved one during his or her work offshore or aboard a vessel, contact our experienced attorneys at Lamothe Lea Aertker, LLC today, online or by phone at 877-249-6801 to find out if you are eligible for compensation. We offer a free consultation during which we will discuss your legal rights and options.

 

Photo Credit: OnEarth

Sources

 

http://www.offshoreinjuryfirm.com/News.aspx

http://www.louisianarecord.com/news/241119-industrial-worker-sues-after-work-procedure-protests-were-ignored

http://www.hse.gov.uk/offshore/statistics/stat1011.htm

http://www.osha.gov/dts/maritime/index.html

http://www.osha.gov/dts/maritime/sltc/longshoring/section1/summary3.html

http://llajustice.com/the-firm/representative-cases-personal-injury/

http://www.osha.gov/dts/maritime/sltc/ships/rigging/index.html

http://safetyship.info/dangers-of-accidental-hydrocarbon-release.html

 

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