If you’ve suffered injuries—physical or psychological—because of your work as a longshoreman, contact an experienced longshoremen attorney at Maintenance and Cure to explore your legal options.

Longshoremen keep the global economy running. Every day, they move thousands of containers through the nation’s shipyards, bringing billions of dollars worth of cargo into the country. With that responsibility comes hard work. Long hours, dangerous equipment, and grueling tasks bring both physical and psychological risks.

What Do Longshoremen Do?

Twenty-four hours per day, seven days per week, longshoremen haul cargo off ships and onto the docks. They unload containers and send them off to warehouses or distribution centers. They secure arriving and departing ships. They prepare cargo loads for export and inspect outgoing containers to ensure they won’t fall into the ocean when the ship sets off for its destination.

Among their ranks, you can count swingmen, bosses, clerks, lashers, and porters, each one of whom has a special function. Their ranks also include both regulars, who work on a consistent basis, and casuals, who wait in the wings to pick up the slack. Together, they form a well-oiled team that can put a traditional assembly line to shame.

The Dangers of Shipyard Work

Every day, longshoremen endure arduous physical labor, confront hazardous conditions, and perform dangerous tasks. They scale heights, walk catwalks, work from scaffolds, operate heavy equipment, and move hefty containers. The job requires strength, endurance, and focus.

The physical dangers are well known—the hazardous nature of dock work is part of the reason regular union members command such respectable salaries—but there’s another side to it. Few people appreciate the psychological effects of such a high-pressure job. From burnout to post-traumatic stress disorder, workers can suffer mentally as well as physically.

Over time, the stress, the irregular hours, the physical exhaustion, and the constant danger can take a toll on a worker’s mental state. More often, when a worker experiences an accident or witnesses a coworker get hurt, they may suffer some form of psychological disturbance.

Unfortunately, many employers dismiss psychological complaints as invalid. In order to rectify the situation, dock workers and their families need the help of a skilled longshoremen injury attorney who can guide them through the legal pitfalls of the Longshore and Harbor Worker’s Compensation Act (LHWCA) and help them pursue a claim.

Want to know if you have a valid claim? Contact Maintenance and Cure today to consult with a lawyer.