For the more than 400,000 workers in the industry, maritime safety is a vital concern. Studies show that maritime workers face a higher risk of illness, injury, or death than others in America.1 These maritime safety tips can help prevent accidents and the need for a maritime attorney to advise you.
#1 Maintain Situational Awareness
Being aware of your surroundings is essential to maritime safety. Maintain good visibility and pay attention to equipment that is lifting or moving cargo. Report any problems, including mechanical breakdowns, electrical malfunctions, spills, or unsafe conditions, to the captain or safety officer immediately.
#2 Follow Safety Procedures
Participate in training and keep your safety certifications up to date. Wear appropriate protective gear for your duties on board, which might include safety harnesses, helmets, shoes, or goggles. Establish a culture of safety and trust with your co-workers, by alerting each other to danger and responding to any maritime injury with proper first aid.
#3 Be Fit for Duty
Maritime workers have a responsibility to their ship and crewmates to be fit for duty. Staying physically fit and sober and learning the skills necessary to those duties is required. While ship workers are undeniably tough individuals, they need to report injuries or other factors that might make them unable to safely do their jobs. Fatigue, illness, intoxication, or lack of training can all make serious injuries more likely.
Maritime Law Protects the Rights of Injured Seamen
Despite following safety protocols, you may still be seriously injured while working on a ship or vessel. Shipowners are responsible to provide their workers with “maintenance and cure,” which means covering medical expenses and providing income during recovery from an injury sustained in the service of a vessel.
These protections do not require that the shipowner or a crew member was negligent in causing your accident. If you or a loved one was injured while working in the maritime industry, contact Schechter, Shaffer & Harris—Maintenance and Cure. Our team of maritime attorneys has represented thousands of individuals in the maritime industry since 1964 and can advise you about your legal options with a free consultation.
Source:
