Plate freezers are essential equipment on fish processing vessels, designed specifically for the rapid freezing of fish and other seafood to preserve their freshness during long voyages. These systems operate by pressing the catch between horizontal or vertical metal plates that are cooled to subzero temperatures. This method is highly efficient, ensuring that seafood retains its quality from the ocean to the table. However, the features that make plate freezers effective also pose significant safety risks to maritime workers.
The operation of plate freezers involves extreme cold and mechanical components, which can become hazardous under certain conditions. The process requires workers to be in close proximity to these cold, often slippery surfaces, increasing the risk of injury. Despite stringent safety standards customarily in place, accidents can occur due to equipment malfunctions, inadequate training, or failure to follow safety procedures. These freezers must be managed with the utmost care to prevent injuries.
Maritime workers who suffer injuries associated with plate freezers, or any form of fish freezers, have access to various types of financial compensation, depending on the circumstances of the accident. These accidents can be traumatic and debilitating, as victims must cope with physical recovery as well as financial uncertainty. Compensation can provide necessary support during recovery, covering medical expenses, lost wages, and other related costs. Fortunately, the Jones Act and other applicable laws provide seamen with the means of recovering compensation for their maritime injuries.
Our commitment at Schechter, Shaffer and Harris, L.L.P., is to ensure that injured maritime workers are aware of their rights and the steps they can take to secure the support they deserve. If you or someone you know has been injured in a plate freezer accident or any other maritime-related incident, it is important to understand the legal options available. The infographic posted below provides additional information about marine freezer plate accidents and your legal rights.
