According to some estimates, roughly 2,000 seafarers die every year. But why should these people lose their lives? Humans have been traversing the seas for thousands of years. We’ve made countless technological advances. Yet the ocean remains the world’s deadliest workplace.
The leading causes of container ship fatalities
As The Guardian noted when it looked into the often-underreported issue of shipping deaths, Western media rarely cover shipping accidents because the crew for commercial ships hail mainly from poorer, Eastern countries.
This means that people looking for answers need to dig deeper to find them. You might look at the data supplied by the insurer Allianz, which publishes an annual Safety and Shipping Review. They report that the leading causes of commercial shipping deaths involve:
Notably, the deaths lumped into the “other” category outnumbered all the other categories except for machinery damage and failure. It’s also notable that nearly all these deaths appear preventable.
These numbers don’t reflect deaths caused by sudden squalls or acts of piracy. They suggest deaths that owe to unseaworthy vessels, poor training and poor maintenance. They reflect a world in which companies hire as few crew members as possible to sail a massive vessel, and those crew suffer accidents as a result of their fatigue.
Ship owners have a responsibility to their crew
The ocean is a dangerous workplace, and the world’s ship owners know this. They buy insurance to protect their interests, but they need to protect you, as well. They need to ensure their vessels are seaworthy. They need to train their crew. And they need to follow all the rules and regulations that govern their industry. They shouldn’t shortcut your safety.
Commercial shipping remains a high-risk industry. But the good news is that when employers take reasonable steps to protect their employees, fewer ships face incidents. Fewer sailors die. As the most recent Allianz report revealed, 2018 saw roughly half as many losses as the year before. There’s no good reason for sailors to suffer or die.
]]>A CNBC survey of the ten deadliest careers, released at the end of 2019, once again found commercial fishing ranked right near the top. This time, it took the number two spot. And this begs the question: What makes fishing so dangerous?
Seven facts about the risks facing commercial fishermen
CNBC offered a summary of the dangers fishermen commonly face, but it’s rather generic and may be somewhat dissatisfying. They note that fishing can lead to accidents that “involve boat accidents or falls from boats.” They go on to note that the days are long, and the work is hard.
If you’re looking for a better picture of the dangers you could face while fishing, you might prefer the information presented by an article in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine. Its authors reviewed more than a decade’s worth of data and found:
These statistics led the researchers and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to a couple key conclusions:
Of course, you can only do what’s in your power to control. You can wear your safety vest and follow your safety protocols while on deck. But that won’t stop your ship from sinking if the hull has rotted. When your injuries—or those of someone you love—owe to the unseaworthiness of a vessel or to an employer’s negligence, you may have cause to file a claim.
Understanding maritime claims
Most employees benefit from workers’ comp, but their claims depend on state laws that don’t apply at sea. Fishermen and other maritime workers generally want to work with maritime attorneys to seek recovery under the Jones Act or other maritime laws.
]]>That means you want to stay mindful of the dangers that surround you. You work to make a living, and you can’t allow injuries to interrupt your income. But you can reduce the chances of any such interruption by learning the most common causes of shipboard injuries and by learning your options for recovery.
5 common causes of shipboard injuries
You can avoid most injuries by being careful. You receive safety training for a reason. But accidents still happen. Some of the most shipboard injuries include:
You already want to do everything you can to stay safe. Now that you know these common causes of shipboard injuries, you can do even more—by avoiding situations where accidents are more likely.
What if you can’t avoid an accident?
State laws may not apply when you’re out at sea. That means most sailors’ claims aren’t covered by workers’ compensation, but by maritime law. And most of your key protections stem from the Jones Act, which requires your employer to provide a safe workspace.
Claims made under the Jones Act work something like personal injury claims but have slightly different standards of proof. They also rely on different laws, which makes it important for injured seamen to work with attorneys seasoned in maritime cases.
]]>The Jones Act may be the most well-known of the nation's maritime laws, but it's not the only one. Maritime cases may draw upon any of a variety of laws, meaning it's easy for injured workers to be confused or make mistakes. So, here are six common mistakes to avoid if you are injured at sea or during other maritime work.
You need to report your accident to your supervisor. However, you should make sure the report is complete before you sign and submit it. Also, you should not let your employer pressure you into agreeing the accident was your fault. This is a common trick that can hurt your chances for full recovery.
If your health insurance picks up a good chunk of the bill, you might not think to file. But that decision could cost you the lost wages and other compensation your employer may owe you. Additionally, your case comes with deadlines, so if you don't file before you hit the deadlines, you may never get another chance.
Your vessel's doctor or a company physician may examine you and present you with a diagnosis. But it's important to remember that these people are company employees. While they may want to help you recover, their reports may also minimize your injuries. This could lower your employer's liability-and your potential compensation. It's generally a good idea to get a second opinion from a doctor with no ties to your employer.
Everyone's memory gets fuzzy as time passes. But you want a good record of the facts. This means you want to document as much as possible. How you got hurt. What was going on around you. Any instructions someone gave you. When you met with doctors. What they said. These specifics can make your claim stronger.
If you return to work before you've adequately recovered, you risk hurting yourself again. Additionally, you may hurt your case. Your employer may use your quick return as evidence the damages weren't so bad as you claimed-even if you have a doctor's statement that says otherwise.
Employers and insurance companies often move quickly after maritime accidents. They want to catch workers while they're still unsure about the values of their claims and then offer as little as they can. It's often best to explore the value of your claim before you sign a settlement agreement.
The federal government understands that the maritime industry is dangerous. That's why it has laws to support and protect you.
If you're injured at work, you deserve the full support and protection these laws offer. That means finding the help you need, avoiding these common mistakes and getting the recovery you deserve.
]]>Per the Occupational Health and Safety Administration, the repetitive actions associated with fishing, hauling in catches and performing related tasks can place a serious strain on your neck, back, shoulders and other body parts. While maintaining proper workplace ergonomics can help mitigate your risk of suffering repetitive strain injuries, back stresses and similar problems, the nature of your job as a commercial fishing professional exposes you, nonetheless, to these types of injuries.
Because of your profession, you face a heightened risk, when compared with other professionals, of injuring your back or spine. In addition to having to often work in snug environments and close quarters, you may, too, spend longer-than-typical hours standing or hunching over, which can cause serious injuries to develop over time.
As a commercial fisherman, you also run the risk of developing an ergonomic injury to your shoulders or elbows. “Tennis elbow,” for example, is a well-known term for an ergonomic injury common among those in your profession. You can find out more about maritime and fishing vessel injuries by visiting our webpage.
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