Metairie Louisiana Legal Blog

Any number of mistakes could lead to injuries on board ships and on the docks, whether here in Louisiana or elsewhere. Crews often prepare for emergencies, even those that have a small chance of happening. However, ordinarily every day, mundane tasks lead to serious injuries. For instance, mooring accidents could cause devastating injuries.

Some equipment on vessels gets used periodically, but the mooring ropes get used regularly. Without regular maintenance, the safety of anyone in their path is compromised. Of course, the rope could be in good repair and still fail. For instance, issues that could lead to a catastrophic failure include prolonged and repeated radial compression and bending, high levels of cyclic loading at exposed terminals, and/or fatigue from the ropes bending around the fittings of the deck, among other things.

Working on Louisiana's docks presents significant dangers for those who work on them. A variety of hazards put their lives at risk, including the use of cranes to move cargo around. Crane injuries could prove serious and even fatal, so ensuring the safety of all workers should be a priority of every employer.

Not surprisingly, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has rules and regulations for employers and employees to follow when it comes to working with and around cranes. This essential piece of equipment requires the same level of attention and safety consciousness as any other. The first line of defense with regard to safety involves inspecting the crane thoroughly and often. Any defects require addressing immediately in order to keep the crane at peak efficiency.

Keeping a vessel clean and clear of debris helps increase the safety of everyone aboard. It would probably be a challenge to find any Louisiana residents who work on navigable vessels that would disagree. Unfortunately, failing to perform needed housekeeping duties could result in injuries from mishaps while working. Fortunately, admiralty and maritime law may provide a way to recover benefits for medical expenses and lost wages, among other things.

Picking up after completing tasks could save someone from tripping and falling over whatever it might be. Leaving oily rags around after doing hot work could start a fire. Slippery or wet floors due to liquids, water, snow or ice could cause slips and falls. Some who work on vessels have fallen off of them because of these cleanliness hazards. Even if a fall keeps a person on board the ship, the injuries could be serious.

With a global economy and the privatization of United States military operations in places like Iraq and Afghanistan, there are more jobs for defense contractors overseas than ever. In the last quarter of 2018, the United States Central Command reported 49,451 contractor personnel working for the Department of Defense.

If you are a contractor or thinking of entering this field of employment, what kind of insurance benefits are available to take care of your family should the worst happen to you overseas?