Brewster Law Firm LLC

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Back injuries often happen the same way no matter where you work

On Behalf of | Oct 9, 2018 | Admiralty And Maritime Law |

Working on the vessels that navigate the country’s waters from here in Louisiana can provide one with a unique work experience that he or she may never get anywhere else. However, that does not mean that workers do not have anything in common with people who work on land. The back injuries they suffer, for instance, probably end up happening in the same way as on land and are just as debilitating.

If a worker’s job on a navigable vessel involves lifting objects and otherwise handling any materials that require the use of his or her back, that worker could end up suffering a back injury. Moreover, many of the duties vessel workers perform are repetitive, and if they involve the use of the back, workers may find themselves going home at the end of the day with a backache that never seems to go away. Musculoskeletal injuries happen far more often than anyone realizes since many people simply accept their back pain as part of the job.

However, in reality, it should not be part of the job, and with the proper straining and equipment, it may be possible to eliminate, or at least reduce, the instances of back injuries. Without these precautions, workers tend to suffer tears, strains and sprains in their backs that could put them out of work for a significant amount of time. The injuries may never heal 100 percent, which means that pain may become a way of life.

Back injuries are fairly universal throughout many industries, but the way that claims are handled for those suffering from them who work on navigable vessels differs. Instead of relying on Louisiana’s workers’ compensation benefits, those who work on ships must turn to the Jones Act for relief. Understanding how to use this act to receive the restitution one deserves may require some advice and guidance.